5 surprising uses for your dehumidifier – utilize this home hero to speed up paint drying, stop wallpaper peeling and prevent pests

Dehumidifiers are used and loved by many for their unparalleled ability to zap moisture from the air and reduce humidity levels. But, did you know that isn't their only talent?

In fact, when exploring what does a dehumidifier do, there are many uses for all kinds of household woes – from speeding up paint drying to preventing rust and even pests.

Here, our cleaning, paint, and pest experts share their top tips for getting the most out of the best dehumidifiers, which go above and beyond simply reducing your home's humidity.

5 surprising uses for your dehumidifier

1. Stop wallpaper peeling

With so many different wallpaper ideas and wallpaper trends to choose from, getting your home looking fabulous on a budget is easier than ever, particularly if you know how to wallpaper yourself. But, more often than not, no sooner has your wall been transformed, you might start to notice some pesky peeling.

Rhonda Wilson, quality lead cleaner at FreshSpace Cleaning explains, 'When there’s too much moisture in the air, it seeps into the wallpaper and weakens the glue, making it lose its grip.'

So, to avoid curling edges and bubbles forming underneath, Rhonda recommends setting up a Dehumidifier, available at Walmart. 'Give it a few days, and you'll notice the difference,' she assures.

All prices correct at time of publication.

2. Drying clothing indoors

We're all aware of the benefits of air-drying laundry, but sometimes the weather doesn't permit hanging clothes and linens outdoors.

As Bryan Griffin, founder at Patriot Maids Cleaning Services, says, 'Drying racks are great, but clothes can end up smelling musty if the air’s too damp.'

If you're in a bid to make laundry smell better, Bryan suggests positioning a dehumidifier in the room where you're drying it, highlighting that the best place to put a dehumidifier is 'not too close to the clothes.' This works to dry clothes quickly, banishing any must odors making clothes smell sour after washing.

3. Preventing rust on tools and appliances

The places you're most likely to spot signs of high home humidity are garages, basements, and even kitchens, where steam from cooking hangs around.

'You can wipe the rust off, but it's just going to come back if you don't fix the root of the problem,' warns cleaning expert Rhonda. 'Set up a dehumidifier in your tool shed, garage, or anywhere you store metal stuff, and it'll help keep the air dry.' This is also useful to keep moisture out of a pantry and protect expensive appliances.

'If you really want to go the extra mile, lightly coat tools with oil, every now and then for extra protection,' she adds.

For this, we recommend the 3-IN-ONE Multi-Purpose Oil available at Amazon, which lubricates, penetrates rust, and cleans all at the same time.

4. Speeding up paint drying

As the old saying goes, watching paint dry is truly dull. So, why not use a dehumidifier to speed up the process, and make paint dry faster?

Carr Lanphier, CEO at Improovy, advises, 'I definitely recommend dehumidifiers for helping to speed up the paint drying process, especially if you live in a particularly humid area or during damp parts of the year. I've spotted them used a lot especially during winter in humid areas, or in damp-prone spots like basements,' particularly when it's too cold to open windows.

That being said, opening windows in winter does reduce condensation, so even opening them briefly is an effective way to ventilate your home in winter without increasing energy bills.

'If paint is allowed to stay wet on a surface for too long, not only can it start to slow down your progress, it can also affect how well your paint is adhering to the surface,' Carr continues, leaving you questioning why your wall paint is bubbling. 'A dehumidifier will help suck up any excess moisture causing problems with your paint adhesion, and can result in a much better result.'

5. Preventing pests

Finally, Kyle Sebach, director of operations at All U Need Pest Control and board-certified entomologist recommends using a dehumidifier to help deal with the most common indoor pests.

'For DIY pest control, dehumidifiers are a great tool for getting rid of conducive conditions in your home,' he explains. 'For instance, plaster bagworms and silverfish are very common pests in closets, bathrooms, and other areas that are attracted to high humidity. These pests are known to cause damage to wall finishes and clothing'

So, to get rid of silverfish and other pests, Kyle suggests using a dehumidifier to 'pull the moisture they need to survive out of the air in a closet or bathroom,' effective as soon as you spot signs of a silverfish infestation.

Meet our experts

Rhonda Wilson

Rhonda has been part of the team at FreshSpace since 2019. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, she takes pride in making spaces spotless.

Bryan Griffin

Bryan founded Patriot Maids in 2007, and has since served over 2,000 homes annually across 12 major cities, connecting hardworking cleaning professionals with busy homeowners.

Carr Lanphier

Improovy is working to revolutionize the paint industry, making the lives of professional painters easier and more effective. As an expert in all things paint, Carr's favorite color is Swiss Coffee (OC-45) by Benjamin Moore.

Kyle Sebach

All U Need Pest Control is a family-run business, set up in 2003, which has since become an ever-growing company which helps real people with real pest control problems.

FAQs

What can you do with an old dehumidifier?

Once you've spotted warning signs it's time to replace your old appliance, it's best to recycle it, or use a local junk removal service who can safely dispose of it and reuse any parts. If you're in the market for a new one, our dedicated guide to the best dehumidifiers is the perfect place to start.

Where should you not use a dehumidifier?

When exploring, does a dehumidifier work with windows open, the answer, put simply, is no. Doing so will likely damage your appliance and may even break it. Instead, switch your appliance off before opening any windows.

However you use your dehumidifier, there are still plenty of dehumidifier mistakes best avoided. From facing it the wrong way to forgetting to clean the filter, swerve these errors to ensure a smooth-running appliance.