又到了梅雨下不停的季節
除了外出很不方便外，濕氣真的很讓人困擾呀！
衣服曬不乾、地板潮濕、牆壁發霉…
這時候「除濕機」真是一大福星！
「除濕機」的英文是什麼呢？原來有方法可以不靠除濕機就改善濕度嗎？
跟著小 V 一起來研究看看吧！
今天與大家一起看這篇英文文章：Reduce indoor humidity without a dehumidifier
相信身在台灣的大家，一定懂得分辨何為潮濕的環境，所以小 V 在這裡快速帶過文章內提到的幾點，教您如何判斷怎樣叫「太潮濕」。
Table of Contents
How to tell if your home is too humid 如何判斷家中太過潮濕
- Get a humidistat（裝設濕度器）
- Mold spots（黴菌點）
- Condensation（凝結水珠）
- Water run-off（滴水）
- Musty odour（霉味）
- Water damage & stains（因潮濕而起的損壞與水漬）
- Wood rot（木頭腐爛）
- Allergies（過敏症狀）
知道如何判斷家裡是不是太潮濕後，直接切入正題，來學不用除濕機就能除濕的小撇步吧！
How to reduce indoor humidity without a dehumidifier 如何不用除濕機就降低家中濕氣
The best way to reduce humidity indoors is with a dehumidifier. However, if you do not own a dehumidifier or the humidity problem is mild, these are a few hacks you can use to dehumidify your home. These methods are fairly easy and use equipment you would already have at home.
(解決家中濕氣最好的方法就是出動除濕機。但如果你並沒有除濕機，或者濕氣並沒有很重，以下幾個小撇步教你如何除去家中濕氣。這些方法相當容易，且是使用你家中可能已經有的器具。)
humid
humid 為形容詞，是「(空氣和天氣狀況) 潮濕的，濕潤的」，而有另一個常用於形容潮濕的字為 moist，通常會用於形容物件。
dehumidifier
dehumidifier 為名詞，就是「除濕機」啦！這個字的組成是 de (除去、相反) + humidifier，而 humidifier 就是相反於除濕機的存在「加濕器」，很有趣吧！
I hate rainy season! It’s so humid all the time, and it leaves everything in my room slightly damp. Let’s turn on the dehumidifier.
我好討厭雨季！空氣一直都很潮濕，我房間的地板又濕又滑的。我們把除濕機打開吧！
除黴必殺技！教你如何輕鬆根除家中惱人黴菌！ (How to Get Rid of Mold | The Home Depot)
1. VENTILATE YOUR ROOM 通風
Keep your home ventilated, especially in areas that usually create moisture such as your kitchen and the bathroom. Open windows and doors if possible, and keep vents or fans on for longer to ensure sufficient ventilation. Having proper ventilation in your home for at least a few hours a day can greatly help to reduce indoor humidity.
(保持家中通風，尤其是特別會產生濕氣的地方，例如廚房還有浴室。盡量保持門窗暢通，長時間打開通風口或風扇以確保通風量足夠。一天家中至少有幾個小時保持適當通風即可有效幫助降低家中濕氣。)
ventilate
ventilate 為動詞，有「(使通風，使空氣流通)；說到，提到」的意思。
Cacti prefer to live in well-ventilated environments.
仙人掌比較喜歡通風的環境。
上班上課總是讓你昏昏欲睡嗎？不是你的錯！(How Classrooms Slow Your Brain Down)
2. AIR CONDITIONING 開冷氣
Turning on your air conditioning not only cools down the room, it will also help reduce indoor humidity especially during humid weather.
(打開冷氣不光是使房間涼爽，在潮濕的天氣時也能幫助降低室內濕氣。)
3. FANS 開電扇
Fans are excellent at moving warm stale air around in the room. A fan will increase the airflow in the room that will remove excess moisture through evaporation.
(電扇可以有效的循環室內不新鮮的熱空氣。電扇也可以增加室內空氣流動，藉由水氣蒸發來排除多餘的濕氣。)
evaporation
evaporate 為名詞，有「揮發，蒸發；消失，消散」的意思。
The evaporation of water into the air is caused by heat.
高溫使水蒸發到空氣中。
樹究竟能長多高？ (How tall can a tree grow? – Valentin Hammoudi)
4. REPLACE FURNACE / AC FILTERS 更換暖爐/冷氣濾網
Clean your furnace and AC filter units regularly. If your furnace or AC filters are clogged, they will slow down airflow and won’t be as efficient in reducing humidity.
