What works as a dehumidifier?

Author: Leonora Stark  |  Last update: Sunday, October 26, 2025

The most popular DIY dehumidifier is the one that works the best—rock salt. Rock salt naturally absorbs moisture out of the air, making it a great choice to use as a dehumidifier.

What can I use instead of a dehumidifier?

Technically anything that removes moisture from the air is a dehumidifier. Non-mechanical options include dishes of baking powder throughout the place, or talc or cornstarch, but they are usually less effective. Find the source of the humidity.

What can be used as a dehumidifier?

If solving your moisture problem is something you'd like to do inexpensively, rock salt may be your answer. Because rock salt is hygroscopic it absorbs moisture from the air. If your plan is to get rid of the humidity in a damp basement, start with a 50-pound bag of sodium chloride to make your rock salt dehumidifier.

How do you make a homemade dehumidifier?

To make a no frills rock salt dehumidifier, you're going to need rock salt and two buckets or containers that can be stacked. Make some holes in the top container and place it inside your second bucket. Next, fill the top bucket with salt and voila – you have a dehumidifier.

How can I dehumidify my room naturally?

Humidity is unavoidable but there are several natural ways through which you can lessen indoor moisture without having to invest in a dehumidifier.
  1. Get the right houseplants. ...
  2. Open doors and windows regularly. ...
  3. Target problem areas with baking soda. ...
  4. Fix leaks. ...
  5. Take shorter showers. ...
  6. Dry clothes outside.

Dehumidifiers: How do they work?

What is the cheapest homemade moisture absorber?

Baking Soda: Baking soda is cheap and easy to find. It's great for small areas and helps neutralize odors while absorbing moisture. Use it in closets or cabinets.

How do I get moisture out of my house without a dehumidifier?

Probably one of the fastest and most practical ways to decrease humidity in the house is to open a window. A fresh, dry breeze will quickly absorb moisture in spaces like your bathroom or kitchen. Turn your air conditioner down if you open a window to prevent your unit from working too hard.

What is the best thing to absorb moisture?

Moisture is well absorbed by black tea, baking soda and silica gel. These are commonly available products which can be poured into a moisture-permeable fabric pouch and then placed in the bathroom.

How to make a makeshift humidifier?

Place Metal Bowls Over Your Air Vents

By placing a metal or ceramic bowl of your floor vent, the hot air coming out of your vent is pushing moisture into the air. This is an extremely effective way to make a DIY humidifier and add moisture to the air of your home.

Does salt work as a dehumidifier?

In the discussion of the hack, Barry adds that salt is able to 'pull moisture out of the air, making rooms drier' and less damp. 'This can help to prevent mold growth and other harmful conditions in enclosed spaces like homes or offices,' the expert adds.

What are natural dehumidifiers?

Plants are natural dehumidifiers because they absorb water from their surroundings through their leaves and release moisture back out through transpiration. This process helps regulate humidity levels and create fresh air in any space! And some plants are better than others.

Does a bowl of salt stop condensation?

Specialists from Posh.co.uk suggest that salt can absorb moisture from the air, making it an excellent tool for tackling condensation. By placing a bowl of salt near your windows, it will draw in and soak up any moisture from the environment, reports the Express.

How long does it take for baking soda to absorb moisture?

Apply baking soda

The longer you let the soda sit, the better. At an absolute minimum it should be left for 30 minutes. By doing this, the baking soda will absorb the moisture and odours embedded in the mattress.

How do you get rid of humidity in a room?

10 Easy Ways To Reduce Indoor Humidity
  1. Run Your Air Conditioning. Running your air conditioner will keep you cooler and help dehumidify the atmosphere indoors. ...
  2. Fix Leaks. ...
  3. Take Care Of Your Gutters. ...
  4. Minimize Steam. ...
  5. Use Exhaust Fans. ...
  6. Dry Clothes Outside. ...
  7. Relocate Houseplants. ...
  8. Open Windows.

What is the cheapest dehumidifier solution?

Low-cost Appliances

Desiccant dehumidifiers or crawl space dehumidifiers that use calcium chloride or silica gel sorbents are inexpensive to purchase and recharge. Placing open containers of silica gel beads throughout problem areas absorbs excess water vapor through natural diffusion.

Does cat litter work as a dehumidifier?

Try cat litter.

In the same way that cat litter is designed to absorb cat urine, it can absorb moisture from the air. It won't be as effective as a dedicated dehumidifier, but it can help.

Will a wet towel humidify a room?

Placing a few glasses of water out won't change the humidity a great deal, but hanging a wet towel will add moisture to the air. Particularly if it's in a breeze or direct sunlight.

How to make a room more humid without a humidifier?

20 Best Plants for Cleaning Indoor Air 21 Photos
  1. Put Vases in Sunny Places. Place water-filled vases on sunny window sills. ...
  2. Cook on the Stovetop. Increase your stovetop cooking to take advantage of incidental moisture release. ...
  3. Leave Door Open When Showering. ...
  4. Place Bowls of Water on Registers. ...
  5. Dry Clothes on Racks.

Can a bowl of water humidify a room?

In conclusion, while placing a bowl of water can provide some level of humidity, it is not a substitute for a humidifier in severe dry conditions. For optimal results, consider combining this method with other humidity-boosting strategies, such as using plants, taking hot showers, or utilizing a humidifier.

How to make a DIY dehumidifier?

Get a small bowl that will fit in the area you'd like to place it in. Fill the bowl full of baking soda. Place the bowl in the area you'd like to dehumidify. The baking soda will harden as it absorbs moisture, and at that time, you'll want to replace it with fresh baking soda.

What soaks up moisture under house?

To remove the standing water from your home, you need a device that will soak up the water and put it elsewhere. This is what a sump pump does. There are two types: pedestal sump pumps and submersible sump pumps.

Is DampRid as good as a dehumidifier?

"While DampRid is nowhere near as rapid or effective as a good dehumidifier, it almost works the same as a poor-performing dehumidifier," says Chris. We know you want the dry details, so you can read how DampRid fared in a mild 65% humidity test against all the currently available dehumidifiers in our review.

What can you use if you don't have a dehumidifier?

Use desiccants

Without the facilitation of an electrical appliance, desiccants such as silica gel, charcoal, and rock salt can still adsorb some moisture from the air at a slower rate, due to their hygroscopic nature. You can put a basket of charcoal in the room and replace the charcoal once it gets damp.

Do fans help with humidity?

Ceiling fans can be extremely beneficial in reducing humidity in a home because they are able to keep air circulating across an entire room and from the top down. Even a fan spinning at a low speed can help drastically with air circulation and lowering humidity.

Does salt dehumidify a room?

Because rock salt is hygroscopic it absorbs moisture from the air. If your plan is to get rid of the humidity in a damp basement, start with a 50-pound bag of sodium chloride to make your rock salt dehumidifier.

Previous article
How do you remove hard brown stains from a toilet bowl?
Next article
Which way should return vents point?