Keep moisture misery at bay Wax tablets

Does it repel to walk into a musty house? Are you cagey to open stuffy closets? Rains may be beneficial in many ways but they also bring their own afflictions, not to mention the pesky insects that come crawling into the house.

It’s that time of the year when our olfactory nerves get affronted by odour from molds and mildew from furniture and wardrobes. Add to this the woes of pandemic and lockdown where fancy outfits have not been used for the past two years.

Don’t let the torrential downpour dampen the atmosphere or your mood. Ventilation and exhaust fans are the best ways to keep humidity at bay.

“People in tropical places should make sure that furniture is well ventilated by keeping them away from walls. If you have wooden furniture, paint them with a primer or a mixture of bleach and water — that should do the trick!” says Kshitij Mirania, Partner, Mirania Luxury Living.

Fungi is a problem during the monsoons, as they breed in hot and humid conditions. Acid is their adversary. Anything acidic in nature, like lemon, baking soda or vinegar, which are commonly available in every home, bumps off mould and slays the musty stench. Anvesha S. Ahuja, co-founder of Aroma India, recommends, “Wax tablets infused with natural fragrances like lavender, and cinnamon which calm the senses and give you a refreshing whiff of fragrance every time you open a cupboard or visit a space where it has been placed.”

INDIGENOUS FRAGRANCES FOR BATHROOMS

Bathrooms tend to have lingering odour. To prevent this, the bathroom needs to be clean and properly ventilated so that it remains dry. It may seem like too much work to keep a bathroom smelling good all the time, but it’s actually quite simple. “Using luxury products like essential oils, reed diffusers, potpourri or scented wax tablets in your bathroom will help mask bad smells. A gentle whiff of your favourite natural fragrances keeps the place smelling good without being overwhelming. These products may seem expensive but are quite long lasting,” says Anvesha.

WAX TABLETS ARE SAFE

Home-made wax tablets or wax sachets made from natural ingredients and organic soy wax, flowers and essential oils are the perfect solution for musty wardrobes this monsoon season. They are hassle-free, safe, and last long. They diffuse mild perfume and you get a hint of the fresh scent every time you open your closet instead of the stuffy odour caused by dampness. “Scented wax tablets last for 4-5 months. Being a coldthrow product, they don’t melt,” says Anvesha.

HEALTH HAZARDS

“HEPA (High-efficiency particulate air filters) absorb 99.97% of particulate matter, whereas Ionizers have been proven ineffective. And ozone purifiers have to be avoided at all costs,” cautions Kshitij.

No two products should be mixed for the same purpose. “Using an aerosol spray on or with a tablet is not recommended, as their molecular properties are entirely different and using the two items together may be counter-productive,” warns Anvesha. Spraying aerosol room fresheners may even lead to stains on certain textiles.

Fungi is a problem during the monsoons, as they breed in hot and humid conditions. Acid is their adversary. Anything acidic in nature, like lemon, baking soda or vinegar, which are commonly available in every home, bumps off mould and slays the musty stench.

People in tropical places should make sure that furniture is well ventilated by keeping them away from walls. If you have wooden furniture, paint them with a primer or a mixture of bleach and water — that should do the trick!”

— Kshitij Mirania