Air humidity can be absolute and relative, and at a purely domestic level, it is the latter that is much more important. The human body reacts to its increase or decrease by a change in well-being.
Dry air damage
The consequences of dry air in an apartment can be the most unpredictable.
The mucous membranes of the nasal cavity secrete a special secret called muconasal. It acts as a barrier and prevents microorganisms dangerous to humans from entering the body. What can be if, in dry air, the release of this secret is insufficient?
- Dry mucous membranes "help" to become infected with various acute respiratory viral infections.
- This also threatens the formation of microcracks on the shells that can give rise to purulent infections.
- Too dry air negatively affects not only the organ of smell, the skin also cracks on the lips, general weakness is noted.
- When the humidity is low, tears dry up quickly, and the cornea of our visual organs does not have the opportunity to be cleaned and moistened properly. There is a so-called dry eye syndrome: redness, itching, general discomfort.
- Dry air is also harmful to the skin, they also become dry.And such skin is more susceptible to various allergic reactions, dermatosis.
Determine the dryness of the air
Most precisely, this parameter will be determined by special devices such as a hygrometer or a home weather station. However, all this can be done with the help of improvised means.
- Fill a glass beaker with water.
- We cool it by putting it in the refrigerator, up to three to five degrees.
- Then leave the glass for ten minutes on the table.
- During this time, drops of condensate will appear on its side surfaces. If they are small, this indicates normal humidity. Large drops will testify to increased; they will flow down the glass. But if the subject of study remains dry, then this is an indicator of low humidity.
Another handy tool is a coniferous cone. If you bring it into an apartment where dry air is expected, and for the purity of the experiment, place it away from heating devices, the bump will open the scales. With high humidity, the scales will remain pressed to the “body” of the cone.
Moisturizing at home
It is not at all necessary to buy expensive appliances to increase the humidity in the house; it is quite possible to use well-known and very affordable folk methods.
Airing
This is the most common way and should become a rule of thumb for everyone. Whatever the weather outside the window, it is necessary to ventilate the room three times a day for at least a quarter of an hour. Thanks to this regular procedure, the "atmosphere" in the room is not only cleaned, but also the humidity is normalized.
ON A NOTE
It is most useful to ventilate rooms in winter with its freshness and frost. In summer heat and dryness, this effect is not achieved.In summer, it is good to ventilate the premises in the early morning, before the heat has begun, and in the evening, when the temperature drops.
Vessels with water
It is easy to increase the humidity of the air by placing vessels with water in living quarters. In winter they are placed next to, above central heating battery or under her. Water slowly evaporates, providing moisture to the air. You just need to remember to replenish the dishes with water in time.
Houseplants
“One in three” - this is how you can characterize the role of indoor potted plants: 1) decorate the interior, 2) purify the air and 3) moisturize it. They “work” all year round, you just need to provide them with proper care. Effective "moisturizers" include dracaena and monstera, ficus and cyperus, sheffler.
BY THE WAY
To moisten an area of 15-20 "squares", literally two or three pots are enough.
Drying clothes
You can increase the "air" humidity in the apartment if, for example, freshly washed things are placed for the night not in the bathroom or on the balcony, but in the living room.
Spray
What to do with it, I think, is clear without much explanation. Having poured water into the spray bottle, walk with it through all the rooms.
Mop and water
An indispensable and effective method is to regularly carry out wet cleaning. With its help, everything will be in order with the humidity of the air, and it will be easier to deal with seasonal infections.
Indoor fountain (or aquarium)
Both of them, being beautiful elements of the interior, at the same time will be able to slightly humidify the air in the “environment”, although they cannot replace the humidifier 100%.
Moisture from the bathroom
This apartment building is truly a source of high humidity, especially after taking water procedures.This feature can be used to raise the humidity level in other rooms by keeping the door open. Especially for this purpose, you can turn on the hot water tap here for a while.
boiling kettle
During tea or coffee drinking, it is recommended not to immediately remove the boiling kettle from the stove - let it puff on low heat or minimum power if the stove is electric. Steam will “dilute” excessive dry air in the kitchen.
Homemade Humidifiers
- The winter version of the humidifier is easy to make from an ordinary PET bottle by cutting holes in its side - one wider and a couple of small ones through which a rope is threaded.Water is poured into this “device” and hung on a radiator battery. The air heated from it ensures the rapid evaporation of water.
- Assembling the humidifier on the “electric drive” is also quite simple. Some kind of water tank and an inexpensive simple aquarium compressor are involved here, which increases the rate of evaporation of the liquid during its aeration.
- A fan for a computer is fixed on the cut neck of a large plastic cylinder, cutting out small air vents just below it. The poured liquid must not reach the appliance.
Microclimate for kids
The opinion of many parents that the children's room should be very warm is erroneous. But according to hygienic standards, the “optimum” temperature here is + 18–19 °, and air humidity is 50–70%, which helps prevent frequent colds.
What to do when a newborn has appeared in the family? It is best to get a humidifier that will help maintain the right levels of humidity in the room.If a humidifier is not affordable, then you can equally use most of the above recommendations, except perhaps for drying laundry with its “chemical” smells and placing houseplants in a children's corner to avoid all sorts of irritations and allergies.
