Knowing how to get rid of damp in your home is key to living somewhere healthy and avoiding mould, musty smells and stains on the walls. The good news is that it can often be solved with simple habits and without any building work. In this guide you'll see how to tackle damp naturally, what to do about a musty smell and how to stop condensation, by far the most common type during the colder months.
Why damp appears in the home
Before you get to work, it's worth identifying the source, because not all damp is treated the same way. These are the three most frequent kinds:
- Condensation. Water vapour in the air (showers, cooking, drying laundry indoors) cools when it hits cold glass and walls and turns into droplets. It's the most common form in winter.
- Rising damp. Water travels up through the walls from the ground, typical of ground floors and older properties.
- Penetrating damp. Water gets in from outside through a crack, a burst pipe or a roof in poor condition.
Note where the stains appear and at what time of day you see the most misting: that will tell you a great deal about the type of damp you're dealing with.
How to get rid of damp naturally
If you're wondering how to tackle damp naturally, start with the most basic and cheapest measures, which also tend to be the most effective:
- Ventilate every day. Throw the windows wide open for 10 to 15 minutes each morning to refresh the air, even in winter.
- Use the extractor hood while cooking and the bathroom fan after showering.
- Don't dry laundry indoors if you can avoid it; if there's no alternative, do it in a well-ventilated room.
- Try natural absorbers. Containers of coarse salt, bicarbonate of soda or calcium chloride trap moisture in wardrobes and enclosed corners.
- Add moisture-absorbing plants, such as ferns or spider plants, which help regulate the indoor climate.
How to remove a musty smell
A musty smell clings to clothes, wardrobes and soft furnishings. To get rid of it, ventilate daily and tackle the source, not just the scent. Put sachets of bicarbonate of soda or activated charcoal inside your wardrobes, wash affected textiles with a splash of white vinegar in the final rinse and dry them properly in the sun. If the smell is coming from a piece of furniture, take it outside, wipe it down with a mix of water and vinegar and let it air before using it again.
Condensation damp: the most common of all
Condensation is the damp problem that recurs most in homes as soon as temperatures drop. To reduce it, keep the temperature indoors steady (sharp swings encourage misting), avoid covering radiators, wipe the droplets off the windows each morning and pull furniture a few centimetres away from cold walls so air can circulate. A small dehumidifier can be a real help in the most affected rooms, such as the bedroom or bathroom.
Problem areas: bathroom, kitchen and bedroom
There are three rooms where damp concentrates and which deserve close attention. In the bathroom, leave the door open after showering, wipe down the walls and shower screen, and hang the towel out rather than leaving it in a heap. In the kitchen, put lids on pans when boiling and switch the extractor on from the first minute so steam doesn't spread through the whole house. In the bedroom, watch out for damp clothes in the wardrobe and for a bed pushed up against a cold external wall: that's a silent source of condensation and mould. Checking these spots once a week will save you nasty surprises.
When to call a professional
With these habits, most mild damp problems improve within a few weeks. Even so, it's worth calling in a professional if the mould keeps coming back, if the stains grow quickly, if the plaster is flaking, or if you suspect penetrating or rising damp. In those cases the source has to be treated; home remedies would only paper over the problem.
In short
To get rid of damp in your home, ventilate daily, control the moisture you generate, use absorbers in enclosed corners and don't let smells settle in. Stick with it and you'll notice a drier, healthier and more pleasant home. At Velia Select you'll find practical storage and home-care solutions for everyday life.