The exact 10-step routine to perform daily to keep even the dampest houses condensation free
A FRUGAL homeowner has revealed the 10 steps they swear by to keep their “damp old house” free of condensation.
With the temperature outside getting colder by the day, and the thermostat being turned up, condensation on windows is a given.
But there are a few ways you can keep this to a minimum – without breaking the bank either.
One person took to Reddit to share the 10 tips they stick to daily to keep their window panes moisture free.
They even use clever tricks while preparing food and drinks, explaining they always ensure their hot drinks have a lid on – both to keep them hot but also to reduce steam rising off them.
Likewise, they use silicone lids on bowls containing hot foods like porridge or soup.
In the bathroom, they keep a microfibre cloth which they use to wipe down the shower screen, bath and sink to prevent any moisture release.
They also use a flannel to wipe themselves down before drying themselves off with a small hand towel, noting that the big bath towels are much harder to dry without causing some kind of condensation.
The person also suggested always keeping the lid of the toilet closed, again to keep moisture release to a minimum.
If you wash up by hand, wipe the crocks down with a sponge before placing them in the drainer.
And they also had some good tips regarding doing laundry in the colder months.
While they line dry as much as possible outside, they noted it’s “trickier” to do so when it’s cold outside.
So if they’re drying laundry inside, they try to “create as much surface area as possible for clothes to dry”, such as putting up “temporary washing lines if possible”.
If your budget will stretch to a dehumidifier and/or fan, these can be helpful to get hanging clothes dry quicker.
Another gadget they recommended is a window vacuum, which they use to get rid of any condensation in the mornings.
And their final suggestion was to “live without houseplants”, although they acknowledged the tip will be “unpopular if you love them”.
In the comments section, other people shared their own suggestions to reduce condensation.
With one writing: “There’s something ‘popular’ in Germany where they open every single window in the house for a good ten mins or something, so I started doing it last year its a game changer.
What is condensation?
Condensation is water droplets that form on a window when moist air comes into contact with a cold surface.
Condensation occurs when:
Air cools
Warmer air can hold more moisture than cooler air. When moist air touches a cold surface, like a window, the water vapour in the air turns into liquid water droplets.
Windows are colder than walls
Windows are often colder than insulated walls, so condensation is more likely to occur on them.
Windows are poorly insulated
Poorly insulated windows can lead to condensation, especially if they are made of aluminium, which conducts heat quickly. If left untreated, it can lead to mould and other serious problems.
“The front windows open as wide as they can, and no one in during the day, so I leave them for about 2/3 hours.
“Clears all the moisture built up on windows, wardrobe, and a bit of air flow.”
“This is the way!” another agreed.
“People don’t vent their homes enough.
“An older lady opposite me has her bedroom window open almost 24/7, unless it’s really really cold.
“I do also, and trickle vents open, and never have mould.”
While someone else suggested dripping gutters can be a major issue when it comes to condensation as they “raise the humidity level in the house”.
“We’ve got two areas in particular that are prone to condensation on the walls, corresponding to where the drips are,” they explained.
“But I’m also going to measure the humidity level in the rest of the house.
“It may well have a noticeable effect everywhere.”