Every year, the monsoons come and go and we are left with homes suffering from the after-effects of months of rain, humidity and poor circulation. During the monsoon, the biggest problem homes and buildings face is water damage caused by the high levels of humidity. This means having an excess amount of water in your walls which can considerably weaken the structural integrity of your home, sometimes leading to cracks in walls and beams. Floors also often retain moisture through the monsoon, which can lead to tiles getting dislodged. This is because moisture gets trapped under them, turns into vapour, and pushes out the tiles. Another common issue during the monsoon is the increase in the number of pests you’ll find, such as termites and bedbugs. Termites love moisture and feed on moist wood, making this a huge problem as the monsoon is when they multiply quickest. Bedbugs on the other hand love warmth and the cool, moist climate of the monsoon will send them straight into your home and more specifically, into your beds. The thought of sharing our beds with these bugs got us thinking about how to care for our homes during the monsoon, so we decided to speak to an expert , Mr Homecare. Mr Homecare offers professional cleaning and maintenance services across Mumbai, New Delhi and Bangalore which include deep cleaning, pest control, AC servicing, waterproofing and other services to help you keep your home a clean and happy place. Here are their top tips on how to take care of your home during the monsoon.



Discern Living: What kind of furniture is most susceptible to monsoon damage?

Mr Homecare: You can divide your furniture into three broad categories: that with plastic and acrylic frames, wooden frames or metal frames. Plastic and acrylic frame furniture is the least likely to get damaged by humidity and rain as they are designed to be durable. However, when you have cloth components and upholstery attached to these frames, they can start smelling and rotting if exposed to excess humidity.



Wooden frames are where you’ll see the most damage because they are susceptible to not only microbial degradation thanks to the weather but also insect-based damage which gets worse during the monsoon. Due to these two factors, wooden furniture can tend to rot in the monsoon. Nowadays however, most wooden furniture is coated with sun mica or some sort of polish and varnish that helps repel termites.



Polish by Asian Paints for Wooden Surfaces



Apart from slight superficial damage, metal furniture can survive the monsoon pretty well. You can take precautions by using the correct kind of paint or polish that will help protect the metal from moisture.





Painted Metal Furniture

What protective measures can one take?

Walls tend to get very damp in the monsoon so it is a good idea to keep your furniture away from the walls. Wooden furniture should never be close to windows during the monsoon as it may get exposed to the rain.



Air conditioners can go a long way in keeping your room dry as the moisture turns into liquid upon compression, which is then eliminated and dry air is swapped in for moist air. However, it is important to ensure your AC is well-serviced for this to work.

All your furniture should be polished, oiled and waxed in order to avoid moisture creeping into structures and to ensure the smooth movement of moving parts, which can also expand during the monsoon. You can also use camphor and naphthalene to keep insects at bay. Dust also attracts bugs so keep your home as clean and dust-free as you can. Another good but slightly more expensive option is silica gel. You can use packets of this in your cupboards to protect your clothes from excess moisture.





Naphthalene Balls

Silica Gel Sachets



How does one protect their homes while travelling?

Just before leaving, shut your doors, windows and vents and run a dehumidifier for 30-45 minutes. This will help your room stay drier. Also, move all your furniture to the centre of the room to keep it away from the walls. It is also a good idea to get pest control and wood medication services done before you leave.





Portable Dehumidifiers



Any other tips?

- Waterproofing your house before the monsoon will considerably reduce the chances of moisture penetrating into your wooden furniture.

- Always keep a dehumidifier handy as it will go a long way during the monsoon!

- If you have lots of living plants in your home, perhaps move them to the balcony or onto window sills as these raise the level of moisture in the air.



Mr Homecare can help with all your pre and post-monsoon home-care needs, so get in touch with them today. Have a safe and dry monsoon!

For more expert tips, download the Discern living app (available now on the Google Play Store or the iOS App Store)!