Monsoon: Home Care Tips for Indian Homes
1. Seepage in foundation walls can be due to a leaking downspout. These problems should be corrected before the monsoon. The causes can be many, so corrective action can only be taken when you have determined the cause of the problem. Stop gap measures do not really help, as the problem is likely to recur the next year.
2. Termites are a major problem wherever water leakage or high humidity levels are a feature. They would require professionals to do a really complete job, but you would need to check the whole house for any signs of termite infestation, which tend to increase during the rainy season.
3. Some easy do-it-yourself remedies for woodwork. Put Camphor in your cupboards, it takes away the moisture and protects your clothes. Neem leaves are also effective against silver fish, which are a common problem in the rainy season. Cloves are an equally effective remedy.
4. Hardwood floors need maintenance during the rainy season. Make sure they are free from moisture and wax them to protect them. Moisture content in hardwood floors tends to make them warp.
5. Carpets, especially wall-to-wall carpets need to be vacuumed regularly with cleaners that will take away not only the dirt but also the moisture that seeps into the fibers. A good carpet cleaner will also keep them from getting a musty smell. Rugs should be rolled up during the rainy season, as they just get dirty if you use them. Ideally if you can wrap them properly in polyethylene sheets they are saved from water damage and insect infestation as well.
6. Waterproofing of the roof is essential before the onset of monsoon. Check that the drains are not blocked with leaves. Ensure that water is directed away from the foundation. Check the underside of roofs for leakage or water condensation.
7. Walls need to be checked for breakages and seepage. The exterior masonry should be repaired well before the onset of the rains. Paint on the interior walls should be checked for flaking.
8. Ventilation is an important aspect of home care during monsoons. Make sure there is enough cross-ventilation and fresh air coming into your home, otherwise the humidity levels will cause a general feeling of dampness.
9. Tile joints in bathrooms should be checked and kept sealed, especially in apartment complexes.
10. Keeping areas clean can prevent mildew and by ensuring that the moisture content in the air is kept as low as possible. Air conditioners and dehumidifiers are a good way to reduce the humidity levels inside a home, but the best way to protect upholstery and rugs is sunlight. A good sunning is the best way to keep moisture from creating problems.
11. An investment you can make this year is a tumble dryer. In a country with such an extended monsoon, we should use tumble dryers, not only to ensure that our clothes do not smell because of moisture trapped in the fibres, but hanging clothes inside the house to dry is one of the reasons why the moisture content in so many homes is so many homes is so high. While its wet outside, you must think of every conceivable way to keep the inside of your home DRY. That solves half the problems that are associated with a prolonged rainy season.
12. Any major work in the home should be done either before the monsoon or after. That is the first basic rule of home décor.
Related Tags: furniture, humidity, india, flooring, paint, interior, carpets, monsoon, termites, seepage
Rekha I Nambiar is an interior designer based in New Delhi,India. She runs her own business in interiors,furniture and home furnishings.
Her work may be viewed at IDI HOME
Her blog is THE DECORATING HUB
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Tips For Changing The Basement Apartment Into The Cheerful Place
A basement apartment is identical with a dark place that usually could not offer the feeling at home - The Great New Stylish Home Decoration
Creating a new stylish decoration commonly require a high price including the budget to buy some new - Refurbishing Your Kitchen For A Timeless Look
General preservation of old homes is a favorite conversation for householders of vintage houses but - Simple Steps To Restoring Your Padded Dining Room Seating
While many people would feel comfortable hanging wall tapestries or wrought iron wall crosses or eve - Skylights Texas
Sleep under the Stars with Texas SkylightsBe it glass, fiberglass or polycarbonate, skylights in Tex - How To Choose Shabby Chic Furniture Styles
It can easily be considered that shabby chic furniture is something of an oxymoron, since furniture - The Character Of Chandeliers
Picture a room in which chandeliers hang from the ceiling. Before you start rolling your eyes and wo - Why Buy Cheap Venetian Blinds?
There's nothing inappropriate about getting low cost Venetian blinds. Nowadays you can buy incredibl - Using Swags Window Curtains For A More Elegant Appeal
Living in a house that is well-decorated can make you feel so comfortable and relaxed. Having a well - Flat Roof Skylights
Flat Roof Skylights: Be Your Neighbor's EnvyThe trick to creating the feel of spaciousness and addin
Most viewed articles in this category:
- Home Decor Shopping On The Internet
You need not struggle with the decision on what to buy when you are shopping for home decor for your - See the Difference Feng Shui Color Can Make for You
Those familiar with Feng Shui know that this science has special colors associated to each of the ei - Stage Lights
A live performance is considered the ultimate head rush for many. An act before a crowd leaves no ro - Bedspreads are the First Decision When Designing Your Master Bedroom
Why would you want to start with a Bedspread? The best answer is that there are an almost infinite - Some Interesting Decorating Styles
There are a lot of reasons you may be looking into decorating a bathroom. Perhaps you have just boug - Mix and Match Your Decor for You
Many of us become almost obsessed with decorating styles. We worry about what the current style tren - Candles: Elegant and Popular
Walk into any home these days and if there is an aroma in the air relating to fruit, apple cinnamon, - There's A Place For Everything With a Closet Organizer
When people think about organizing their lives to save time, they rarely think that their closet - t - A Personal Review of the Tempur Pedic Mattress
My wife and I bought a Tempur Pedic mattress back in the early days when most people hadn't heard of - Natural Square Area Rugs: Getting Squared Away
Oh, no. You have a square room, and you are feeling boxed in by your decorating dilemma. Four iden