# 5 Ways to Save Your Cabinets from Humidification

Aside from basements, real wood cabinets will certainly see the effect of swelling and shrinking, all due to humidity.

Typically, the cabinets are composed with the targeted range of 40% to 50% of relative humidity which works well. But extreme conditions, such as severe cold temperatures where humidity levels are below 20% would cause shrinking. On the contrary, when the humidity level remains above 80% causes swelling to the cabinets.

The effect of humidity can be seen on the door of cabinets while opening or closing. Over time, the effect of humidity can cause your [kitchen cupboards](https://cabinetland.us/kitchen-cupboards/) noticeable and sometimes permanent problems. To protect your cabinet from humidity, here are some useful ways to follow.

## Table of content
* Monitor the humidity level in your home
* Use vents and exhaust in your kitchen
* Address plumbing leaks or moisture
* Choose the material carefully
* Clean and dry items before storing

## Monitor the humidity level in your home
Humidity can be cancer to your cabinets if not taken care of properly. To make sure, monitoring the humidity level in your home is necessary. A built-in hygrometer is the best way to oversee the current state of humidity. If you do not have a built-in hydrometer in your house, the best approach is to purchase an inexpensive digital hydrometer.

In fact, having more than one hygrometer helps you identify the level of humidity on different floors of your house. This hygrometer will alert you when the humidity levels become too high.

## Use vents and exhaust in your kitchen

Use vents and exhausts in your kitchen to keep your space alive. Exhaust fans move the moisture from indoor air and move it towards the outside. Make sure to use an exhaust fan or ventilation fan while cooking. The excessive heat or moisture produced during the cooking will be harmful to your cabinets. Moreover, the exhaust fan helps to keep cooking odor away.

Also, while washing clothes, the dryer is explicitly designed to extract water from laundry. But when it is vented inside the home, the excessive moisture released from it seeps back into the home and causes damage to your wooden cabinets and doors. Therefore vent the dryer to reduce humidity from the home.

## Address plumbing leaks or moisture

Kitchens and bathrooms usually have more increased humidity levels than the rest of the home. It is due to access to running water and the refrigerator. Surprisingly the refrigerator affects the moisture in the kitchen. The refrigerators tend not to get seen from the back, but the coolant system that keeps everything cold produces a small amount of moisture in the room.

Take immediate action on leaky plumbing and moisture problems that can cause your home's humidity to rise, damaging surfaces.

## Choose the material carefully

The cabinet material you choose can have a dominant effect to protect items from humidity. If storing stuff you may want to use airtight plastic boxes. They prevent moisture from getting inside. However, if you are storing cereal boxes, you may want to use breathable, acid-free boxes.

Natural wood or pressure-compressed wood board or plywood are the two most common materials used to build cabinets. Particleboard, or MDF, is commonly used to make cheaper cabinets, and when properly sealed, can also be used in bathroom cabinets.

## Clean and dry items before storing

Scratches and stubborn stains are common problems caused by dirt. The same holds true for food crumbs that might draw rodents or other pests. It is essential that you thoroughly clean your storage items before you put them away because of these risks. Nonetheless, it is important to dry everything thoroughly as well.

## Conclusion

High levels of humidity can cause damage to your new kitchen cupboards over time. When the air is humid, there is a greater likelihood of mold and mildew forming. Therefore it is important to take proper actions against humidity. Cabinets are always the first thing that gets affected by having too much moisture in the air. Take the steps above to reduce humidity in your home and avoid potential damage to your cabinets and mold-related health issues.You can also get more information about [Pros and Cons of Black Kitchen Cabinets](https://www.debwan.com/blogs/354966/Pros-and-Cons-of-Black-Kitchen-Cabinets)

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Hi! I'm Komal Fatima, a content writer with 2 years of experience. I write SEO articles, website content, blog posts, guest posts, and copy writings for businesses that want to see their Google search rankings surge. I also have extensive experience with content marketing. Until now, I have completed a number of projects ranked on Google's first page in this field.