The Clean Home Chronicles Week 2: How Humidity Affects Your Home (And What to Do About It)

Real Tips for Real Florida Families from Select Home Cleaning

If you have lived in Florida for more than one summer, you already know that the humidity here is no joke. But beyond the discomfort of stepping outside, humidity does something most homeowners don't think about. It quietly works against the cleanliness of your home every single day.

Here is what Florida humidity actually does to your home and what you can do to stay ahead of it.

What Humidity Does to Your Home

High humidity creates the perfect conditions for mold and mildew to grow, on walls, in grout lines, behind furniture, inside closets, and anywhere air doesn't circulate well. It causes wood floors and cabinets to swell and warp over time. It makes surfaces feel sticky and attracts more dust and allergens. It creates musty odors that are difficult to get rid of once they settle in. Left unchecked, humidity damage is one of the most expensive home maintenance issues Florida homeowners face.

What You Can Do About It

Keep Your AC Running Consistently Your air conditioning system is your first line of defense against humidity. It doesn't just cool the air, it removes moisture from it. Keeping your AC set between 74 and 78 degrees and running it consistently, even when you are away, helps maintain safe humidity levels inside your home.

Use a Dehumidifier in Problem Areas Bathrooms, laundry rooms, garages, and closets are the most vulnerable spots in a Florida home. A small dehumidifier in these areas can make a significant difference, especially during the summer months when outdoor humidity is at its highest.

Run Exhaust Fans During and After Showers Steam from a hot shower raises the humidity in your bathroom instantly. Running the exhaust fan during your shower and for at least 15 minutes afterward pulls that moisture out before it has a chance to settle on walls and grout.

Check for Hidden Moisture Regularly Look behind furniture, under sinks, inside closets, and around windows for signs of mold, discoloration, or a musty smell. Catching moisture problems early is far easier and less expensive than addressing them after mold has taken hold.

Wash Soft Furnishings Regularly Curtains, throw rugs, pillow covers, and blankets absorb humidity and can become a source of musty odor over time. Washing these items regularly keeps them fresh and reduces the moisture they hold inside your home.

Pro Tip: The ideal indoor humidity level for a Florida home is between 40 and 50 percent. A simple digital hygrometer available at most hardware stores for under $15 lets you monitor your home's humidity level so you always know what you are dealing with.

A consistently clean home is much harder to maintain when humidity is working against you. If you feel like your home never quite smells or feels as clean as it should, humidity may be the reason and a professional deep clean is a great place to start fresh.

If you are ready to take cleaning off your to-do list, we would love to help!

Presented by Select Home Cleaning

Select Home Cleaning is a locally owned residential cleaning company led by Laura Gray, proudly serving Seminole County and surrounding areas. The company specializes in deep cleaning, move-in and move-out cleaning, and recurring maintenance services designed to help busy families enjoy a consistently clean and comfortable home. Select Home Cleaning is insured, BBB affiliated, and a partner of Cleaning for a Reason, supporting individuals undergoing cancer treatment with complimentary home cleanings.

Luxury Cleaning • Stress-Free Living  407-917-6512 www.selecthomecleaningfl.com