QUESTION

Hi Petrica!

How’s this week treating you? Ready for the rains? Whenever the monsoon hits, I become more diligent about my home. I make sure my dream home is dry, pest-free, and odor-free! Are there any tips for me? How can I make sure my place stays safe this romantic season?

Love,

Josie!

ANSWER

Hi Josie,

Yeah, I’m ready for rain! It is my favorite ’cause it got hot, piping food and an earthy, sweet scent. However, the season also brings leaky roofs, damp cupboards, and stinky clothes and carpets. So, to help you prepare, here are some monsoon home tips to make your house leak-proof so that you can enjoy the season in peace.

Waterproof anything you can!

  • Rainy seasons can make cracks worse. So, repair any cracks or leaks in the roof, walls, terrace, tiles, or elsewhere around the house.
  • To prevent rust and water leaks, repaint metal framed doors and windows.
  • Fix loose hinges and gaps on doors and windows. Check wooden doors and windows too, which may swell and fail to close properly during the rainy season.

Keep your indoors clean.

  • If you want your interiors to be clean, have a coir mat at the entrance to protect it from dirt and grime.
  • Maintain a clean yard by raking and blowing all the leaves and waste weekly.
  • Keep door locks and other iron essentials away from water.

Guard your furniture.

  • Every second house has laundry drying on chairs and window sills during the monsoon! Install extra clotheslines in convenient places, such as passageways, foyers, and lesser-used rooms.
  • Maintaining and upkeep furniture is quite a hassle. Having plastic chairs and stools ready for guests is an excellent idea when they arrive drenched.
  • Dry-wipe your furniture every day to keep it dampness-free.

Check your wiring and appliances.

  • Keep your air conditioner clean and well-maintained to avoid costly electrical mishaps.
  • Prepare for power outages. Always keep candles, lanterns, and torches handy if there is no alternative power source!

Organize your kitchen!

  • Using airtight jars and glass containers instead of plastics is always a good idea. To prevent worms and fungus growth, dry grains and pickles in the sun on sunny days.
  • Don’t forget to stock up on necessary items. Long-lasting wet spells can disrupt the supply chain for essentials such as milk, vegetables, groceries, etc., disrupting your daily routine.

Enhance the space.

  • Choose a location near the front entrance where you can dry wet raincoats and umbrellas.
  • Put up scented candles and incense sticks to fight the musty smell of monsoon.
  • Lighten up those heavy, dark window drapes by replacing them with pastel organza ones. It won’t only brighten up your dull space but will also dry faster since the material is sheer.
  • Make your interiors brighter and cozier with extra colorful cushions in bright shades like red, green, yellow, and pastels.
  • Wind chimes are an easy way to enjoy nature’s chimes and tingling.

Secure your documents.

  • Cover anything prone to getting wet with plastic, such as books, loose papers, and magazines.

Care for your clothing.

  • Put neem leaves and camphor balls between the folds of your clothes to keep silverfish and other invaders out. Put a few cloves between each garment when storing expensive clothes in a metal box.

Keep your home sterile, peaceful, and safe as the monsoon approaches with these handy tips. Don’t forget to bookmark this monsoon checklist so that you can savor each moment as you sail through the season.

Love,

Petrica!