After a long, hot and humid summer, we eagerly wait for the monsoon rains to trickle down our windowsill and give us another solid chance to create an IG post with a long caption and a small hashtag #monsoonrain.
Oh, honey, everyone does it! So don’t feel embarrassed.
However, what a lot of us don’t do is prepare our wardrobe for this season. While the rain outside may be turning everything in its path a lush, lively green, inside our homes, the increased humidity has the potential to convert small, closed spaces into a breeding ground for fungus and bacteria.
Now, mold and fungus can grow anywhere – walls, furniture, upholstery, ceilings and even on your clothes. And… they aren’t just terrible to look at but can also harbor bugs and insects, which can further cause health problems too.
Scary, right? So, we suggest you lay down your hot cup of coffee right now and follow these simple hacks to ensure your wardrobe remains fresh and fragrant, just like this season:
LOOK OUT FOR SUNNY DAYS
Sunny days are rare in monsoon, but when you have one, make the most of it. Sunlight is a natural disinfectant, so when this star is out and shining, let your clothes absorb all its goodness.
This will remove any moisture and musty smell that can invite fungus or bacteria to grow. You must also open your doors and windows and let the sunshine through every nook and cranny of your home
WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU A LEMON, USE IT
If your clothes have already been infected, the best option is to make a DIY mix of lemon and salt. Make a thick paste of this combination and rub it gently into the fungi-infected areas. Leave it for a while and then wash and dry well.
LIGHT A BULB, BUDDY
Remember, mildew will settle in your clothes if the area it’s lying in is cold and damp. To avoid this, you can try to install a light bulb in your wardrobe, which will keep the space warm enough to keep those pesky microorganisms at bay.
HOT WATER WILL KEEP YOU HAPPY
Dip your unfortunate items that couldn’t get away from the clutches of bacteria into hot, hot water. This should do the trick. Or, if you have a ‘sanitise’ or ‘germ-kill’ setting on your washing machine, use it.
CAMPHOR IS COST-EFFECTIVE
In India, camphor has been used for many, many years to keep fungi from building in clothes or furniture. You must especially remember them being used in between trunks packed with woollen items.
This is because camphor works as a natural pest repellent and its fumes are known to form a rust-preventative coating. You can make small pouches and store them in your wardrobe.
Remember, as long as you air your wardrobe, dry your clothes thoroughly and give your clothes the love they deserve, your favourite items will remain unaffected by the weather, giving you a chance to sit back, and enjoy the relentless pour and think of a nice caption for your next Instagram post.
Happy monsoon!
