With temperatures dropping to -8C this week in parts of the UK and two months of winter still ahead, condensation, mold and damp inside homes has become a common issue to deal with in recent years with gas and electricity bills constantly rising. It’s a very prevalent problem this time of year, and while it’s easy to dismiss condensation as a nuisance, it can have negative effects on both your home’s structure and your health. Research shows that around 450,000 homes in England are believed to have condensation and mold problems. With this in mind, Cut Plastic Sheeting has shared ‘five easy hacks’ to ‘prevent condensation in your home from causing dampness and mold’ – ‘all for less than £5’.
1. Open all curtains and blinds
Increasing ventilation in the home is important when it comes to how to stop condensation on windows.
The goal is to allow the air in the room to move freely so that moist air is not trapped inside a confined area.
The experts advised: “Open all blinds and blinds when you get up in the morning. The potential for condensation increases when there is moisture trapped between blinds or blinds and windows, especially in kitchens and bathrooms.”
Lean venting will also increase ventilation by allowing air to escape into the house at a reasonable rate but not making households suffer from cold air.
Read more: Damp repair can cost up to £5,000 – use this ‘cheap £1’ item to fix it
3. Use rock salt or baking soda
Known to dry and absorb moisture, salt and baking soda are two cheap and effective ways to reduce moisture from condensation.
The experts instructed: “Place rock salt by the window in a small bowl, as it has absorbent properties and will attract moisture to it.
“You can also do this with baking soda—as baking soda absorbs moisture, you’ll see it get progressively harder. When this happens, you should replace it with fresh baking soda.”
Baking soda can be bought from Asda for 65p or from Wilko for £1.75. Saltpeter sells for 70p at Asda or £1.25 at Sainsbury’s
Read more: I used baking soda to remove stubborn limescale from my kettle
4. Create a DIY silica gel dehumidifier
Perhaps you can remember the little packets of silica gel found in shoeboxes, containers, or any other item that might collect moisture.
Silica gel works great as a dehumidifier, and households can easily make their own to give “best results” according to professionals.
They instructed: “All you need to do is fill a jar with silica gel, cover it with a perforated lid (you can do this by puncturing the lid with a screwdriver), and leave it by your window.
“Replace the gel once every two weeks for best results. Alternatively, you can also use charcoal the same way it absorbs moisture from the air.” A pack of 25 sachets of silica gel can be bought for £2.95 from Amazon.
5. Use cat litter
Just as cat litter pellets are designed to absorb pet secretions, they can also be used to absorb moisture from the air. Cat litter can be picked up at Waitrose for £2.20 and at Wilco for £4
The experts said: “Fill the socks with cat litter and place them near your window. Because cat litter is made to absorb cat urine, it makes a great absorbent material. Change the socks monthly for best results.”
In addition to the above hacks, secondary glazing is “a great way to improve the energy efficiency” of a building and “reduce condensation” by adding an extra layer of glass to existing windows, without breaking the bank.
The professionals explained: “Using a secondary glazing assembly would cost the average UK home installer just £151.27. This method allows for balanced airflow in the gap between the primary glazing and the secondary glazing unit while providing an effective internal seal. This seal prevents condensation from forming Evolution and keeps the interior glass from getting too cold.”
