If you have a stuffy or humid bathroom, basement, bedroom, or other room in your home, you know how important having a dehumidifier is in making your home more comfortable. Dehumidifiers work wonders when it comes to keeping allergens and unwanted odors at bay while keeping your home at your preferred humidity level. However, you will want to make sure you are getting the most out of your dehumidifier so it lasts longer, keeps working properly, and keeps your home comfortable and clean while getting some added benefits. Here are some things to consider in order to get the most out of your dehumidifier.
When To Use It
A dehumidifier can serve a variety of purposes. Of course, a dehumidifier’s primary function is to decrease the humidity levels in your air, and with that comes the decrease of allergens and unwanted odors. If you or someone in your home suffers from allergies or asthma, a dehumidifier should definitely be used. In the summertime when humidity levels are often high, using a dehumidifier can keep allergens, mold, and mildew away. If you live in a particularly rainy region, using a dehumidifier during the rainy seasons can keep that mildewy odor away, decrease the chances of growing mold, and decrease that feeling of mugginess in the air in your home. There really is no right or wrong time to use a dehumidifier - it all depends on your needs and your environment. As long as you use it when you feel like your air is a bit stuffy and humid, or you notice changes in the weather and allergen levels, you will notice its benefits. That said, try not to use a dehumidifier just to use it - using a dehumidifier when you do not really need one can cause your air to get too dry, and take away from the dehumidifier’s actual benefits.
Placement
The placement of your dehumidifier is the first step towards ensuring you are getting the most benefits out of your dehumidifier. Identify the problem area: is your basement mildewy? Then you may wish to use a basement dehumidifier. Is your bathroom or laundry room trapping extra moisture? By placing your dehumidifier in the room that is the source of the issue, the dehumidifier will clean up and dehumidify the air in that space, which will help surrounding areas in your home as well.
Once you choose the best room to place your dehumidifier in, try placing it in the center of the room, away from open windows. Opening windows will allow extra moisture in your home, which defeats the work your dehumidifier is doing. By placing the dehumidifier in the center of the room, more air can circulate around it, allowing it to absorb more moisture from the entire space. If you cannot place it in the center of the problem space, try to avoid placing it in corners or up against the wall. Try to place it in as open of a space as possible, while allowing enough room for air circulation and access to the water chamber.
Cleaning Your Dehumidifier
In order to keep your dehumidifier running smoothly, cleaning it every couple of weeks - depending on how often you use it - will ensure that it keeps working well. Any mold that forms inside your dehumidifier can get redispersed into the air, which could cause problems for those with bad allergies or asthma. Dust can also collect on the outside of the machine, so cleaning that can be helpful as well.
Cleaning does not mean just emptying the water that gets collected - that should be done every couple of days if you are using it regularly. To thoroughly clean your dehumidifier, carefully take it apart so you can clean the majority of its pieces. Although taking it apart can be quite the task itself, it is worth doing to ensure your dehumidifier keeps running properly. Once you have taken it apart, mix a solution of one part water and one part vinegar. Use this solution to clean all of the inside parts with a sponge or cloth. For harder-to-clean areas, you can even spray pure vinegar on it and let it sit until you can wipe the dirt and grime away. Use a damp cloth with water or the vinegar and water solution to wipe any dust or other dirt off of the exterior of the dehumidifier. Once you have cleaned all of the necessary parts, wipe them dry with a clean towel or cloth and let them sit out until fully dry before you reassemble your machine.
As always, be sure to empty out the water reservoir every couple of days after frequent use, and do not forget to replace the air filter as needed (about once a year or so).
Conserving Water
Your dehumidifier collects water as it cools and condenses the humid air it collects. Although this water passes through filters, that does not make it safe to drink. But have you ever wondered if there is something you can do about that water your dehumidifier collects? Well, there are a variety of ways you can reuse this water throughout your home to conserve water and cut costs.
One of the easiest ways to reuse this water is for watering your plants. Because this water is not safe to drink, it is not advisable to water any edible plants, such as garden herbs or vegetables, but you can definitely water any other household or outdoor plants with this water. It can also be used for household cleaning. Mix some soap, vinegar, bleach, or other cleaning products with the dehumidifier water to ensure you kill any living microbes. You can use this solution to clean your car, floors, bathrooms, and nearly anything else in your home. This water is also handy to use in refilling steam irons or to use to flush your toilet. In potential emergency situations, it could be helpful to store this water to use for nonessential purposes in order to conserve drinking water.
While this water may not look the cleanest, it can be used for a multitude of purposes. The water does pass through filters, but be sure to empty out the water reservoir every couple of days to make sure no bacteria or other contaminants start to grow in the stagnant water. If you are smart about emptying the water reservoir, the collected water can be useful in so many ways.
Final Thoughts
Your dehumidifier can be one of the most useful and important machines in your house. When used properly, they get rid of that uncomfortable, humid feel to the air and any musty, unwanted odors while helping in decreasing mold, dust, and other allergens that form in humid conditions. With all of these benefits, you will want to make sure you are taking care of your dehumidifier in order to get the best results. Even aside from the primary dehumidifying functions, the collected water has a purpose, allowing you to get even more out of this machine. Now, by knowing when to use your dehumidifier, how to correctly place it for optimal function, how to properly clean its parts, and knowing you get the added bonus of being able to conserve water (and maybe even cut some water costs), you can get the most out of your dehumidifier.
