10 Tips To Make Your Home Monsoon Ready

The Rain Gods finally smiled on Mumbai last evening! As the first heavy downpour of the season washed over the streets, a cool petrichor scented breeze replaced the muggy heat. My Insta feed instantly started filling up with images of chai pakoras, and plans for romantic drives to Lonavala to commemorate the rains. But even as I inhaled the earthy scent of the first rains in my balcony, my mind was already racing to the various monsoon woes the rain inevitably brings. From seepage and mould, bug infestations in grains to the laundry taking forever to dry, the Mumbai monsoon can take a toll on our homes. If you’ve been dreading these monsoon niggles too, you’ve come to the right place! Our 10 tips to make your home monsoon ready will ensure that you breeze through the Mumbai monsoon with nary a worry!

Here are our tips and tricks to make your home monsoon ready, and keep it that way all season through:

1. Monsoon-proof your kitchen

The moisture laden air in the monsoons can wreak havoc on stored grains and spices, making them more susceptible to bugs. Here are a few ways to ensure your pantry is monsoon-proof. For starters, avoid overstocking food supplies during the rainy season. Stick to smaller quantities that you can replenish on a need basis.

Whenever you buy stuff like spices or flours, pop them into the freezer for 4-5 days. Freezing kills any larvae or eggs that may be lurking around inside, preventing a full blown weevil infestation. You can use this method with your flours, spices, and even oats. At the end of 4-5 days, transfer the produce to air-tight glass jars. You can also dry roast stuff like suji and spices like dhania powder before storing them. Oh, and for salt and sugar, pop some raw rice into the jars. That prevents them from morphing into soggy lumps during the monsoon.

For items like atta and rice, which you may need to stock in larger quantities, add in some bay leaves or neem leaves to avoid infestation. You can even keep a few cloves on your pantry shelves to keep bugs at bay. It’s also a good idea to keep the kitchen dry at all times during the monsoon. This helps avoid any funky odours as well. Another brilliant way to keep your pantry smelling good is to keep a jar of open coffee grounds inside. Keeps things feeling fresh and smelling great too!

2. Give your wardrobe some TLC

The Mumbai monsoon can seem endlessly long and that’s not always great for your wardrobe. You may think your clothes are safe inside, but strange things have been known to happen! From musty smells to fungus growing on clothes, the rains can wreak havoc on your sartorial choices, quite literally. To avoid this, air out your clothes regularly during the monsoon. Pay special attention to the pieces you don’t plan on wearing during the rainy season. You can also consider keeping moisture absorbing sachets inside your wardrobe. If you prefer more natural solutions, opt for pouches with camphor, cloves, or neem leaves.

3. Roll out the welcome mat…

Anyone who’s experienced the monsoon in Mumbai knows what it’s like to wade through ankle (and sometimes knee) deep muddy waters. So along with a good pair of rain boots, invest in a good, bristly mat that you can keep right outside your front door. That way you and your guests can clean off muddy shoes before heading indoors.

It’s also a good idea to keep a wet-stand for umbrellas near the front door. For wet boots and shoes, a plastic mat or tray, that’s easy to wash works well. Let your boots/ shoes dry well before putting them away in the shoe rack. With raincoats, since you don’t want them dripping large puddles in your entryway, it’s best to dry them in your utility area or spare bathroom. If you have the space, you can also keep a basket of fresh towels by your front door for those caught in an unexpected cloudburst, along with a tray to quickly stash wet items like keys or bags.

Some apartment complexes have spacious common areas and allow you to use the space right outside your front door. If you’re lucky enough to have this facility, you can consider keeping a shoe rack outside temporarily during the rains for wet, muddy shoes. Best way to keep the mud far away from the interiors of your home!

4. …And roll up the carpets

Bid adieu to your beautiful rugs and carpets (only temporarily!) while the monsoon is on. It’s hard to completely eliminate the wet, muddy outdoors during rainy weather and the last thing you want is for your carpets to get ruined. Plus, they can get really smelly if they get wet and will take ages to dry! Embrace a minimalistic approach to your floors instead. If you cannot do without your rugs, pick ones that are easy to wash and dry. You can also consider using pretty mats in bamboo or coir to dress up your space. They have better resistance to water and are easier to maintain.

If you have wooden flooring, get it waxed to avoid any water induced damage. Ensure that you keep the floor dry, and make sure the interiors of your home are well ventilated, which brings us to the next point.

