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How to Get Rid of Humidity from a Room by Using Salt

Mary Smith
By Mary Smith. Updated: July 2, 2019
How to Get Rid of Humidity from a Room by Using Salt

Excess humidity in a home can can lead to the appearance of mold that can have adverse effect on our health, especially for asthmatics or people with allergies. The saturation level of moisture in the air of our homes depends largely on the climate of the area in which we live. Has humidity increased in your home and you’re wondering which are the best home remedies for absorbing moisture? If so, you’ve come to the right place.

There are electric dehumidifiers which can be bought in stores, however, they can be costly. This is why here at oneHOWTO we want to offer you some of the most effective tips on how to remove humidity from a room without a dehumidifier. Keep reading here and find out how to get rid of humidity from a room using salt and other home remedies.

You'll need:
  • A flat container
  • A kilo of salt
You may also be interested in: How to Paint a Damp Wall

Ideal humidity in house

Humidity in a may be more noticeable in the summer, but it is a problem which can also persist all year round. Some of the most common signs of high humidity in a room include:

  • Increased heat: of course in warmer weather your body will feel hotter, but if humidity is too high you may find it almost impossible to cool down. If your room is too humid, you may find that you sweat more, struggle to sleep and feel more sticky (even after showering).
  • Increased mold: high humidity in a room will lead to a combination of heat and moisture, which combined is a breeding ground for bacteria. This will result in the appearance on mold on the walls, fabrics and almost anything porous. This high humidity and mold needs to be diminished. Breathing in these such bacteria infested spaces can lead to serious health problems.
  • Physical symptoms: the mold caused by high humidity in a room is usually accompanied by a fusty smell, something which can be hard to eradicate or even cover up. This bad smell can sometimes also transfer to your skin. If you find that even deodorant isn't quite covering up this humid musky smell , it could be a result of high humidity in your room which is clogging up your pores.
  • changes in your room: high humidity in a room can cause wood to swell and rot, something you might notice if your door sticks and doesn’t open easily. Additionally, the water in the air can cause oxidization of metal objects, forming rust.
  • The appearance of pools of water: if you see pools of water underneath your windows or thick droplets on your window panes, this is usually a sign of high humidity in a room.
  • Increased allergies.

High humidity in your room can be a problem, but so can low humidity. Low humidity in a room can make the air drier, causing your skin to lose moisture and become dry. In addition, it can increase the risk of contracting viruses or infections. According to home humidity levels chart, an ideal humidity level in a room should be 35-45%, although a little over or under shouldn't cause too many problems.

If you’re wondering how to check the humidity levels in your room, we suggest reading our article where we discuss how to check the humidity level in your house.

How to Get Rid of Humidity from a Room by Using Salt - Ideal humidity in house

How to get humidity out of house without a dehumidifier

If you are experiencing some or all of the above problems, then you’re probably wondering how to get humidity out of house without a dehumidifier. The easiest way to get rid of humidity is to get a flat container with an open top and fill it with a kilogram of coarse salt. Place it in your room and it should absorbed a lot of the excess moisture in the air. We recommend using a wider and larger container as it will allow for more exposure. If you do decide to use a larger box, make sure to fill it with more salt.

You should notice a visible difference in your room’s humidity levels after roughly 2 days. But, why salt? Salt is one of the most absorbent natural products available, helping to combat moisture in the walls or to prevent mildew staining on clothing. Using salt is the most basic method when trying to make a homemade dehumidifier.

Once the salt has blackened or becomes wet, it means it has reached its maximum level of saturation and should be changed. But you also have the option of using other types of home remedies for humidity. Cat litter, for example, is another great option for reducing humidity in a room naturally. You can also opt for charcoal, although it may not be as effective.

For more, we recommend reading our article where we list some tricks to remove humidity from your home and how to make a dehumidifier with rock salt.

How to reduce humidity in a room naturally

It's important to also know how you can prevent humidity at home. Thankfully, there are some simple tricks you can use in your room so that mold and/or stains don’t occur. If you have high humidity in your room, it's important to air it frequently, this is as simple as opening a window to let air circulate. Additional ways to prevent humidity in your home in include:

  • Using extractors or vents when cooking.
  • Using fans to move air around can also help prevent humidity, but nothing beats the use of an air conditioner. Buying an air conditioner or electric dehumidifier should be done if the homemade dehumidifier has proved unsuccessful.
  • Drying your clothes outside or on a terrace. This is important as the moisture from your clothes will otherwise enter your living space.
  • Check materials or objects which might be increasing the humidity in your room. Carpets can hold a lot of moisture, so if you have high humidity in your room, you may want to consider laminate (untreated wood can also absorb moisture) or linoleum for your floor. Plants also release water vapor and can contribute to humidity. Although they are visually lovely, you may want to replace them at some point to help get rid of humidity in your room.
  • Exposed pipes or leaky pipes are also big causes of humidity, so check to see if they are secure and whether or not they need insulated. Check your roof, window seals and anywhere else which might explain why moisture may be entering your room.

Natural dehumidifier: baking soda

If you have any baking soda in your home, you can also make a natural dehumidifier baking soda. Place some baking soda into a bowl and cover with a thin cloth.

For more, read how to use baking soda for stains.

Damp seal paint

To hide humidity stains, you may have thought of painting your home walls. However, you must take into account different aspects of damp-proofing. For example, the paint you use for the wall must be anti-humidity sealant paint and/or damp seal paint which will help protect your room from moisture.

However, be careful if you already have mold on your walls. We recommend trying first reduce the humidity before painting over it. For more effective tips, read how to paint a damp wall.

How to Get Rid of Humidity from a Room by Using Salt - Damp seal paint

If you want to read similar articles to How to Get Rid of Humidity from a Room by Using Salt, we recommend you visit our Interior Design and Decor category.

Write a comment

What did you think of this article?
4 comments
Rating:
Shashi Kiran
Good suggestion.
Rating:
Sanajy Mahadeo Ambulkar
Thanks for the advice. A/c is out of reach of common man. Moreover, a/c pollutes air which further resulted into global warming. Consumption of electricity by an a/c of one ton is equal to electricity consumes by nine fans. This being the fact, the use of salt to get rid of humidity is not only affordable but it is a contribution to the programme of minimization of global warming.

OneHowTo Editor
We're glad it was useful for you :)
Rating:
Eva
Mould* and a useful tip, you can also put the salt in oranges that have been cut in half and scooped out, it releases a scent along with taking away the moisture in the air.
Paul Lawerh
pls am having a problem worry me if i paint my room. they is a salt in the wall so if i paint the room the salt take off the paint from the wall. so pls show me what to do
OneHowTo Editor
Hi Paul,
Could the problem be you have damp walls due to humidity? Take a look at this article that might be useful for you: http://home.onehowto.com/article/how-to-paint-a-damp-wall-1920.html

Hope this helps
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