Monsoon is one of the most beautiful and memorable times of the year. However, it also brings with it a lot of unpleasantness and inconveniences. The monsoon is when your home feels dirty from bugs to dust. But what exactly causes this? Monsoon is not just about rain and humidity but also insects and other pests that invade your home at this time of the year. This happens because there is little sunlight in the evening, making them more active and aggressive than usual.
Your homes are no longer built of wood in the traditional sense. With monsoon comes a warm and humid environment perfect for insects and other pesky creatures. Therefore, it’s normal to see insects crawling in and around your house. However, while most are harmless, some insects can ruin furniture and walls and spread diseases. With monsoons come mosquitoes and other biting insects, who not only cause discomfort but also transmit deadly diseases like malaria, dengue fever etc. To prevent this, you must repel them with candles or natural repellents such as lemon juice or coconut oil mixed with water (not too much, though). If these don’t work, you can also try using insect repellent sprays that kill these bugs instantly without harming plants or flowers.
How to clean your home in the monsoon?
1. Prevent insect bites:
What happens when you inadvertently bring an insect into your home? It might not be an immediate problem, but it can lead to bigger issues in the long run. Some insects are prevalent and harmless, but some can cause severe damage to our homes if they aren't dealt with properly. Here are a few common insects found in the monsoon that you should watch out for:
Ants:
Ants are one of the most common pests found in monsoon. They can eat through wood and other materials, causing rips and holes in furniture and walls. They can also spread diseases like the Zika virus and Chikungunya fever. If you see ants around your house, try to identify them by looking at their colour or shape. Some ants have wings while others don't, so it's important to remember when to identify them!
Spiders:
Spiders are another insect you should watch out for during monsoon because they can cause severe damage to your home interior if left unchecked! Spiders travel from one location to another by crawling on surfaces like ceilings or walls, where they find food sources such as pet food bowls.
Mosquitoes:
Be it monsoon, summer, or winter, open water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Especially in monsoon, plant pots and stagnant pools can infect your household. Install a mosquito net to stop ventilation and ensure no open buckets where the water can store after it rains. You can also use natural mosquito repellants like TheBetterHome's plant-based mosquito repellant that consists of eucalyptus essential oil that repels insects and mosquitoes.
2. Treat damp walls:
If you observe wet patches on the wall, there's no reason to panic because you still have time to prevent the rain shower.
Reasons for damp walls in different corners of your home:
- If the wet patch appears on the ceiling or at any corner, there is probably a drain blockage near the area that causes the water to seep into the walls.
- If the patches appear on the ground, the flooring absorbs all the moisture; also, there can be some problems with the plumbing.
- If your room has poor ventilation, it causes condensation and increases the moisture level in the room.
Now that we know about the reasons, let's talk about the prevention:
- First, use putty or grout to cover the cracks on your pipes and walls.
- Waterproof coating on your exterior walls can protect the walls from rain and moisture.
- Silicon paints for indoor walls with high water resistance can prevent damp walls.
- A damp-proof course into the brick walls creates an obstacle between the ground and the wall. Also, it prevents water from causing any damage to the walls.
3. Prevent mildews and fungus buildup:
With the rising humidity in the air during monsoon, our homes also invite unwanted guests like fungus, mold and mildew. If you see a black spot growing on your wall, that's called mold and, if left untreated, can turn into a toxic fungus. This dense organism is found mainly in washrooms and basements where the moisture level is higher.
Signs of mold and mildew buildup:
- Tiny hollow bumps on your wall paint
- Musty smell from your chimney
- Slippery bathroom tiles
- Water eyes
- Itchiness
- Cough or cold
Prevention:
- Use plant-based cleaners like TheBetterHome's natural multipurpose cleaner with no toxic chemicals.
- Scrub the areas with borax and vinegar solution.
- Ensure proper ventilation in the washroom.
- Repair pipe leaks.
4. Extra care for wooden furniture:
While wooden doors and floorings add aesthetic beauty to your household, maintaining the glaze is also challenging, especially in monsoon. The increased humidity blocks the moisture between the wooden particles, which causes cracks and hollow bumps. If ignored, it can also damage the polishing.
Prevention tips:
- Use pet-friendly and plant-based floor cleaners with no harsh chemicals.
- Keep waxing and polishing the furniture.
- Use naphthalene balls to remove bad odour
- You can use a hair dryer until the foul smell disappears
- Apply lacquer finish coats to prevent swelling
Monsoon essentials to buy and store away:
Raincoats and umbrellas are mandatory; some other household items will be required to protect your homes in monsoon.
- Water absorbent mats
- Mosquito nets
- Safety boots
- Dehumidifier
There will be certain people that go into the storage boxes, like:
- Carpets and rugs
- Relocating home plants
