A dehumidifier helps to get rid of the extra moisture in the house and keep the air dry. The moisture can cause a lot of damage to the property if it starts building up in various sections of the home, including the bathroom, cabinet, walls, or basement. For example, plumbing experts indicate that moisture can cause lead to the growth of mold, and you will have to repair this section or the entire house. Removing the moist also ensures that your house has high-quality air.
The most efficient method to protect your home is to use a dehumidifier immediately after you notice that the environment is extraordinarily moist. You can find different types of dehumidifiers in your nearest store or supermarket. What most homeowners commonly look for today are the best dehumidifiers for basements as this is one of the parts of the house that gets too much moisture. However, one can also choose to prepare the product at home, use it as a solution to the issue, and save money.
This DIY project is enjoyable for homeowners who love trying out different ideas and who are improving their houses on a budget. The best thing about preparing these DIY dehumidifiers is that you can find the ingredients in any grocery store.
The following are some affordable homemade dehumidifiers, their ingredients, and the preparation procedures.
Rock Salt
Rock salt dehumidifier is a common item used in most homes. It absorbs the moisture from the atmosphere naturally [1]. This home remedy is advantageous because it is natural, affordable, and non-toxic. The amount of product prepared depends on the size of the house and the amount of moisture in it.
What you need
- A large bag of sodium chloride
- Two large buckets
- Drill or any hole-making machine
How to make the dehumidifier
- Drill small holes on the bucket on its bottom and sides
- Insert the drilled bucket inside the complete bucket.
- Fill it with the rock salt
- Place the buckets on the area with the moisture
After this process, the salt will collect the excess humidity in the form of water and allow it to drip through the drilled bucket to the outer bucket. Ensure that you empty the bucket as frequently as possible. Additionally, refill the sodium chloride once it starts running low.
DampRid or Calcium Chloride Dehumidifier
This homemade product is also an excellent option for making your house less humid. It comes in different forms, such as hanging packets or spreadable powder. It is made up of calcium chloride or white crystals, which absorb the humidity, harden, and become a huge solid mass.
You can purchase the ingredients from a hardware store for as little as $5. The advantage of this dehumidifier is that it is user-friendly, and you can monitor its effectiveness easily. Additionally, the white or clear crystals do not cause any mess around the house. It is also convenient for people living in areas with all types of weather conditions.
What you need
- Disposable plastic container
- Calcium chloride
How to make the dehumidifier
- Drill about eight holes on the plastic container’s lid.
- Fill the bucket with approximately two inches of calcium chloride.
- Cover the container with the lid and place it in the house section with high humidity.
Alternative method
You can also use a different method to prepare the calcium chloride dehumidifier. This alternative technique requires different supplies but uses the same technique to absorb the excess moisture from the room.
What you need
- A sock or stocking
- A string
- Large bowl or medium container
- Calcium chloride
How to make homemade dehumidifier
- Pour the calcium chloride into the stocking or sock.
- Tie the open end and make a knot
- Tie a string around this knot
- Hang the sock or stocking on the space that you want to dehumidify
- Place your container under the sock to collect the absorbed water
This technique is also more effective for smaller spaces. Calcium chloride often turns into a liquid when exposed to too much humidity. Replace it as often as possible. Additionally, ensure that the container is large enough to avoid messing the house and causing slippery floors.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is a cheap, easy-to-use, and energy-free product that can help you to fix the moisture problem in your house. You can place it on cabinets, closets, or any other moist area. However, homeowners should understand that this product is more effective in smaller spaces.
What you need
- Sodium bicarbonate/baking soda
- Small bowl
How to make the dehumidifier
- Place the bowl or container on the table
- Fill it with the baking soda
- Move it to the space that you want to dehumidify
Ensure that you keep stirring the baking soda after it starts absorbing the moisture to make it more effective. You should also replace it with fresh bicarbonate frequently because it hardens with time.
Charcoal
A charcoal dehumidifier is one of the most affordable options for a person struggling with excess moisture in their homes. Just like baking soda, charcoal absorbs the moisture better in small spaces, such as the closet or basement.
What you need
- Charcoal
- A large container and a lid
- Hole driller
How to make the dehumidifier
- Get the container and ensure that it is dry
- Drill small holes on its side and place as much charcoal as it can hold
- Cover it with the lid
- Place the charcoal dehumidifier in your preferred area.
This technique is affordable because it is not electric. Ensure that you replace the charcoal after several days and replace it with fresh unused charcoal.
Silica Gel Dehumidifier
Most commercial and desiccant dehumidifiers contain silica. However, you can also prepare your own silica moisture absorber using the following procedure.
What you need
- A jar or container and a lid
- A driller or hammer and nail
- Silica gel
How to make the dehumidifier
- Drill several small holes on the lid
- Place the silica gel in the jar or container
- Use the lid to close the jar
- Place it in the area that you desire to eliminate the humidity
When using this technique to absorb excess humidity from your house, ensure that you purchase silica gel that matches your space. The gel is sold in packets of different sizes. The 10 grams packet is always convenient and cost-efficient.
