SMART SOCHO: How to prevent the rains from wrecking havoc with your interiors

When Bengaluru-based homemaker Savita Krishnan returned from her much-needed weekend break recently, she was in for a rude shock. The overnight pre-monsoon showers that had lashed the city had also left their mark on her ground floor dwelling. Rain water had seeped in from the open windows and left her interiors in a mess. Her expensive leather upholstered six-seater sofa was soggy, the walls showed clear signs of moisture seepage, two of her prized plants were literally swimming freestyle in water while her expensive LCD well, just refused to show any signs of life.

Savita's is not a stray case, every year the onset of the monsoons witnesses the interiors of many such homes across the country facing the brunt of the monsoon fury and suffering extensive and not to mention expensive damage.

As the popular saying goes - Prevention is always better than a cure - an apt analogy to prevent your home from suffering the excessive of the rains. With the monsoons now just around the corner, the time seems apt to list a few handy pointers and remedies on how you can prevent excessive rain damage to your home and prized possessions.

Read On..

Leather Furniture: The rain and the genuine leather furniture like a sofa for example are unfortunately not the best of friends. A good pre-monsoon strategy would involve applying natural oils or easily available leather conditioners to retain the natural colour of the sofa.

Avoid using a hand dryer to prevent ugly creases and ripples. A handy home remedy to prevent mould and mildew entails a small quantity of white vinegar (found in most Indian kitchens) mixed with about three portions of water. But do remember to first try it on a small patch of leather prior to going the full distance.
 
Faux Leather Goods: Definitely more moisture friendly than the real stuff. All it takes is a moist piece of cloth, a good scrub and voila, it's as good as new. However a second vigorous sweep this time with a dry cloth is highly recommended.

Wooden: Furniture made from wood requires regular cleaning. Pre-monsoon staples include a protective coating of wax or varnish to prevent moisture damage. Items made from old, seasoned wood like Burma teak require less maintenance even in the monsoons, having weathered several rain cycles in the past.

Make sure you apply a laminate or veneer on both sides of your wooden doors and paint or wax the exposed borders. Prevent moisture in the inside of your cupboards by placing sachets of silica gel and camphor balls to avoid infestation.

Laminated Furniture: Never expose your laminated furniture to direct rains or moisture. Regular cleaning with a sponge or cloth is a simple but effective solution to prevent any kind of damage. An extra coat of finishing spray, lacquer or melamine is also a good bet. Avoid scrubs and any cleaning rag with a rough surface that can make scratches on the surface which could lead to moisture retention.

False Ceilings: Normally made from gypsum powder/Plaster of Paris, false ceiling are quick to absorb moisture and facilitate the growth of fungus. Most false ceilings have a gap between the ceiling and the RCC slab which is a favourite hunting ground for all kinds of fungae.

Use a hand blower to ventilate the opening. One way of doing this involves removing one of the concealed light fittings to exhaust the moisture filled air trapped inside. Always try to leave your windows open and your home well cross-ventilated.

Wallpaper: A popular, cost-effective and time-saving alternative to painting your home, wall papers work best when used on the internal walls, which are less prone to moisture seepage. They can easily be maintained by using just a damp cloth or a mild detergent. The onset of the monsoon sometimes causes air bubbles to appear on their surface. If this happens call the vendor to vent out the air and replace it with a special adhesive.

Painted Walls: Again a happy hunting ground for fungal growth during the monsoons, usually seen on the external walls that face the building periphery or those carrying the plumbing pipes. Such surfaces need a superior quality of moisture-resistant paints.

A common mistake that most people tend to make is to open the doors and windows immediately after switching off the air-conditioner leading to the formation of water droplets on painted walls caused by the sudden change in moisture and temperature levels, which also tends to make them look wet all the time.

Silk Curtains and other apparel: These tend to retain moisture and need to be aired regularly, preferably dry cleaned and then stored in a dry place. Upholstery that uses different fabrics can also be sprayed with protective sprays available at any corner store.

To begin with replace heavy curtains and upholstery with light and airy fabrics. Slip-covers are also a good option. Remove rugs and carpets and store them away for the season. If this sounds like too much to do, third party vendors specialising in fabric cleaning are also easily available and offer annual maintenance contracts as an option.

Kitchen Equipment: Always ensure the timely maintenance of all equipment and electrical appliances used in the kitchen. All moving parts of equipment like fan belts in coolers should be greased well to avoid friction and corrosion. Defrosting of fridges is a must as more moisture in the air leads to ice formation on compressors.