Does your basement feel too humid? Do you find yourself constantly sweating for no reason while you’re down there? Notice any molds growing on your windows and walls? And most importantly, does your basement stink?
If you answered ‘yes’ to all these questions, then boy, do we have some bad news for you. You’ve got a humidity problem! And it won’t go away unless you put your foot down and do something about it.
Basements are notoriously known for getting overly humid and damp, especially during those long and hot summer days. Most people try to overcome it by going shirtless, but that’s not exactly the most viable long-term solution. You could get yourself a dehumidifier, but the good ones will cost you at least over a hundred dollars.
That leaves you with only one remaining option; a good old-fashioned moisture absorber. They’re comparatively way cheaper than dehumidifiers and don’t use any electricity.
Moisture absorbers are a natural and organic way of maintaining a fresh and relaxed atmosphere in your basement. Not to mention, they improve the overall fragrance of the room and help protect your clothes from getting damaged.
Needless to say, you definitely need a good moisture absorber if you want to survive the long and humid summer.
Moisture Absorber for Basement
If you’re in the market for a good moisture absorber, chances are you might end up getting confused and overwhelmed. There is an abundance of moister absorbers in the market that come in all shapes, sizes, and materials.
But don’t worry, you don’t have to waste your time going through all of them; we’ve already done that for you. What’s more, we’ve compiled a list of the best moister absorbers in the market today. Go ahead, take a look.
1. DampRid FG50T Moisture Absorber
DampRid is the ultimate all-natural way of removing any extra moisture in the air that can potentially turn the room into a humid hotspot. It is a high-capacity moisture-absorbing bucket that traps all that unwanted moisture, resulting in a fresh and comfortable indoor environment.
DampRid uses special crystals to suck up the moisture that would otherwise cause stale and musky odors. Moreover, it prevents any damage to your valuable items such as clothes, sofas, etc. This makes it ideal for large enclosed spaces like basements and garages, which often have plenty of stagnant air.
Using it is easy and comes with no chances of accidents. That’s because of the unique moisture lock spill resistor technology, which includes a sealed safety cover for added protection. All you have to do is take out the lid and expose the sealed safety cover. This should let the moisture-absorbing crystals suck in all the dampness until it dissolves.
The DampRid comes in a fragrance-free version and a fresh scent version that deals with stink and odor. It includes 2 hi-capacity buckets weighing about 4 pounds each. The buckets can effectively last up to 6 months, depending on your basement’s humidity and temperature levels.
2. Damp Rid FG118 18 Oz Moisture Absorber With Activated Charcoal
Number 2 on our list is the DampRid FG 118 18 Oz moisture absorber. The secret ingredient used to dehumidify your room here is charcoal.
We know what you’re thinking; why charcoal? What does that have to do with keeping my basement cool?
We’ll have you know that charcoal has amazing moisture trapping capabilities and can even be used as a basic dehumidifier. Charcoal naturally traps the moisture from the air in small spaces like basements, attics, bathrooms, or closets. And since natural charcoal is a great moisture absorber in itself, imagine the possibilities when used together with DampRid crystals. The result is a cool, pleasant, and moisture-free environment for your home.
The DampRid FG 118 18 works great for enclosed spaces where a lot of activity takes place. Not only will it keep your basement cool, but it can also do the same for your kitchen, which usually sees excess moisture because of all the cooking. It can effectively remove any cooking odor that would otherwise linger in the room for hours.
The DampRid FG 188 18 comes with two packs of moisture absorbers and activated charcoal. You can essentially use them for the next few months before refilling them. The moisture trapping starts almost immediately after opening the packet and can effectively transform your room in just a few hours. If you have any mold brewing on your walls or doors, worry not, the DampRid FG 188 18 will fix it within the week.
3. Arm & Hammer Moisture Absorber & Odour Eliminator
The Arm & Hammer moisture absorber & Odour Eliminator is a convenient fix for all your dehumidifying needs. Why is it called Arm & Hammer? We have no clue. Will it fix the annoying moisture problem plaguing my basement? It absolutely will.
The product can effectively be used as a moisture and odor absorber, room freshener, or even a shoe deodorizer. The Arm & Hammer actively attracts excess moisture from the air and maintains a comfortable and pleasant humidity level. It is essentially a natural air freshener that can dehumidify any room and ensure a consistent supply of clean and fresh air.
Just remove the lid, peel off the protective foil cover, and simply keep it in an area of your basement where there is an odor problem. You’ll start to see the moisture-causing water collecting into the container.
4. Vacplus Moisture Absorber with Activated Charcoal
The Vacplus Moisture Absorber features premium filter papers and spherical calcium chloride particles to effectively remove excess moisture from your room.
Vacplus moisture absorber comes with a separate layer for collecting water during the moisture trapping process. The many calcium chloride particles mix with the moisture in the air and solidify them. Once this process is complete, the chloride particles dissolve, resulting in a flow of remaining particles into the water reservoir. What does this do? Well, it keeps your room cool and your mind calm.