(定期清理暖爐還有冷氣濾網。如果你的暖器或冷氣濾網阻塞，它們會降低空氣流動速率使除濕效率降低。)
5. TAKE SHORTER OR COLDER SHOWERS 縮短洗澡時間或洗冷水澡
Showers produce a lot of excess steam that will increase humidity indoors. The longer your shower, the more steam is produced. To reduce the excess moisture, crack a window open or leave the exhaust fan on a little longer after your shower. Alternatively, take colder showers if you can—they produce less steam and have less effect on humidity. Moreover, cold showers can be good for your health!
(洗澡會產生很多多餘的水蒸氣，使室內濕氣增加。洗澡時間越長，越多水蒸氣產生。為了降低多餘的水蒸氣，洗完澡之後打開窗戶或讓抽風扇開久一點。或者如果可以的話洗冷水澡，這會產生較少的水蒸氣，進而減少對環境溼度的影響。題外話，洗冷水澡對身體很好喔！)
steam
steam 為動名詞同形，在這裡是作為名詞，意思是「蒸汽，水蒸氣」，作為動詞時有「依蒸汽動力行駛；蒸 (食物)」。我們很常用來燙衣服的「蒸氣電熨斗」就是 steam iron 喔！
Wearing glasses and a mask at the same time is so inconvenient! I can’t see because of the steam on my lenses!
同時戴眼鏡和口罩超不方便的！眼鏡上面一天到晚都有水蒸氣！
東京：五臟俱全的膠囊旅館初體驗！鄰居放屁也聽得到嗎？！(Tokyo Capsule Hotel Tour)
6. LINE DRY CLOTHES OUTDOORS 在戶外曬衣
Hanging wet clothes indoors will increase indoor humidity levels, especially in rooms where ventilation is bad. The best option to reduce indoor humidity is to hang clothes to dry outdoors, especially during humid seasons. If that is not an option (such as in apartments with no balconies), then use a clothes dryer that is vented to the outdoors.
(在室內晾濕衣服會增加室內濕氣，尤其是空氣不流通的房間。最好可以降低室內濕氣的選項是在室外晾衣服，在潮濕的季節更是。如果這個方法不可行 (住處沒有陽台)，使用可以排風至戶外的乾衣機。)
7. CRACK A WINDOW OPEN 開窗戶
The easiest trick to reduce indoor humidity is to crack a window open! Create more airflow by leaving the window open to dry the air out especially in damp rooms such as the bathroom and kitchen.
(降低室內濕度最簡單的方法就是開窗！藉由開窗使室內空氣流動量增加，降低潮濕房間的濕度，例如浴室和廚房。)
8. PLACE HOUSEPLANTS OUTSIDE 將家中植株移至戶外
Did you know plants release moisture vapour into the air? Temporarily place your plants outdoors. Also make sure to not over-water your plants.
(你知道植物會將水氣蒸散至空氣中嗎？暫時將你的植物移到戶外吧！同時也要注意不幫你的植物澆太多水了喔！)
vapor
vapour 為名詞，英式拼音，美式拼音為 vapor，意思是「蒸汽，霧氣」。與前面講到的 steam 的差異在於，steam 通常指「水蒸氣」，而 vapor 是「任何物質蒸發之後的蒸氣」，例如有毒的汞蒸氣 mercury vapor，而 water vapour 也是「水蒸氣」喔！
Pollution has become a big problem in the city. A thick vapor clouds the sun almost all the time.
污染已經成為一個真正的問題了，幾乎無時無刻城市上方都籠罩著一層厚厚的空汙霧氣。
兩片一模一樣的雪花？不可能！ (Identical Snowflakes? Scientist Ruins Winter For Everyone. | Deep Look)
9. USE YOUR KITCHEN EXHAUST FANS 使用廚房抽油煙機
Oven and stove-top cooking produce moisture in the air. While cooking, try your best to cover your food to keep steam inside and turn up the kitchen exhaust fans.
(烤箱以及爐灶炊煮會產生水氣。在煮菜時，試試看盡量將食物所產生的蒸氣蓋好並打開抽油煙機。)
exhaust fan
exhaust fan 為名詞，為「排風扇」。exhaust 本身為動名詞同形，作為名詞時有「(引擎排出的) 廢氣，排氣管」，動詞時為「使精疲力盡；用盡」。
When conducting the experiment, please turn on the exhaust fan and make sure the hood is venting properly.