5. Don’t forget to cross ventilate

Letting fresh air into your home during the rainy season has a bunch of benefits apart from enjoying the cool monsoon breeze. Good cross ventilation inside your home helps keep any musty odours at bay . It also protects your walls from damage caused due to condensation and helps regulate the humidity levels indoors. So whenever there’s a dry spell or the rain is not too heavy, throw open the windows and let that rain scented breeze frolic through your home.

6. Give your home a health-check

The monsoon is as good a time as any to give your home an annual health check. And much needed too, since the rains can unleash all sorts of not-so-welcome annoyances if you’re not careful. For starters, make sure the drainage in your house is working well. Check your drainage pipes, especially if you have balconies or a terrace.

Next, check for any leakages or cracks in your windows, walls or ceiling. Getting any cracks or gaps sealed with water resistant products will prevent any seepage or leaks inside your home. Finally, make sure your windows are in good shape, especially the netted windows. The monsoon usually brings with it hordes of mosquitoes and other bugs and you don’t want them making a beeline for your home. Last but not the least, make sure your electrical wiring and switches are all in good shape and get any repairs done before the monsoon sets in.

7. Pay attention to your wooden furniture and musical instruments

Two things that need special attention during the monsoon are wooden furniture and musical instruments. Wood tends to swell during the monsoon and this can change the shape of furniture. To preempt this, seal the surface of your wooden furniture before the rains set in. If you have any antique wooden furniture, pay special attention to those pieces and get them treated before the rains begin.

Musical instruments can get affected during the rains too. The moist air can cause swelling and warping, making them sound funny. Wooden instruments like pianos, guitars, drums and violins are particularly susceptible to this. It’s a good idea to get your musical instruments serviced just before the rains set in. Make sure your instruments are stored properly during the monsoon, and in a space with humidity control. You can even consider getting a dehumidifier to manage the moisture levels inside your home.

8. Relocate your greens

If you’re a plant lover and have a bunch of indoor plants, you may want to temporarily relocate them for the monsoon. Plants can add to the moisture content indoors and may also become a breeding ground for bugs. So if you have a balcony or terrace, move them there for the rainy season. You could also rearrange them on your window sill or closer to the windows if you don’t have a balcony.

While we’re on plants, avoid over watering them during the monsoon. Too much water can damage the plant and also makes them more vulnerable to insect attacks. Especially those dreaded mealy bugs 🙁 which seem to thrive during the rains.

9. Do a deep clean

It’s a good idea to get your home deep cleaned just before the monsoon hits. Focus on areas like the kitchen and bathroom which need extra attention during rainy weather. Getting your walls (and doors if need be) cleaned can ensure you don’t have any mould or fungus build up later. And since you’re doing a deep clean anyway, now is also a good time to declutter your space if needed. Mould and fungus can grow anywhere, and decluttering will ensure you don’t have any nasties on your upholstery, linens or furniture. A thorough deep clean will also help improve the air quality in your home.

Wash and clean any heavy quilts, rugs, throws and drapes before the monsoon begins and store them away. The monsoons are perfect for cosying up under Jaipuri quilts and dohars. That way when the rains do make an appearance you can focus on enjoying them, instead of worrying about laundry.

10. And finally, get ready to enjoy the monsoon with a rain themed refresh!

We’re all heaving sighs of relief now that the inferno like heat we’ve been baking in for the last couple weeks is dissipating. From focusing on cooling your house to deal with summer, you can now look at ways to enjoy the rains within the cosy confines of your home.

Now’s the perfect season to do away with heavy drapes and dark colours and embrace flowy sheers and light shades. Do up your windows with breezy drapes to enjoy the gorgeous views of shimmering sheets of rain cascading down. Do the monsoon greys tend to get to you? Experiment with bright pops of colour and fun prints to make your home an oasis of brightness. For your bedrooms, opt for light, easy to maintain linens. Experiment with scented candles and incense sticks that can turn your space into a cocoon of comfort. A candle that smells like rain, perhaps?

And finally, kick back and relax. Brew that adrak wali chai, make those pakoras, switch on the soothing sounds of jazz. Or curl up with your favourite book and enjoy the magic of the Mumbai monsoon!

Do you have any tips that you’d like us to add? Let us know in the comments below, or on Instagram!