how can I dehumidify my house without spending a fortune on a dehumidifier?

Question

Hello all,

Ok, its the time of the year where washing is indoors. I rent a house and the moisture is making my duvet damp.

Originally I thought, ok, Ill buy a dehumidifier but a proper one cost about £100 my house is rented so its not like it a long term investment.

Is there a nifty trick I can utilise to remove the moisture from the air.

(I think a solution may be to contact the land lords but that aside what can you wonderful people suggest.)

thank you

matt

Answer 1

dehumidifiers are not all expensive, keep looking you will find one in your price range, check e-bay out. put a add in the paper that you are looking for a used one.ask a question on here if any one has a cheap used on for sale..you never know...

Answer 2

Not all dehumidifiers cost a fortune you know.

In the meantime - open windows when something is going to be producing a lot of moisture, like a shower, boiling water, using a clothes dryer etc etc.

Hang your duvet over an airing rack during the day - by a heater or radiator would be good.

Part of the reason it gets damp is not humidity but you - your body sweats and the moisture goes into the duvet.

Try to dry your clothes in a room well away from your bedroom.

Answer 3

You can buy simple kits from places like woolworths for a few pounds. Its basically a vented box with crystals in the upper compartment. The crystals absorb moisture in the air and dissolve into the lower compartment. I have one in my bedroom because my windows run with water and it really works. If your room is particularly damp, you may need more than one, but give one a go and then add another. When the crystals run out, you just buy a refill pack, I think I only bought one refill last winter. This will obviously cost money over time especially if you have to use more than one or they get used up quickly - but it is a cheap option to try. Gives you a chance to save for a better option.

Obvious things to think of are improving the heating (expensive), keeping bedroom door open at night to improve ventilation if clothes are drying in your room - if clothes are drying elsewhere door shut and open a window a little during the day. Oh and if your using a calor gas heater - they give off pints of water vapour a day.

Speaking to your landlord would be a bad idea. a) If you are the cause of condensation they can't be expected to sort it. b) Chances are they will tell you to heat the house more.
c) Because you are drying clothes indoors and effectively causing the damp, you could be held responsible for damage to wallpaper etc, this might be reflected when you go to move and try to get your deposit back.

Just been shopping and Woolworths are selling a small electric dehumidifier for half price - £10 now

Answer 4

I would consider buying a used one off of ebay or some thing, or if you buy a new one you can always sell it on e-bay or localy. I dont know what the weather gets like in the uk this time of year but considering its getting closer to winter, if you start using your heat, things should start drying out some.

if you have a window airconditioner you can use that his is how: (i copied and pasted it from a site) you can use a window unit as a dehumidifier: take a window unit, and install it in the center of the house. THE UNIT MUST BE TILTED, USUALLY TOWARDS THE SIDE, SO THAT THE CONDENSATE CAN RUN OUT. Catch the water coming out of the AC unit and route it out of the house, using a funnel and a garden hose. If not, you can locate the AC unit on top of a sink or large bucket that you will have to empty periodically.

Note that in this instance, we are using the ac unit as a dehumidifier, therefore the cold air from the front as well as the hot air from the back of the unit blow inside the house. The house could get pretty warm, but that is how it will dry out.

thats all I'v got.

Answer 5

Buy an enzyme product called Simple solution. You can find it at any pet supply store. I use this for all pet smells. Rent a carpet cleaner, or buy one. They're pretty affordable. Usually less than a vacum. Clean your carpet using regular cleaner, then as a last " rinse" put two cups of simple solution into the steam cleaner with the hot water and run over your carpets. It can also be used full strength in a spray bottle. Lighty mist any fabric, drapes/pillows/cloth furniture etc. I do this twice a year, or every time I clean the carpets. Spot spray in between. Keeps things smelling great! Good luck.

Answer 6

If you get a dry day, hot or cold, open windows, and even a door propped open, its amazing what a change of air can do to remove old damp air..
Don't attempt this on a rainy day, there is too much moisture..
I saw this "trick" years ago....... Get a piece of plywood a foot square, put a batten holder on it, obtain a 15w Pygmy-bulb in dark red or blue, attach a wire and plug it into a socket. Place on floor
under bed . The slight heat keeps the bed aired, and doesnt cost a fortune to run..

Answer 7

open windows as already said and leave a couple 100 watt bulbs on todry out the air with heat

Answer 8

try dishes of salt around the rooms and maybe go to the launderette to dry your clothes!