When it’s damp and cold outside, it’s all too easy for our homes to become excessively warm and humid. Before you know it, condensation will start forming on the inside of your windows. This happens when the warm air in your home comes into contact with the cold glass, releasing excess moisture in droplets as it cools. It is not a pleasant sight and can impair visibility out of a window in very humid conditions.
This problem needs to be addressed as soon as possible because this excess water can damage a wood frame. It can also contribute to mold forming in your home, leaving marks on ceilings and walls as well as around windows. If you’re struggling with condensation inside your windows, here we’ll take you through 9 ways to get rid of it, as well as how to prevent it from returning so your windows will stay crystal clear no matter how humid. conditions abroad.
1. Open the windows
The most obvious way to deal with condensation is to allow indoor air to vent to the outside, which will reduce the humidity levels in your home. This may not be a perfect solution, depending on the time of year and the humidity levels outside, but most of the time it’s a surefire way to deal with this problem. Any condensation will dry quickly, and fresh air will be replaced to reset your home conditions.
If you anticipate a large gathering in your home, which will quickly increase the temperature and humidity of the room, open the window in advance to prepare the place. Leave doors open between rooms, too, so air has more opportunity to circulate.
2. Exhaust fans
Exhaust fans will cost you in energy for the window opening, but they can help speed up the venting process. They will actively pump excess moisture and odors out of your home, making conditions more favorable. They are often installed around particularly damp areas, such as the bathroom, kitchen, or basement, and can help when you wouldn’t prefer a full window opening to the elements.
Make sure you make use of exhaust fans when the conditions in your home are particularly humid, but don’t leave them running for longer than necessary as they will consume a lot of energy over time.
3. Dehumidifiers
one of The best dehumidifiers It can really help you keep the volume on top. Dehumidifiers work by sucking in the air, removing any excess moisture, and then venting it back into the room.
Different types and sizes of dehumidifiers are available, depending on the space and the amount of moisture you’re dealing with. Some can passively pump water directly into the drain, while others fill a tank that will need to be emptied and replaced when necessary.
It requires this energy again to operate, so make sure you only use it for as long as possible. Choose the model that has a humidity sensor, so it will only use as much power as necessary, if any. Also, look for Energy Star certified models – these will generally feature lower power consumption.
4. Buy a hygrometer
While a hygrometer won’t lower the humidity levels in your home, it will definitely help you keep up. With one of these, you can identify when humidity levels are really too high, or really too low, so you know when to take action. An example would be the ThermoPro TP50 digital thermometer ($10.99, Amazon (Opens in a new tab)).
For guidance, you want humidity levels to be between 30% to 50% in the home. If the moisture is more than that, it will encourage condensation and mold. And if the house is too dry, you will notice symptoms such as dry skin and static electricity.
Certain activities will naturally produce a lot of moisture, and if you anticipate it you can reduce the impact on the humidity in your home. For example, if you’re taking a hot bath or shower, make sure to ventilate the room well outside once you’re done. Or if you cook in the kitchen and it releases a lot of steam from your oven or pots and pans, turn on an exhaust fan. If you hang dry laundry inside, make sure there is adequate ventilation here as well.
By getting rid of this excess moisture promptly, it is less likely to land on your windows or encourage mold. Whatever you do, don’t ignore it, because moisture always needs to go somewhere.
6. Maintain a constant temperature
The warm air in your home bumping into the colder glass of your window is what causes the condensation. By equalizing these temperatures, you will reduce the impact.
To do this, you should try to keep your home’s temperature constant – this will heat the glass and prevent too many fluctuations. We can appreciate that this can be an expensive repair, especially if you don’t want to run the heating during the night. One of the best smart thermostats may be able to help keep costs down.
If you want to invest in one of the best space heaters to keep things warm, stick to the electric and avoid buying a gas design. They can produce a lot of water during their operation and contribute to condensation.
7. Buy the right plants
Some plants effectively reduce the humidity levels in your home. By doing so, they can discourage mold as well as condensation. A good example is the orchid – it absorbs moisture from the surrounding air as it grows, and takes it in through its leaves and aerial roots.
For more ideas, see 5 houseplants that help prevent mold in your home. If your orchids have seen better days, be sure to check out as well How to care for an orchid.
8. Use a mop
If you’ve already lowered the moisture levels, but still need to get rid of the moisture on the glass itself, we recommend using a squeegee, such as the OXO Good Grips All-Purpose Squeegee ($9.95, Amazon (Opens in a new tab)). Simply swipe the top of a button and use a microfiber cloth to dry off the excess. If your windows need cleaning, check out how to clean windows and leave them streak-free.
We do not recommend using an electric window cleaner for this chore. In our experience, it takes longer to use and leaves streaks behind. In addition, it is much higher maintenance compared to a manual mop, which can also be used in the bathroom.
9. Use a hair dryer
If you have double glazing, and condensation has formed between the panels, this can be really frustrating – you can’t simply wipe it away. It is possible that this happened because there was a malfunction in the sealant and moisture managed to find its way in.
To get rid of this type of condensation, you need to lower the general humidity levels of the room until the condensation evaporates. One of the above methods can help with this, but you can also use a hair dryer.
With the hair dryer set on low heat, and keeping it a short distance from the window (you want to avoid damaging the sealant), heat the glass until the condensation dries. This won’t solve the problem forever, of course. To do this, you need to have the seal/window seal checked and repaired by a professional if necessary. This can be expensive, but it can also prevent damage by mold.
For more tips, tricks, and cleaning methods, check out our guides on how to clean a glass hob, how to clean painted walls, and how to clean an oven.