Wendy vs. The Air: How I Fought the Invisible Battle for Breathable Peace
I didn’t choose the air war. The air war chose me.
It started with that heavy, invisible feeling in the rooms at home and at work. You know the one like the walls are slowly growing moss behind your back and your sinuses stage a silent protest every morning. My house and my work air was moist. Not romantic misty-moist. Cursed swampy moist. After all the rain we've had in Kentucky contributed to a build-up of moisture and mold spores in the air.
I started with a cough and a wheeze. Then I was producing phlegm like it was my job. The golgi bodies started working overtime. Then I lost my voice and because my voice is what pays the bills, I’d had enough.
So I became the heroine in my own comic: Wendy vs. The Air.
The Opening Scene: Mold, Mayhem, and Misery
Every superhero origin has a trigger. Mine?
-
83% humidity on my dehumidifier's readout 😳
-
A constantly stuffy nose that no allergy pill, antibiotic, or steroid could fix and lost my voice for a week!
-
A subtle thickness in the air.
Add a cat, a mix of dust, and just all this dang rain and boom. Toxic air stew. But I wasn’t about to let the air win.
My Weaponry: The Air Force Arsenal
🌀 Dehumidifier
Currently downstairs in the basement, humming like a tiny sentient lifeform.
I run it every day now. Before, I didn’t realize how dangerous that moisture zone was, and I don't believe it was too bad before the monsoons of this spring.
🌬️ Air Purifiers
I keep one running where I sleep. There's one in my at-home studio. A third one downstairs with the dehumidifier. Placements strategic. I learned a little airflow can mean the difference between peaceful dreams and waking up like you just inhaled an attic.
🌿 Essential Oils (Optional Sidekick)
Not everyone needs them, but I have a baking soda plus essential oil mixture in my living room and bedroom to freshen up the air without the toxic fumes of candles or dangerous fragrance plug-ins.
Daily Rituals of a Fresh Air Fighter
-
✅ Empty and clean the dehumidifier bin daily
- ✅ Run air purifiers with HEPA filters 24/7
-
✅ Gua sha, moisturize, and stretch like a victorious airbender
Lessons From the Frontlines
-
If your dehumidifier says 83%... that’s not “extra hydration,” that’s a cry for help.
-
Facial massage helps move the sinus drainage and with a little product, it moisturizes!
-
Don’t wait for symptoms to stack up. If something feels off in your home, trust it.
Closing Scene: Moosturized and Victorious
By the end of the saga, I was moosturized, lightly stretched, and breathing easier. The air didn’t stand a chance.
I mistyped "moisturized" and accidentally discovered the word "moosturized" - this will be what I call it from now on. Every time I mistype a word and create something new, I run it through AI to create an image. Here's what Max, my AI assistant created when I gave him that word:
This was more than just an air quality fix. It was a small, invisible win that rippled outward, creating space, peace, and room to think clearly again. Which is exactly what I need when I’m juggling radio shows, AI comic battles, and keeping a cat named Sylvester from pacing in protest.
Want to Fight the Air Too?
I’ll share my go-to products that I use below. These are Amazon links and I will make a small commission if you purchase through these links. Thank you for your support.
Drop a comment if you’re in your own invisible battle, because trust me, I’ve got the cape and the comic to prove it.
Products I'm using: