Cleaning hacks or DIY for monsoon season

Keeping the house orderly and dry during the rainy season is definitely a challenge and even if we know the tricks and tips to do that, it takes lot of time and efforts to keep the things in good shape. Let us go through some of these tips point wise.

(a) We have to keep the clothes in hangers and preferably in a spacious cupboard and keep some little distance between them so that air can pass through. It is also advisable to keep small bags of moisture retaining crystals packed in small bags which generally absorb the moisture from the air whenever it is more. Another important point is that some cupboards are fixed to the walls and it is seen that moisture leaks from the walls to them and creates all sort of fungus etc and then one solution is to affix some wide cello tape along the joints and that seals it and it works well during the rainy season and then next year again it has to be replaced with a new tape. If possible it is also a nice thing to keep these clothes in sun once in a month or so.

(b) Regular cleaning of floors with phenyl solutions and application of anti insect sprays is the only solution to repel the insects. Do not light the verandah bulb early in the evening as that attracts them and it becomes a big problem to handle them. Put the outside light on only when it has got much darker. If the inside lights are on see that no door to outside is open as that would attract so many moths.

(c) Fungus cannot be removed so easily and the only way is periodically clean the crockery and other utensils. One important point is that we have to wipe the utensils dry before keeping them in the usual place.

(d) For reducing the skin problems there are some natural soaps which are very helpful and one of them is available in the market as Medimix and there might be many others which have extract of Neem in them which is very beneficial in skin ailments.

(e) Electrical appliances should not be operated with wet hands and require dry wiping time to time. Those appliances which are not used regularly can be kept by covering them with a plastic cover. Do not keep the mobiles etc on the naked surfaces like granite slab in the kitchen or floor as they will pick up moisture from there quickly.

One should keep the home clean during the monsoons. It is very important for the health and hygiene of the entire family. Any negligence in this area may result in unhealthy conditions in the family. Due to high humidity and atmospheric conditions, the spread of various disease will be on increase during this season. Flu, cold cough and other types of fevers will be on the higher side during this season. It is better to notice the problems in the house in advance and take professional help and fix them so that we will be safe in our homes during this season. The following are the points to be followed during this season.
1. If there are any cracks on the roof and walls we should see that they will be prepared before the monsoon starts. Otherwise, the situation may lead to dampness. Then moss and fungus will come. It is better to paint the walls with a waterproofing coat. All the rain pipes should be cleaned so that the water doesn't stagnate there and flow from the roof to the ground without any problem.
2. Some may be using carpets and rugs on the grounds. It is better to roll them away during rainy seasons. This will stop them from getting damp. If it is not possible to role them out one should Vacuum them every day during this season without fail.
3. All wooden furniture shoved be moved away from windows and doors. We should keep at least a couple of inches away from these openings to avoid damping of these items. Don't go for any new woodwork during this season. It is the best thing to keep some naphthalene balls in cupboards. They will help to absorb some moisture and keep the clothes fresh. One can use silica gel packets also so that the moisture will get absorbed. Some will use some neem leaves to avoid dampness and musty smell. These leaves will help in keeping silverfish away. Some cloves can also be placed in between your clothes.
4. During the monsoons the clothes will not get dried outside. Rain may come at any time and moisture in the air will be very high. Drying them under the fan might be okay for the clothes. But after drying we should keep them in sunlight at least for some time so that they can smell bad. Periodical dry cleaning of the clothes may be better during this season.
5. We should be very careful with children also. We should not allow them to get wet during this season. We should see that their dress will be always dry and clean. We should clean their hands frequently.

Rainy season is a big nuisance for everyone in the family and the whole house is filled with humidity and dampness and in the places where open space for sun is not available we cannot even dry our items in sun. So, one thing that can be done is to clean the house thoroughly before the rainy season and check for any leakage points in the windows or shades or rooftops or balconies fem where any water or moisture can seep in ruin the whole place. This physical examination is amandatory before the rains. If there are such weak points then it is advisable to get them sealed by the professionals or even one can do it oneself using the water proof epoxy available in the hardware shops.

Another thing is all the wardrobes are to be lined with newspaper or some other absorbent papers which can absorb the moisture and can be replaced with fresh ones whenever we feel that they are moistened or have become soft. As cupboards are generally closed it is better to put some freshener in them so that the air inside does not get false smell. During rainy season it is better to keep the clothes after ironing so that they remain dry for a longer time.

Kitchen and store rooms are the place which become unmanageable during the rains and it is suggested that we should lightly oil the pulses and other grains so that they do not attract the small insects. Water is the main source of inconvenience in the kitchen and it is necessary to wipe the spill water here and there with dry cotton clothes and that will help in reducing the humidity inside.

Rainy season is a difficult time with the ambience totally wet, humid and cold. Of late the rains are more pouring and creates waterlogging and restricts movement too. There will be dampness around on the walls, ceiling,floors, bathrooms etc due to leakage, seepage and 'sweating'.
So it needs more efforts for keeping cleanliness and hygiene in rainy season.

a) How to keep our clothes dry, fresh, and smell good during monsoon?