The Vacplus moisture absorber only uses premium quality materials for its collecting layer. What’s more, it uses high-quality moisture-locking paper that prevents any water leakage. Additionally, the activated charcoal helps eliminate any foul-smelling odors while trapping the excess moisture.
The best part is that you can actually observe the process of water absorption during moisture trapping.
5. DampRid Refillable Absorber Variety Pack
Our next entry is for those people who are looking for a long-term solution to their humidity problems. The DampRid Absorber variety pack contains 6 refillable moisture absorber cups for your long-term needs.
The 6-pack includes a wonderful combination of 3 lavender vanilla cups and 3 fresh scent cups. These moisture cups effectively trap and absorb excess moisture out of the air and into the cups. You can use them simultaneously with each other or store them for future use. Oh, and did we mention that each of these 6 cups can individually last up to 60 days? Needless to say, we know a good deal when we see one.
The DampRid 6 pack is great for any enclosed spaces that are suffering from high levels of humidity and moisture. This includes basements, closets, bathroom kitchens, laundry rooms, and home offices. Say goodbye to all that damp air, and free your nose with the clean and fragrant air produced by the DampRid 6 pack.
6. Camco 44282 Fragrance-Free Moisture Absorber Bucket
The final entry on our list is the Camco 44282 Fragrance-Free Moisture Absorber Bucket. What does the 44282 stand for? We have no idea, but we do know that this is one heck of a bucket.
The product comes from Camco, a small manufacturing company specializing in quality products for camping, towing, grilling, Rv-ing, etc. It was their RV product department that felt the need to develop a moisture absorber bucket for RV use. Although the bucket was designed to be compatible with RVs, we have found that it works equally well, if not better, in the case of basements.
Camco’s moisture-absorbing bucket quickly gets rid of moisture from the air, especially in confined spaces and corners. The bucket is absolutely easy to use; all you have to do is peel off the foil to activate it. Once that is done, just sit back, relax and let the magic flow.
The Camco Moisture Absorber bucket is fragrance-free, meaning it actively eliminates foul smells and odors in your basement. Now, you can spend as much time down there as you want without worrying about that stinky smell. If the foul odor persists, it’s probably the smell of your sweat. We recommend you take a shower.
All jokes aside, the Camco Moisture Absorber bucket has the capability to absorb up to 3 times its weight in water. If that isn’t a solid product, we don’t know what is.
Signs of excess moisture in your basement:
One easy way of detecting the humidity in your room is by using a humidistat. For those of you who don’t know, a humidistat is an electronic device that responds to the amount of humidity in your room. It is typically included in most portable humidifiers or dehumidifiers.
Musty smell
Head over to your basement and take long deep smells. Sniff around the warmer sections of your basement and see what you can find. If you get a foul and musty smell, it’s probably a sign that your basement suffers from excessive moisture. The only way to fix it is by balancing the humidity in your room to create a supply of fresh and cool air.
Rotting Wood
If you see any signs of wood rots, chances are that the humidity level is too much, therefore damaging the overall quality of the wood. If you have any wooden chairs, tables, or sofas in your basement, we recommend checking the edges for any signs of rot.
Condensation in Windows
Check the windows for any signs of condensation. Observe the ends of the windows and see if there are any tiny droplets of water being collected over time. This is usually a sign of excess humidity.
Mold
The most telltale sign of excessive humidity is mold. We hate the green sticky stuff and wish we didn’t have to deal with it. Unfortunately, heavy mold growth is a direct result of excessive humidity.
Additional ways to improve moisture
Although the products mentioned above come with the specific reason of ridding your basement of moisture, there may be cases where it’s simply not enough. What we mean is that you might have to take a few precautionary steps yourself if the basement you’re dealing with is way too uninhabitable.
Improve Airflow
Humidity often gets collected when the room is totally covered and closed off. Increasing the flow of air within the room can be somewhat useful for lowering the humidity.
You could always leave the windows of your basement open for a few hours every day so that it can collect some outside air. If your basement doesn’t have a window, we suggest you install a fan.
Let in additional light
Sometimes, the absence of sunlight can also contribute to excess humidity. Try to let in some sunlight from any ventilation sources in your basement to fix this.
Use a dehumidifier
If your basement has too much humidity and is beyond your control, we suggest getting a dehumidifier to even things out.
Avoid clutter
Try to avoid making a mess in your basement. The more available free space your room has, the lesser the chances of excess humidity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to measure basement humidity?
You can easily and accurately measure the humidity level in your basement by using a humidistat.
What is the acceptable humidity level in your basement?
The humidity level shouldn’t be more than 60 % in an ideal scenario. As long as it stays between 30 % and 60 %, we’d say you still have a chance at getting fresh, clean air. However, should the humidity level exceed 80 %, things will become unbreakable for you. What’s more, you will be greeted with a lot of mold and bacteria growth.
Conclusion
Keeping your basement clear of moisture is not an easy task and shouldn’t be overlooked. It can lead to a lot of uncomfortable situations, especially during the summers.
We recommend getting the DampRid FG50 T to ensure an optimum fresh and arid air supply in your basement. What’s more, it can also help remove any disgusting smell that might be plaguing the room.