Condensation

[BeyondPolkadots]

It is pretty much bearable once the heating goes on, but (possibly due to lack of a vent in the bathroom and kitchen, though we keep the windows open as much as possible when cooking/showering) til then we have a bit of a problem with windows steaming up (and at its worst, black mould. Though as I said, that is now pretty much controlled)
It is especially the front bedrooms on the exterior wall, back isn't so bad and it's a terraced house.

So quick vote, which is the best sticking plaster?
A dehumidifier or a karcher window vac?

[Mcchickenbb41]

Iv heard probably a dehumidifier. Shop around an line. Don't automatically go for the cheapest look at the energy rating as could be false economy. I have one of those bond ball things on top of dd wardrobe as her room started to get an unexplained musty smell. It really did work !

[Optimist1]

The Karcher window vac served me well last winter - it was astonishing how much water could collect from just one sweep of all the windows. But this year I bought a dessicant humidifier and its effects are astonishing - entirely dry windows in all rooms every morning! (I've yet to see an electricity bill, but now that it's reached "maintenance" levels it doesn't run for great lengths of time. It was a bit alarming that it took about 3 days' constant running to reach acceptable level of humidity, though! My research led me to understand that dessicant types are quieter, and mine certainly is. It has a clothes drying setting and I tested it on a very wet cotton duvet cover and pillow cases rigged over the clothes airer - about 4hrs later they were dry enough to put in the airing cupboard. The Karcher still serves a useful purpose on the shower screen and bathroom mirror, though.

[iwishiwish]

I'd say both. Remove obvious water with the window vac and use the dehumid to keep it from reappearing. As you say, though, it isn't cheap.

[BeyondPolkadots]

Ah no, both isn't a good answer
DH is already being Scrooge at the suggestion of just the karcher!!

[Optimist1]

If you get a dehumidifier you won't have need for a Karcher, Beyond!

[Letmesleepalready]

We have both, but the electric dehumidifier really is better than the window vac, as it gets rid of the problem at the source.

[RaptorInaPorkPieHat]

We have both (sorry)

We don't use the dehumidifier all the time, but I do the windows every morning if they need it.

I'd probably go for a dehumidifier first and see how you get on.

[cozietoesie]

I agree. If you have high levels of moisture in a room, they're surely going to permeate everything - even though they're mainly dropping out on the window panes. A dehumidifier scrubs the air in the whole room.

[Mar15mite]

I'd say a window vac treats the symptoms and a dehumidifier cures (well kind of) the problem. So if you can only go for one get a dehumidifier. We just got one for similar issues and it has worked a treat.

[unlucky83]

I've got both ...actually 2 of each ! I found that window vac was great for collecting condensation on windows and doing the shower after use (amazing how much water I collected!) but actually once I got into the habit of doing the shower, keeping the bathroom door closed and the window wide open for 30mins or so afterwards, we got very little condensation on the windows.
You don't need a karcher for the condensation - you can get a cheap window vac for £20 ish - Lidl do them every so often but they are always sold out when I tried to get one (I do have a Karcher for actually cleaning windows...)
Dehumidifiers
My under stairs cupboard was damp and musty - it is on an external wall and next door* has raised their ground level above our damp proof course -I bought a cheap dehumidifier (£30ish) and turn it on when it is damp outside - at first use it collected a frightening amount of water but now much less.
My office - 3 external walls and one on the same side as the cupboard...also seemed quite damp...as well the raised ground there is also a shed that rests tight against the wall. I had pots of salt and cat litter in cupboards and under things in corners - I pulled one out and it was full of water...also I had started finding what I call 'damp mites' in stored paper... I moved the small dehumidifier in and it filled with water in record time -so I bought a bigger dehumidifier. It ran constantly for a few days - 6pts of water in 5 hrs! but now is not on constantly. I have also had it plugged in upstairs for a week - planning on having it a week up and a week down to maintain levels - or even maybe buying another one ...
( *nightmare neighbour did this - nice new neighbour wasn't aware until they moved in it was causing me problems. They are going to sort it but can't do it straight away...and that's fine by me... )

[bummyknocker]

optimist I like the sound of that machine, what model is it?

[Optimist1]

It's this bummy .

[BeyondPolkadots]

Unlucky, i'd found a karcher for £40 so it wasn't really much more than the cheaper ones but had the great feedback

Dehumidifier-wise, I've found one on amazon that does 12l a day, is £99 and has good energy ratings and good reviews. Does that sound like the type of thing I should be looking for? Hang on, I'll link...
www.amazon.co.uk/Inventor-Portable-Dehumidifier-Continuous-Dehumidification/dp/B01GRM302E/ref=pd_rhf_dp_p_img_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=TP2CJPXK575SVHM0T7ZH&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[BeyondPolkadots]

I do prefer the idea of 'treating the problem' - means I don't have to faff about hoovering windows every morning!

[unlucky83]

I couldn't find reviews (other than Amazon) for that one - I looked at Which best buys etc . Apparently that type of dehumidifier (refrigerant - as is mine, most common type in the UK -other type is desiccant) sometimes don't work very well at lower temps - so overnight if you don't keep your heating on. Which tested them and the one I got is a dimplex www.amazon.co.uk/Dimplex-16-Litre-Dehumidifier-005231099/dp/B00CFRKU0Q/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1476529817&sr=8-2&keywords=dehumidifier%20dimplex&tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21 - except I paid £130 ish which does apparently work well at lower temps. They did have a best buy at £100 ish but it wasn't as good at lower temps.
Having said that I was really tempted by that Inventor one and if I do get another I think I might try that one...
(Also I am not 100% convinced by Which best buys - they have a smoke alarm listed as one of their best buys. It is a type (Fire angel thermoptek 10yr) I got given by the Fire Brigade and I am looking to get rid of as they have been nothing but hassle since I got them and have no confidence in them any more)

[MsUnderstanding]

A dehumidifier will remove moisture from more than just windows. Will save on having to wash and wipe other surfaces covered in mould. I have an Ecoair one. Small, quiet, portable and effective.