Before the rains start, we should research into pour wardrobe and take out and keep ready washed and ironed those clothes which are not prone to become wet easily and which get dried easily. As far as possible ,non-cotton or less cotton mix,synthetic fabric clothes may be used. Clean the wardrobes, cloth cupboard etc before rains come and place deodorants( and dehumidifier if available ) in them .
Sprinkle the prickly powders used in summer season along the corners and edges in the wardrobe. Place the clothes slightly away to avoid touching the edges. Use suitable waterproof clothe covers like saree cover etc to keep dresses. Keep the cupboard, wardrobe etc away from walls, leaking ceilings etc to avoid dampness.
Those working, and needing to travel , may keep a set of outer dresses at office, so that if the worn dress get wet, you need not feel discomfort working with wet clothes. At home one may need to use more set of clothes than usual in dry seasons. Whenever sunshine happens and weather becomes slightly dry, open the cupboard, wardrobe doors and allow to ventilate for sometime. You can place mild smelling agarbathi sticks, camphor,in the partitions without them touching the clothes. Alternatively a few pieces of clove or Cardamom can be placed in a small cup and kept in the wardrobe ,cupboard.

b) As it rains, many insects enter our house like earthworms, snails, mosquitoes, Millipedes or house centipedes, hairy caterpillars, etc, how to eliminate them?

The floors may be dry-mopped well , especially before evening twilight,using a few drops of Lemongrass oil or some harmless chemical liquids. Fumigation may be done using the traditional fumigation materials we buy for pooja occasions and daily use.

c) We can find fungus and dampness in rooms, cupboards, clothes, belts, etc, how to keep them at bay?
During rainy season do not use liquid material to wipe and clean them. Use dry clothes, dry papers to clean al the above mentioned surfaces and insides of store spaces. In some places a little of talcum powder, boric powder etc may be used. Direct dry air from dryers, vacuum cleaners or at least direct pedestal fans to such damp prone areas periodically to reduce dampening . Remove any spider web or webs immediately on seeing them. Use oil based insecticides spray wherever possible. Unused clothes may be unfolded and spread in a dry place and allow dry air to remove the dampness in them.

d) There are skin rashes, tinea pedis(Valam Kadi in Malayalam), etc, how to remove them?
As far as possible keep body parts dry. Use footwear like half shoe etc to cover the toes and heels to avoid exposing them to problems like tinea pedis(Valam Kad) etc. Feet should be washed clean with the familiar materials like Dettol, Savlon etc and applied some common antifungal powder . Before the rains such home remedies and first aids should be bought and kept available ready.

e) As many of us use electronics appliances like mobile phones, laptops/desktops, etc, how to keep them in good condition from lighting, dampness?
Keep the movable items in places where there is no seepage or leakage and are relatively dry. To protect from lightning, plug out all the pluggable appliances just as the lightning and thunder start. Before the rain season earthing may be ensured ( and earth leaking remedied if so) by calling an experienced electrician. Switching off the mains is preferable if possible.

f) any other useful tips for the monsoon or rainy season?
Mosquito/insect net may be fixed in doors and windows so that they can be kept open but avoid insects entering inside. Use clothes, kerchiefs and towels which are lighter and easy to wipe and dry. Avoid self repairing of electrical gadgets. Ensure proper insulation of all cables, switches and other places where we usually touch those electrical appliances and switches. Before the rains start itself visit the terrace, drainages etc and ensure they are free from clogging and water flows out freely. Use proper sized umbrellas or rain coats when going out in rains. This can reduce dress getting drenched.

We need to be more careful during the rainy season as this season is full of humidity and moisture. So, there would be more possibility to be damaged household Item if we don't care properly. Some suggestive tips to be taken care of house and house-related items are as follows:
a) Always keep dry cloth in the cupboard. If cloth is wet then keep it under the fan so that properly dry. If moisture persists in the cloth then it may damage. Keep the naphthalene ball in the cupboard as it helps in killing the insect.
b)Try to keep your floor dry and clean during this season. Always clean the floor with phenyl solution and mark your house with Krossline so that millipedes, big ant and another rainy insect may not enter into your house.
c) Before the rainy season you should check your house whether seepage is there or not. If it is there then get it repaired first. Seepage house creates many problems for the house and household item. For better protection, you should fix the net in your window. From time to time you should check the water clogging problem. Water should not be clogging in and around house as it spreads many diseases.
d) If skin related problem happens in this season then use neem related soap like Margo as it helps in removing rashes and itching problem. There are many other soaps available in the market which is made especially for skin related problem. Medimax is also medicated soap and good for the skin. If the rashes problem continues then apply germ expert cool herbal powder. It may give relief to your problem.

We need to take abundant care of ourselves during the rainy season since any negligence in relation to cleanliness of the floors, not taking care of the holes appearing on the walls or not taking adequate care of cleaning of clothes will invite a lot of health issues.
Here are the tips of the different questions raided by the author to tackle the issues -
1) In course of drying process, we need to have the clothes hanged separately after washing the same so as to expedite the chances of their early drying. Moreover the clothes should be hanged near to our widows where there is adequate air flow for early drying.
To avoid the same from from murky smell, we may use some amount of baking soda or vinegar to be added in course of washing of the clothes. This will take care of all the fungus responsible for foul smelling due to the antibacterial actions of these substances.
2) With a little care, we can control the menace of insects in the rainy season with the control
of the following points-
1) Fill up all the cracks appearing on the walls in the different areas such as baseboards, windows or cabinets.
2) Ensure that there is no entry of insects while bringing any packaging in your home.
3) Avoid the drainage of water inside the home since this may be the chief cause for attracting the paste.
4) Garbage is to be disposed off regularly.
5) Keep the entire area clean including the kitchen. Plates remaining in the sink should be attended to immediately so that it may not attract cockroaches.
3) If you coat all your walls with the waterproof cement so that absorption of moisture can be minimal during the rainy season, it will be better. Inside the wardrobes, change the old papers with the fresh ones and put some phenyl packets making some holes to these packets to expel the menace of insects. The clothes should be exposed to Sun - rays whenever the same is possible to eliminate the moisture.
4) Skin care being vital in this season can be taken up by using Neem Soaps for bathing or any soap having germicidal effects available in the market. Ensure that you are not using the half dried clothes since it may invite skin problems. Change your undergarments regularly so as to avoid skin - disease.