當操作這個實驗時，請記得打開排風扇並確保抽風櫥有在正常抽風。
This long run will exhaust me; I just know it.
這個長時間的運動會讓我筋疲力盡，我知道的。
10. REPLACING YOUR RUG 替換地墊
Rugs have a tendency to collect moisture especially when humidity levels are high indoors. If you notice your rug getting damp or smelling moldy, send it to the dry cleaners to get cleaned.
(地墊會吸附水氣，尤其是室內濕度很高的時候。如果你注意到你的地墊變得潮濕或者有霉味，送去乾洗店把它洗乾淨吧！)
11. REPAIRING YOUR WALLS 修好牆壁
Walls that have cracks or holes can also introduce moisture indoors. Warm, moist outside air can travel indoors through cracks and holes during warm, humid weather. This can cause condensation on materials indoors if they are cooler than outside air. If that condensation is not wiped up quickly, it can cause issues such as rotting wood, mold and mildew. Regularly check your home’s external walls to ensure there are no cracks and fix them properly.
(如果牆壁有裂痕或孔洞或將室外的濕氣帶進室內。溫暖、潮濕的戶外空氣會透過這些裂縫和孔洞進到室內。這會導致室內較戶外冷的物品上面產生凝結水珠。如果凝結水沒有被儘速擦掉，這會導致木頭腐壞、產生黴菌。定期檢修家裡外部牆壁的狀況來確保沒有裂痕。)
12. A BASKET OF CHARCOAL BRIQUETTES 放一籃煤炭
Charcoal briquettes can help remove humidity and even odours from the air, thanks to their adsorption properties. Buy a cheap bag of charcoal and fill it in a basket. The charcoal will last for 2–3 months. If possible, look for coconut shell charcoal. This charcoal has high adsorptive power and resists powdering in adsorption—a very important factor.
(煤炭可以除濕甚至是除臭，因為它們具有吸附的特性。買一包便宜的煤炭並放在籃子裡。這些煤炭可以作用 2 至 3 個月。如果可以的話，可以用椰子殼來裝它們。煤炭具有很高的吸附能力並且在過程中不會粉末化，這是非常重要的特性。)
odour
odour 為名詞，英式拼音，美式拼音為 odor，意思是「臭味，氣味」。夏天要到了，小 V 想要一直都香香的，總是要噴一下「體香劑」嘛，體香劑的英文就是 de (去除) + odor (臭味) + ant (名詞詞性結尾)，deodorant 喔！
Can you please go wash your hair? I can smell your pungent odor from miles away.
可以拜託你去洗頭嗎？我從幾百公尺外就可以聞到一股臭味了。
喜歡聞自己的臭屁嗎？你所不知的臭屁科學 (Why Do We Like Our Own Farts?)
13. ROCK SALT 岩鹽
Another solution on how to reduce indoor humidity without a dehumidifier is using rock salt, a hygroscopic material. This means that it draws and stores water molecules from its surrounding environment, pulling excess moisture out of the air similar to a dehumidifier.
Take two plastic tubs of the same size. Put an object inside the first tub to elevate the second tub. Drill holes in the second tub and fill it with rock salt. Place the second tub and put it in the first tub. In a few days there will be some water in the bottom tub. Check the bottom tub daily to empty the water. You may also use silica-based kitty litter, zeolite rocks and calcium chloride as substitute to rock salt.
(另外一個不用除濕機來降低室內濕氣的方法是使用「岩鹽」，一種吸濕的物質，意思是它會從環境吸收並儲存水分子，除去空氣中多餘的水分，作用就有點像除濕機。取兩個一樣大的塑膠盆。將其中一個盆子內放進一個物品來墊高另外一個盆子。在墊高的盆子下方打洞並倒入岩鹽。幾天後你會發現下方的盆子內會有些水。每天檢查並倒掉下面的積水。你也可以使用貓砂那種矽藻土、沸石或氯化鈣來當作岩鹽的取代物。)
看完這篇文章，有沒有變成除濕大師啦？
總之多開窗、多開電風扇、少洗澡 (喂)，相信大家一定能安然度過這個到處都濕濕的梅雨季啦！
迫不及待想馬上開始練習嗎？
快打開 VoiceTube App 練英文！
✦ 立即下載 >>> https://bit.ly/myenglishissogood
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文/ Seraya Chen
審/ Eunice Lin
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參考資料：https://www.andatechdistribution.com.au/blogs/news/reduce-indoor-humidity-without-dehumidifier
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