Monsoon Home Cleaning Hacks: Keep Indian Homes Fresh and Pest-Free
Monsoon homes stay clean and odour-free when you switch to small habit changes — water-bag fly traps, boric-powder cockroach dough, cold-water laundry with fabric conditioner, indoor fan-drying, and camphor in the dustbin and mopping water — none of which need extra effort once set up.
The rains bring pleasant weather, but also flies, cockroaches, damp laundry smell, and tracked-in mud. Each of the hacks below targets one of those problems directly, using items already in an Indian kitchen or costing almost nothing.
How do I get rid of flies in the house during monsoon?
There are two zero-cost tricks that work reliably.
- Water-filled polythene bag. Take any clear polythene bag, fill it about a third with plain water, tie the mouth tightly with string, and hang it near the door or window from where flies enter. Light reflecting and refracting through the water disorients the flies’ compound eyes, and they avoid the area. This is a tested hack — wherever the bag hangs, flies stop coming.
- Lemon and cloves. Cut a lemon in half. On the peel side (not the pulp side), poke small holes and push in 5–6 whole cloves (long). Place the studded lemon on the windowsill or anywhere in the room. The combined citrus-clove scent keeps flies out completely.
What kills cockroaches in the kitchen without a pest-control visit?
Monsoon moisture brings cockroaches into cabinets and sinks. A boric-powder atta dough handles them at home.
- Take a small ball of wheat atta.
- Mix in about half a spoon of boric powder.
- Add a little water and knead into a soft, slightly wet dough — like roti dough but softer.
- Press small pieces into the corners of cabinets, drawers, kitchen counter joints, sink edges — wherever cockroaches appear.
The dough dries in place over a few hours, and the cockroaches who feed on it disappear. Place it only where children and pets cannot reach.
Why do clothes smell during monsoon and how do I stop it?
The smell comes from damp fabric trapped with bacteria. Several small fixes together solve it:
- Don’t dump wet clothes into the laundry basket. If something is damp, air it on a chair for a while first, then put it into the basket.
- For hand-wash delicates, add a little fabric conditioner — or date oil if you have it — to the soak water. Don’t soak for too long; a short soak, then wash.
- In the washing machine, use cold water. A monsoon machine cycle runs 45 minutes to an hour; clothes sitting warm and wet that long start to smell.
- Use liquid detergent instead of powder. It dissolves fully, doesn’t form lumps in damp weather, and rinses out cleanly.
- Always add fabric conditioner in the side tray. It maintains fabric quality and leaves a light fragrance even after drying. No need to add it separately later.
Should I dry clothes inside or outside in the rainy season?
Dry indoors under a ceiling fan whenever you can. Outdoor lines mean unexpected showers re-wet the clothes, which is exactly what causes smell to set in. Indoor fan-drying is faster, the clothes don’t need rescuing every time it pours, and you stay relaxed about the weather.
How do I keep the washing machine itself from smelling?
After you unload, leave the washing machine door open for some time so the drum dries completely. A closed damp drum becomes a smell trap. Once dry, shut it normally.
How do I stop monsoon dirt from being tracked through the house?
If you have a balcony or terrace, dirt comes in on your feet every time you step out. Two habits handle it:
- Keep separate footwear for outside. Don’t wear indoor slippers onto the terrace or balcony — they bring dust, mud, and grime back in.
- Use two different floor mats. Inside the door, a normal cotton or cloth mat is fine. Outside, use a green monsoon-grade mat made specifically for wet-season grip and dirt-trapping.
How do I protect my phone and wallet from monsoon rain?
Don’t drop your phone directly into your bag during monsoon — bags get damp and so does everything in them. Use a phone pouch (the small waterproof type) or even a simple zip-lock pouch. Slip phone, wallet, and small valuables into it before placing them in the bag.
How do I stop the kitchen dustbin from smelling?
