Stop condensation dripping on windows for good with common household items
As temperatures in Ireland are set to drop, many households will face condensation issues, which can lead to dangerous mould if left unchecked. Experts suggest improving ventilation, reducing moisture and using common household items to combat conden
With news that Ireland's temperatures are set to tumble by 17C in the coming days, many households will have condensation to deal with. Met Eireann has warned the mercury will dip this week, with temperatures dropping from highs of 18C on Monday to lows of close to freezing by Thursday.
This means many people will struggle to see out of their windows in the mornings due to the dewy manifestation of condensation.
Condensation is water beads that form when hot, moist air meets a cool surface. It manifests on our windows in the colder months due to warm air from inside the home hitting the cold glass windows. While it is mostly harmless, if your windows aren't maintained, the moisture could develop into dangerous mould that can cause health issues like asthma, eczema and bronchitis.
In a bid to combat condensation, experts have shared a few ways to get rid of condensation and reduce the chance of mould appearing, reports Express.
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To stop condensation on windows, there are three things to do; improve ventilation, reduce moisture and upgrade windows to double or triple glazing. If you don’t fancy opening windows while it’s cold outside, consider reducing moisture inside the house.
Julie Huitson took to the popular Facebook group Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips asking for help. She posted an image of a window covered in condensation and alongside it, she wrote: “Hi this is my daughter's bedroom window it's dripping, any ideas on how to stop it. Thanks.xx.”
The post gained hundreds of comments including useful and cheap suggestions to reduce condensation for good with common household items.
Cat Litter
Hardeep Grewal said: “I’ve heard cat litter in a sock? We have a similar issue with all our upstairs window. It is to do with the moisture in ur home.”
Sue Garner commented: “A sock full of cat litter on the window sill helps.”
Rosaleen French agreed: “Kitty litter, put it in a few odd socks, set it on the window absorbs the moisture and then refill as needed.. cheapest option out there and smells nice. Also I keep a couple smaller ones in my car to stop the windows steaming up as I call it...works a treat..”
Cat litter pellets are designed to absorb pet excretions, so they will also absorb moisture from the air. Place a couple of handfuls into an old pair of socks before tying the top of the sock.
Place the sock on windowsills around the home and leave them to absorb any excess moisture. It’s advisable to change the socks monthly as they will become damp and can smell unpleasant.
Salt
Caroline Mayne uses salt “in a bowl” for her “caravan in winter” and it’s “works a treat”.
Wendy Everitt replied to Caroline: “I agree we tried on our patio doors worked a treat.”
Nims Mc wondered: “How much salt do you need to use? I tried a little in a candle tea holder and it didn’t work?” Wendy explained: “We used a ramakin dish and filled half way.”
Judy McKay revealed: “My sons window is like this. I put a couple of tablespoons of salt on a small plate as suggested on this website and it worked. Took about one day to work but no condensation anymore.”
One replied: “Thank you ever so much who said to put a plate of salt on the windowsill for condensation. I was shocked. It really does work. No more wiping windows in the morning.”
Salt is one of the most absorbent natural products available, helping to combat moisture around the home. Using salt is the most basic method when trying to make a homemade dehumidifier. Experts say once the salt has blackened or becomes wet, it means it has reached its maximum level of saturation and should be changed.
Moisture absorbers
Julie Fletcher suggested: “The disposable dehumidifiers are really good / just place one in the corner of the windowsill - pound shop or poundstretcher sell them.”
Sandra Cirino second this: “Buy from Amazon some cartons with a substance in that absorbs the moisture, keep checking them though because they fill up quickly.”
Moisture absorbers, also known as disposable dehumidifiers, are very simple devices. They typically come as a plastic container that holds some kind of crystalized desiccant or absorbent chemical. The crystals naturally absorb water from the surrounding air, this causes a chemical reaction that causes the crystals to liquefy and drip into the water container.
According to Indoor Air Solutions, Ansio 500ml pack of five is “the best-selling disposable dehumidifier on amazon”. Not only are they great value”, but they also consume no electricity and are small and discrete. If you have a room suffering from some mild damp problems, five of these scattered around will help get rid of the problem. You can check them out HERE.
In the meantime, it’s advisable to wipe down the water each morning. Cleaning enthusiasts recommend using a shower squeegee and an old cleaning cloth or towel. If your purse can stretch a little further, Karcher has a handheld window cleaner that sucks water into the container. You can check it out HERE.
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