Mrs Hinch fans’ ?1.20 tip to stop condensation forming on windows
The UK is facing an unsettled week of weather ahead with periods of heavy rain and wind forecast for much of northern and western parts of the country.
The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning for wind[1] which covers most of the UK, with gusts of up to 80mph[2] expected along coasts and headlands.
The national forecaster said the severe weather is likely to cause disruption to road, rail and air services, and there is a chance that power cuts could occur.
The wet and windy conditions is a sign that autumn has well and truly arrived and it’s only going to get colder and wetter as we head towards December.
As the chillier weather begins to settle in you may start to notice a layer of condensation appearing on your windows in the morning.
The pesky problem occurs when the warm air inside your home meets the cold surface of your windows - a common problem in autumn and winter then the air outside is cool and dry, while inside it is hot and humid.
As the warm air hits the cold glass it then cools down quickly and forms droplets of water on the surface.
If left untreated, the sitting water can cause mould and mildew to grow around the window seal, which in turn can have an impact on your health.
The NHS warns that inhaling or touching mould spores can cause an allergic reaction, with symptoms including sneezing, a runny nose, red eyes and a skin rash.
It can also cause more serious health conditions such as asthma attacks and bronchitis, so it’s important to put a stop to condensation problems as soon as they arise.
Luckily, stopping condensation forming on your windows doesn’t have to break the bank as the issue can be solved for a bargain price.
Fans of cleaning guru Mrs Hinch have shared various tips to tackle the problem in Facebook cleaning group Mrs Hinch’s cleaning tips, including one that costs just £1.20.
Responding to a user who asked how to stop condensation and mould building on windows, several commenters recommended trying a dehumidifier.
You can electric dehumidifiers but these are quite pricey, so a good cheaper option is to buy a portable one that sits on your windowsill.
The plastic tubs are filled with absorbent pellets which pull excess moisture from the air and gather it in the container underneath, preventing it from building up on your window.
These are available to buy from Poundland[4] for a mere £1.20 and they can absorb up to 500ml of water.
One user posted a photo of a plastic dehumidifier and wrote: “I swear by these, in my home and my car. They are usually around £1 - £1.50. They work wonders.”
Another agreed, writing: “These are great, I have them in every room.”
A third advised: “Open the windows, turn up the heating, use a dehumidifier, make sure there are no leaks, insulate cold walls that moisture is attracted to.”
Another cheap solution recommended by Mrs Hinch fans is placing a bowl of salt on your windowsill to absorb the moisture.
One user said: “Put plates of normal salt near windows. I had a caravan and when we had to shut it down for winter I used to do this for dampness. It totally worked and is so cheap!”
A fellow user agreed, adding: “I’ve seen a hack of someone using table salt in a paper cup on the windowsill at the windows that have condensation and it cleared it. She emptied the salt when it hardened and replenished it with more.”
References
- ^ yellow weather warning for wind (www.examinerlive.co.uk)
- ^ gusts of up to 80mph (www.examinerlive.co.uk)
- ^ ‘Mortified’ Mrs Hinch fan warned over killing ants which 'trigger' her rare disorder (www.examinerlive.co.uk)
- ^ available to buy from Poundland (go.skimresources.com)