Line the base of the bin — under the garbage bag — with a double layer of newspaper sprinkled with a few camphor (kapoor) tablets and a spoon of baking soda. Fold the newspaper, place it at the bottom, then put the garbage bag on top. The camphor neutralises odour, baking soda absorbs moisture, and the newspaper catches any leakage so the trash pan itself stays clean.
How should I handle kitchen dusting cloths in damp weather?
After every use, wring the cloth out thoroughly and hang it spread out instead of bunching it on the counter. It dries faster, stays bacteria-free, and doesn’t develop the sour smell damp cloths get in monsoon.
Can I keep flies and mosquitoes away while mopping?
Yes. Add a few camphor tablets to your mopping water along with your usual Lysol or floor cleaner. The floor cleans normally, and the camphor scent that lingers after mopping discourages flies and mosquitoes from settling in the room.
📺 About this video. This post draws on Jasmine Choudhari’s YouTube video बरसात में भी घर रहेगा साफ़ सुथरा महकता हुआ — Smart Housekeeping Hack. Watch the full video for visual demonstrations of every tip.
Watch the video
Frequently asked questions
How do I keep flies out of the house during the monsoon?
Hang a polythene bag half-filled with water and tied with string near the door or window where flies enter. Light reflecting through the water disorients flies and they avoid that area. As a second option, push 4–5 cloves into the peel side (not the pulp side) of a lemon half and place it on the windowsill — flies stay away from the scent.
What is the best home remedy to get rid of cockroaches in the kitchen?
Mix wheat atta with about half a spoon of boric powder and a little water, knead it into a soft dough, and place small balls of it inside cabinets, drawers, sink corners, and counter joints where cockroaches appear. The dough dries in place, the cockroaches feed on it, and the infestation clears. Use only in spots out of reach of children and pets.
Why do clothes smell bad in the rainy season and how can I prevent it?
Damp laundry develops smell because bacteria multiply in trapped moisture. Never put wet clothes into the laundry basket — air-dry them first. Wash in cold water (not warm), use liquid detergent so it dissolves fully without lumps, and add fabric conditioner in the side tray of the machine. For hand-wash items, add a little fabric conditioner or date oil to the soak water and don't soak for too long.
Should I dry clothes indoors or outdoors during monsoon?
Dry clothes indoors under a ceiling fan whenever possible during monsoon. Outdoor lines mean clothes get re-wetted by sudden showers, which causes smell, and you spend the day running to rescue them. Indoor fan-drying is faster, more reliable, and keeps you tension-free.
How do I stop my washing machine from smelling after a wash cycle?
Leave the washing machine door open for a while after unloading clothes so the drum dries fully. If you shut a damp machine immediately, smell builds up inside. Once it is completely dry, you can close the door normally.
How can I keep my floor clean when I keep stepping out to the balcony or terrace?
Keep a separate pair of footwear only for the balcony or terrace, and don't wear your indoor slippers outside. Use two different floor mats — a normal cotton or cloth mat inside, and a green monsoon-grade mat outside the door. This stops outdoor dust and grime from being tracked across your home.
How do I stop my kitchen dustbin from smelling in the rainy season?
Line the base of the dustbin under the garbage bag with a folded double-layer of newspaper sprinkled with a few camphor tablets and some baking soda. The camphor neutralises odour, the baking soda absorbs moisture, and the newspaper catches any leakage so the bin itself stays clean. Replace the layer when you change the bag.
Can I keep monsoon mosquitoes and flies away while mopping the floor?
Yes — add a few camphor tablets along with your usual Lysol or floor cleaner to the mopping water. The camphor-infused water cleans the floor and naturally discourages flies and mosquitoes from settling, so the room stays fresher between mops.
About Jasmine Choudhari
Jasmine Choudhari shares practical, no-frills ideas for organising small Indian kitchens and homes. Follow her on YouTube (600K+ subscribers · Silver Play Button), Instagram and Facebook. For collaborations: collab@jasminechoudhari.com.