Hong Kong weather can be a real dampener, especially during April to June, when fog cloaks the skyline, skin feels permanently sticky, bathroom walls sweat water droplets… you get the picture. But, perhaps the most unbearable consequence of Hong Kong humidity is a damp home, where mould and mildew thrive and allergens lurk. Hong Kong seasons may be beyond our control, but there are ways to keep your home dry and airy all year-round. Here’s how:
Invest in a dehumidifier
Every Hong Kong apartment needs at least one dehumidifier. Conduct a thorough dehumidification session on your Hong Kong property at least once a week. Open all storage areas—especially the ones in which you store clothing and leather goods—while running your dehumidifiers. Take care to keep a distance between your dehumidifiers and heat-sensitive items such as cosmetics and leather products. Feel free to dry your laundry while you’re at it.
Bathrooms, which are almost always damp, will require more dehumidification than other areas of your home, so maximise results by running your bathroom exhaust fan for an extended period after a hot shower with the door shut, and keeping the toilet cover down when dehumidifying.
Place desiccant tubs or silica gel packets in storage spaces
Since experts advise against running your dehumidifier for more than ten hours at a time, you should place desiccant—which comes in packets and tubs—in storage areas to keep your belongings dry. Dehumidifying products by Mizutori Zosana, a Japanese household name, is widely available at supermarkets and home goods stores.
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Stay up to speed on the Hong Kong weather forecast
The Hong Kong Weather Observatory provides timely and fairly accurate information on Hong Kong weather and humidity: its app (iOS; Google Play) provides information that can help you decide when exactly you should be blasting your dehumidifiers.
Change towels and bedsheets regularly
Towels trap moisture when we dry ourselves off after a shower and wipe dishes and countertops down. Meanwhile, cells and sweat can be found on bedsheets. Change towels and bedsheets regularly—three uses for bath towels and a week for bedsheets—and air them out in strong sunlight and in front of dehumidifiers whenever possible.
Declutter
Overfilled storage spaces can restrict air circulation, so get rid of unwanted belongings—or at least reorganise them—to get the air flowing. Want to get rid of larger pieces, such as furniture? You may want to consider recycling them.
Keep your plants outdoors
Your indoor jungle could be contributing to the humidity in your Hong Kong apartment. Keep your plants outdoors to prevent them from releasing vapour into your home. Alternatively, consider growing cacti and air plants, such as the Tillandsia Bulbosa, the Tillandsia Tectorum and the Tillandsia Xerographica, that double as natural dehumidifiers.
Control the mould
Dry wet areas immediately. Keep all surfaces and belongings well-ventilated. If that fails to prevent mould from growing on your clothes, add one cup of white vinegar or bleach to your washing machine before starting the wash cycle. Make sure you test the cleaning agents on inconspicuous areas of your clothing before washing. Mould growing on hard surfaces such as walls and shower panels can be removed with a good scrub using detergent and water. After getting rid of the mould, run a dehumidifier in the area—and pray that the mould doesn’t grow back.
We hope you take pleasure in your new home as much as we enjoyed helping you find it. Subscribe to our newsletter for more tips on maintaining your living space.
