The Effects Of Low Humidity In Your Home
Tuesday, January 15th, 2008Lack of humidity in your home can cause you to get sick - and it can also cause your solid hardwood furniture harm!
Humidity is vaporized water in the air. In extreme cold conditions, your home humidity level can drop to as low as 10%. For comparison, the Sahara Desert has an average relative humidity of 25%. The optimal relative humidity level in your home should be between 35-40%.
Before wood is dried to make furniture, half of its weight is water. Once hardwood is constructed into furniture, the wood still exchanges moisture in the air. Lack of humidity in the air can cause wood to shrink, separate, or warp; drawers to loosen; gaps to appear; finishes to become brittle; and pianos to go out of tune.
It causes static in our homes and dries out our noses and throats - which leads to colds. Humidity levels over 70% can breed mold and mildew, which will cause stains to appear in wood furniture.
Here are some helpful ways to protect your hardwood furniture:
- Use a humidifier in the winter and an air conditioner in the summer. You can also boil water on the stove to put water back into the air.
- Use a hygrometer (which measure relative humidity) or put three ice cubes in a glass, add water, and stir three minutes. If you have no moisture on the outside of the glass, your house is too dry. Perform this test in your living room where there is usually no extra moisture put into the air.
- Keep your home at a steady temperature.
- Keep wood away from direct heat such as fireplaces and radiators.
- Keep wood out of direct sunlight.
- Store table leaves near the table so they experience the same humidity levels.
- Use a non-silicone polish like Guardsman or wood oil regularly to keep the wood moist. Always polish with the grain of the wood.
When you are lathering up your hands with lotion this winter, remember to give your hardwood furniture a little TLC also.
Please stop in for your free trail bottle of Guardsman furniture polish (while supplies last).
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