20 Old British Tricks to Stop Condensation on Windows in Winter — Without Buying a Dehumidifier, by Britain As It Was on YouTube. 20 min 20 s.
- Video length
- 20 min 20 s
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Open your windows wide for 10 to 15 minutes each morning. This clears the warm, damp air that builds up overnight.
Keep trickle vents open on windows and walls, and clear any furniture or curtains blocking them. Air needs a path to move through the room.
Wipe condensation off the glass every morning with a dry cloth or squeegee. Wring the cloth outside so the water does not go back into the room.
Use the extractor fan every time you cook or shower. Leave it running for 10 minutes after you finish.
Dry laundry outside or in a tumble dryer vented outdoors. Drying clothes on radiators adds a lot of moisture to the air.
Keep rooms at a steady 18 to 21°C. Avoid letting the temperature drop sharply at night, because cold surfaces attract condensation.
Place small bowls of salt or cat litter on windowsills as a backup moisture absorber. Change them when they feel damp or clumpy.
Check for leaks, blocked gutters and damp patches. Fix any water problem before it turns into mould.
Tips and common mistakes
Do not seal windows and vents completely; trapped moisture will settle on the coldest glass.
A salt bowl is a small help, not a cure. Use it with ventilation and heating, not instead of them.
If condensation appears on walls or ceilings, treat it as a damp problem and find the source.
Open windows briefly and widely rather than leaving them slightly open all day, which wastes heat.
Questions
Will opening windows in winter make the house too cold?
It cools the room briefly, but the walls and furniture keep some heat. Close the windows after 10 to 15 minutes and the room warms up again.
Do bowls of salt really stop condensation?
They absorb a small amount of moisture, so they can help a little on a windowsill. They will not fix high humidity from cooking, showering or drying clothes indoors.
When should I use a dehumidifier?
If condensation keeps returning after you improve ventilation and heating, a dehumidifier can remove extra moisture. Fix leaks first.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
