When was the last time you neatly organised your wardrobe? If you haven’t so far, then it’s time you did. It’s monsoon and if you live in a city like Mumbai that faces incessant monsoon rains, it is common for walls, clothes, food and utensils to remain damp and become breeding grounds for mould.
Mould and fungus can grow anywhere – in furniture, upholstery, clothing and in leaky pipes, cracks in walls and ceilings. It is not just unpleasant to look at, it also harbours bugs and insects. Open the closet and check if your favourite denims smell damp and musty. Since most of us are working from homes and do not need to dress up often, chances are that our clothes and shoes have already become the breeding ground for pesky little mould spores. But fret not, here are some interesting monsoon hacks for you to keep the fungus at bay.
Material required:
Vinegar, Lemon juice, Salt, Neem, Baking soda, Camphor
Vinegar: This versatile ingredient can help you prevent mould in your clothes. Make a solution by adding one cup of vinegar to a bucket of warm water. Soak your garments in the bucket for 20 minutes. Finally, wash the garments as you normally would.
Lemon Juice and salt: Lemon juice is another effective way of preventing mould in your clothes. Squeeze two lemons into a bowl, add one cup of salt to it and mix well. Now, fill half a bucket with lukewarm water, add the mixture to it, and soak your garments for 20 minutes. Then, wash your clothes using a mild detergent.
Neem: Its anti-fungal properties keep mould and fungus away. Make your own anti-fungal pouches by wrapping a few dry neem leaves in a cloth and place them in your wardrobe and bookshelves. You can place them in between stacks of clothes or in the pockets of jackets, shirts and trousers on hangers.
Baking soda: You can use vinegar in combination with baking soda to improve its effectiveness. Sprinkle baking soda onto a mouldy patch or spray a solution of one teaspoon of baking soda and two cups of hot water directly on the mould. Let it sit for an hour before scrubbing with a brush and rinsing off the residue. Give the area final spray of vinegar to disinfect it and prevent regrowth. Wipe dry.
Camphor: Take a muslin bag. Fill some camphor and put it in your closet. Camphor not only absorbs moisture, but makes your cupboard smell good too.