Non-Dairy Coffee Creamer
Also called the coffee whitener, this DIY moisture absorber is also an excellent project that every homeowner should consider trying. Most people use creamer to prepare coffee. However, its natural drying properties make it an excellent dehumidifier too.
What you need
- Medium-sized bowl
- Non-dairy coffee creamer
How to make the dehumidifier
- Fill the bowl or container with the creamer.
- Add the amount that you think is enough for your room
- Place the bowl in the moist closet or space.
Using the non-dairy coffee creamer to eliminate moisture is more effective in the closet and other smaller spaces around the house. The product usually hardens after absorbing moisture, meaning that you have to use a new coffee whitener often.
You should know that this procedure can be quite expensive, especially if you do not have access to affordable coffee whitener. Ensure that you check out the stores that sell it at reasonable prices.
Dri-Z-Air
This homemade dehumidifier is almost similar to the DampRid. Making it requires calcium chloride crystals that absorb the humidity from the room. The difference between these DIY moisture absorbers is that Dri-Z-Air is sold as crystals in a container. It is also simpler.
What you need
- Two disposable containers
- Dri-Z-Air
- Dri-Z-Air pot
- Calcium chloride
How to make the dehumidifier
- Prepare the colander or container by lining it with vinyl screening
- Pour the Dri-Z-Air crystals into it
- Place one bowl or container on top of the pot to trap the liquefied crystals
- Place it in the room or space with high humidity levels
The advantage of this DIY humidifier is that it is safe because the crystals are not toxic. It is also pocket-friendly and easy to use. However, ensure that you refill the pot after several days.
The above are some of the most effective DIY dehumidifiers. When using these products, ensure that you decide the right room or space to place them. Using them correctly will make it easier to reduce the moisture in your home. Alternatively, you can simply get dehumidifiers with pump functionality for ease of use.
If you are diving into DIY dehumidifiers, ensure that you monitor them frequently to know when you should replace them. Safety is equally important for homemade dehumidifiers. Prevent children and pets from consuming or interfering with these products because some are poisonous when eaten.
FAQ section
How do you dehumidify a room without a dehumidifier?
Reducing the moisture in your bedroom, bathroom, closet, basement, or any other section of your house can be a challenging task, especially during winter. If you cannot afford to purchase a dehumidifier and you do not want to prepare one at home, then you should seek other strategies to make your house warm and less humid.
For example, you can ventilate the rooms that create moisture for several hours. Ensure that all entrances, including windows, remain open during this duration. Alternatively, you can use air conditioners or fans to boost the airflow and evaporation in your room. Taking cold showers also prevents steam and moisture from accumulating in the house.
What can a person use instead of a dehumidifier?
A dehumidifier is the best option to remove moisture and eliminate dampness in a room. However, they can be expensive and come in different sizes. You can use other alternatives, such as baking soda, silica gel desiccants, and rock salt to absorb the excess humidity in the room. You can also cook outdoors, remove indoor plants, and hand wet clothes outside to prevent moisture from building up in your house.
Kitchen exhaust fans are also excellent options. They ensure that the steam produced by the oven and stoves during cooking leaves the kitchen. You can also use charcoal briquettes if you are on a budget and are seeking to reduce the humidity in a small space. These homemade humidifiers save money and electrical energy.
What can I use to absorb moisture from the air?
Absorbing moisture from your house’s atmosphere prevents dampness and improves the air quality. The technique that you prefer to solve this problem depends on multiple factors, such as the size of your space and the cause and level of humidity in the rooms. For example, if water leakage is causing dampness, seeking repair services from a professional plumber can solve the problem.
The most effective strategies include using rock salt, dampRid, Dri-Z-Air, commercial dehumidifiers, and baking soda. You can also use a fan, space heater, or air conditioner. Each of these methods or moisture absorbers has its advantages and disadvantages, which you should evaluate before using.
What draws moisture out of the air?
Living in a humid environment can be dangerous for your health and that of your family members. It can also damage your house because of the mold. Consequently, you should seek ways to draw this moisture from the air to keep it dry.
For example, air conditioning the room eliminates the moisture by circulating the cool air and raising the warm air in the room. Experts indicate that warm air holds more moisture than cool air. It means that cooling the room increases dryness. You can also use salt and charcoal to absorb the moisture from your room.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, dehumidifying a house is an excellent decision for people living in extremely humid areas. A moist room is uncomfortable and can cause health issues and damage the house due to dampness. Luckily, you can use dehumidifiers to eliminate the moisture in the air, improve your house’s environment and air quality.
For some, purchasing these gadgets can be quite expensive because they consume a lot of electrical energy. DIY dehumidifiers are another option that are more affordable, user-friendly, and easy to make. The available options include charcoal, silica gel, coffee creamer, Dri-Z-Air, rock salt, and DampRid. The choice depends on the size of the space and the availability of the ingredients.
