The colder months are here: Strictly’s back on, the leaves are turning brown, and our windows are steaming up. As temperatures begin to fall, condensation forms on our windows, particularly in bathrooms and kitchens where humidity levels are highest.
There are various tips and tricks out there for how to get rid of damp and condensation, but cleaning expert Lynsey Crombie (opens in new tab) recommends a £3.50 de-misting spray to keep it at bay.
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Lynsey Queen of Clean’s hack to stop condensation on windows
‘Invest in anti-mist spray,’ suggests Lynsey Crombie. ‘These sprays are more commonly used on people that wear glasses as it stops them from fogging up.’
The cleaning guru explains that anti-misters such as those used by people who wear goggles to work are a great way to stop condensation windows. Spraying some of the product on your windows forms a barrier that will prevent moisture.
There are lots of anti-mist sprays on Amazon (opens in new tab) that you can try spritzing on windows, with some costing around £3.50.
(Image credit: Getty)
How to stop condensation on windows
There are of course lots of other things you can do if you’re concerned about your windows, many of which don’t involve buying anything. From improving ventilation and adjusting the temperature of the room to moving houseplants, keep reading for more tips.
1. Improve the ventilation
Lynsey Crombie also recommends keeping windows ajar for at least a few hours a day, even in the colder months. This feels totally counterintuitive when you’ve got the heating on and want to save energy at home, but leaving a window open a crack will keep the room well ventilated.
If opening your windows and having good ventilation isn’t enough, cleaning expert Karl Huckerby from Spare and Square (opens in new tab) recommends making sure that all internal fans are working properly within the home (kitchen extractor fans and bathroom fans).
2. Wipe away with an old towel
Keep curtains open and blinds up in the daytime and remove water daily with an old towel or thick microfibre cloth, at Amazon (opens in new tab). This will prevent mould and wood rot if you have wooden frames.
3. Move your plants
Calling proud houseplant parents, Lynsey warns against keeping any plants on your windowsills, as they add moisture to the air. Rachael Munby from Anglian Home Improvements (opens in new tab) agrees that limiting the number of houseplants you have or moving them out of the home can also really help.
‘The more houseplants you have, the more moisture you’ll find in the air, so if you can reduce the number of plants you have indoors, or perhaps move some to outbuildings during the winter, this can help reduce condensation forming on the inside of your windows,’ says Rachael.
(Image credit: Getty)
4. Use a dehumidifier
If you are worried about condensation and mould, the best dehumidifier will make a huge difference. Some models have a laundry setting which is a good way to dry clothes fast.
Just remember to remove any plants from the room if leaving the dehumidifier on for a long time, as they might not appreciate the sudden change in humidity. Lynsey also says not to leave laundry to dry in a room where you get condensation on the windows if at all possible.
5. Invest in a heated clothes airer
‘When you’re drying any wet clothes inside, we’d suggest using a plug-in heated clothes horse rather than air-drying them,’ says Rachael Munby. ‘As this will help to decrease moisture within your home.’ The best heated clothes airers are a budget-friendly alternative to the tumble dryer, only costing around 6 or 7p an hour to run.
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6. Make it cosy
Phil Brown, glass and glazing expert at Pilkington UK says, ‘increasing the room temperature should help lead to a dry January when it comes to your windows.’ Letting rooms get cold can create cold surfaces which warm air will condense onto.
There may be ways you can better insulate your home that don’t involve cranking up the heating, like putting foil behind radiators. So think about how you can keep the internal air temperature up to stop condensation on your windows.
Is it bad to have condensation on windows?
There are all kinds of reasons why you might have some level of condensation on windows, and it’s usually not a cause for concern. It can be caused by cooking, hot showers and even carbon dioxide in the air when lots of people are together in a room.
‘While small amounts of condensation are not a huge problem, if you do not treat it or leave it to build up for long periods of time, it can cause damp patches to form and turn into mould,’ says Rachael Munby. ‘This can both be bad for your health and potentially damaging to the furnishings and fabric of your home, so it’s important to avoid build-up by tackling any condensation issues immediately.
What causes condensation on the outside of double-glazed windows?
Natalie Berthiaume explains that condensation on the outside means your windows are working really well, and aren’t allowing any heat transfer. So if you do have some condensation on the outside of your windows this is nothing to worry about.
‘When the exterior surface temperature of the glass falls below the dew point of the air, this is when condensation can occur,’ she explains. ‘This tends to happen when the humidity levels are greater outside than indoors, for example, in the spring or summer when warmer days are followed by cool nights.’
(Image credit: Future PLC)
What causes condensation inside double-glazed windows?
‘Condensation between panes could be an indicator of a failure of the edge seal of the double glazing unit,’ comments Phil Brown at glass manufacturer Pilkington (opens in new tab). ‘Whether it’s incorrect installation, incompatible materials, unsuitable frame design or blocked drainage and ventilation slots, there could be several reasons for this.
‘Only a site inspection by an appropriate person and possible deglazing of the unit is likely to identify the cause of failure. If the product is still in warranty, this should be reported to the installer.’
Natalie Berthiaume at Hometree (opens in new tab)‘s top tip: ‘If you place a dehumidifier in front of the window and leave it on, eventually the dehumidifier should absorb the condensation that is stuck in between the windows.’
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