Condensation build-up is a regular occurrence when the cold weather starts creeping in, but it’s important to try to get rid of it. One woman has found a simple hack which actually works
Waking up to condensation covering your windows isn’t just annoying, but over time it can become a health hazard as it can cause worrying mould to grow.
But what do you do if your home is really cold, and you want to save energy by not opening the windows to let air in? Luckily, there are other ways to prevent condensation without forking out extra money on ways to extract moisture from your home.
After finding a simple hack on TikTok, one woman decided to test it out for herself – and found it was really effective. And instead of splashing out on moisture absorber, it involved simply wiping her windows with two kitchen staples – a cloth and some washing up liquid.
Taking to the video sharing platform, online content creator Janine Kurtovic explained she gets condensation “all over” her windows and it really “p****es” her off – so she decided to do something about it. According to Janine, she had seen that if you rub “a small bit” of washing up liquid on your windows it prevents condensation.
She was initially worried it might cause unsightly smears all over the window, but from looking at other videos she was assured that wouldn’t happen if she just used a little bit. Janine decided to try the hack on her bedroom windows, but not on her daughter’s, so she could compare them the next morning.
The morning after she was so “excited” because it actually worked. “Look at that, no condensation on the windows,” she said while showing the windows, which clearly had no moisture on them. She then compared it to her daughter’s windows, which did have condensation on them. “I’m so excited because I […] hate condensation, so this is going to be my new hack.”
Many social media users were impressed by the results, and couldn’t wait to try it out themselves. “Wow I’m going to try this,” said one person. “Need to do this!!!,” said another.
Condensation happens when water vapours come into contact with an extremely cold surface, causing droplets to form. Washing up liquid can reduce the water’s surface tension and acts as a protective barrier.
A tiny amount of washing-up liquid will leave behind a thin invisible layer that prevents the droplets from sticking to the glass surface and accumulating.
Even though this is a great trick, it’s also important try to keep moisture out of your home. You could buy a dehumidifier, make sure you ventilate rooms adequately, especially when drying clothes indoors.