Humidity or moisture can make the air inside your house feel sticky or, worse, damage flooring, furniture, and walls if you’re not careful. For this reason, one has to use expensive dehumidifiers to solve the problem. However, did you know that baking soda can remove moisture?
Yes, you read it right. Baking soda can absorb moisture because of its hygroscopic property. This pantry staple is natural, cheap, and the best alternative to a dehumidifier as it can eliminate moisture in specific areas of the house.
Indeed, baking soda is a versatile home ingredient that comes in handy for various home remedies. In this post, we will tackle how baking soda helps to remove moisture at home.
Why Can Baking Soda Remove Moisture?
Baking Soda is hygroscopic, and its main feature is to attract water from the surrounding environment. The substance also does not turn into an aqueous element. Hence, it works perfectly as a dehumidifier because it can naturally absorb humidity.
Baking soda is an affordable, energy-free, easy fix for humidity. Though it is less effective than store-bought products like dehumidifiers, the ingredient truly works. It does well when constantly stirred, especially when it starts absorbing moisture.
Baking soda works as a dehumidifier by pulling moisture from the air. It traps the moisture inside the powder making this substance an effective tool for reducing moisture levels in your home.
Can Baking Soda Remove Moisture in a Room?
Yes, baking soda can remove moisture in a room. There are many ways to make baking soda an efficient dehumidifier in your room. But the most effective way is to leave an open bowl of baking soda in the area with the most moisture.
After a while, the excess moisture will be absorbed, but it most likely won’t become aqueous. But if this happens, stir the baking soda, to make it effective again.
Can Baking Soda Remove Moisture in Carpet?
A carpet that is wet or moist for a long time can cause damage not only to the carpet but to the house flooring as well. You will know that the carpet is damp (besides being wet) when it emanates a foul odor in those areas.
Fortunately, baking soda can remove moisture from the carpet. You can do the job through two easy steps: First, sprinkle the baking soda all over the carpet and sit it for about 30 minutes. Second, once it is dry, vacuum it to refreshen the carpet. Once you use a vacuum to clean the carpet, you will be amazed at the dry and clean surface.
Can Baking Soda Remove Moisture in Wood Furniture?
The magical power of baking soda to absorb water can also be done with your wood furniture. Putting the baking soda on the table or chairs with high moisture can absorb the excess humidity and dry out infected areas.
It’s worth noting that the substance has a narrow application field. Thus, it can only absorb water or moisture in small areas, so it will be most effective to apply in small spots on narrow surfaces.
How to Utilize Baking Soda to Get Rid of Moisture in Wood?
The appropriate way to eliminate moisture in your wood furniture depends on the severity of the problem. For horizontal furniture like tables, drawers, shelves, and even floors, simply sprinkle the substance all over the target area and leave it for at least 24 hours.
For vertical wood items like doors, panels, and walls, make sure that the baking soda will stick easily. To do this, create a baking soda paste by combining the ingredient with water. Keep the water low because the mixture must be cohesive enough so it will stick and won’t crumble easily.
Once you have made a paste, leave the paste in the affected area for a day or so, then remove it. However, if you notice moisture patches and water stains, you should be more aggressive in using this formula.
You can solve it using a toothbrush to apply the baking soda paste. Apply it to the marks to clean away stains.
Can Baking Soda Remove Moisture in Your House?
Absolutely! However, it’s best if you use more baking soda as less of it will only be efficient in small areas. To use this substance as a dehumidifier, place a bowl of baking soda anywhere in the house. Cover the ingredient with a thin cloth so it will not stick or become cakey.
Should your house have a severe moisture problem, put as many baking soda bowls around your home. Also, check the baking soda from time to time. Once it cakes, replace them with a new one.
How to Determine If Your House Has Moisture Problems?
Wet floors, windows, or ceilings are not exclusive indicators to determine that your house has moisture problems. Most of the time, humidity issues are experienced by people living in cold areas and those surrounded by plants and lush greenery. For this reason, these houses need a fireplace to keep the house dry and humidity down.
However, the house may also have a moisture problem even when some areas are not wet. Here are some signs that may indicate humidity problems:
- Spots of mold growing on the ceiling
- Condensation on doors and windowpanes
- Musty smells
- Mildew
- Allergies (watery eyes, dry eyes, cough)
What Causes Moisture in the Home?
Prevention is indeed better than cure. Should you want to refrain from buying a dehumidifier or using baking soda to solve your problem, you must identify what causes the problem so it will no longer occur in the future.
Here are common causes of moisture at home:
- Indoor plants
- Leaking pipes (toilets and sink)
- Hot showers
- Poor ventilation
- Rain and roof leakage
- Steam from ironing and cooking
- Inadequate window seals
What Other Substances Are Moisture Absorbers?
Baking soda is not the only household ingredient you can use to eliminate moisture. Thus, don’t fret when baking soda is unavailable in your house. Since most dehumidifiers are expensive, you can try other remedies before you opt for store-bought products.
Here are other reliable home staples to use in removing moisture in your house.
- Rock salt
- Honey
- Nylon
- Hesperostipa comata seeds
- Germinating seeds
- Rice
- Aluminum oxide
- Silica Gel
- Desiccants
- Molecular sieve
These items are safe to use, even on your wood furniture. They are also non-deliquescent and hygroscopic. Therefore, they are the same as baking soda in terms of humidity absorption and moisture control.
Conclusion
Baking soda is a natural moisture absorber, thanks to its hygroscopic substance. The ingredient attracts surrounding water molecules and dries them under and behind surfaces. It works best and most effectively in small areas at a time.
While it can be used as a dehumidifier in large areas or for the entire home, you would need a lot of this ingredient to do so. And large amounts of baking soda can cause the house to become messy.
The best way to utilize this substance is to use only a small amount and leave it for about 24 hours. Then clean it up with a vacuum cleaner for a more fantastic result.
If you’re interested in learning what else baking soda cleans in your home, check out our post – Does Baking Soda Clean Grease?