How can you slow down or prevent condensation on windows

[Squaretiles]

I woke this morning and the window in my room was covered in a film of wet. I opened the window fully and an hour later it still didn't evaporate and I had to take kitchen paper to the window to dry it all up. That's not a good task when I am running out the door to work.

Is there any way condensation on windows can be slowed down or prevented.

I do have a dehumidifier ordered and I hope to run that over nights and maybe with the window closed.

But sometimes I might take the dehumidifier and plug it in, in the kitchen to dry clothes on a rack.

How can I prevent condensation.

I have some kitty litter in the window sill in the hope that will soak up some wetness some might change it to salt.

I always have windows open during the next, regardless of the weather. I do sometimes still get condensation if it's really cold so use my karcher to sook it up.

Yep, open your windows overnight

I always keep our bedroom window cracked open overnight. I reckon dh breathes out buckets worth alone (going by the state of the windows when I get back from being away in the winter and he's kept them closed.

It's stopped the issue with condensation and it doesn't make all that much difference to the room ime.

Alternatively, wipe them down first thing every morning or use a window vac.

I leave my windows open during the day, close them at night and but get some condensation in the morning.

I bought some of those dehumidifier pot things from B&M, four for about £3 or thereabouts. I leave one on windowsills and they are really effective at sucking up the moisture.

Ventilation, heating and mopping up any condensation religiously. Use a dehumidifier if it a really ba dAlso regularly check for mould in hidden places, e.g. behind the bed/headboard.

Some useful information:

https://www.endsleigh.co.uk/blog/post/what-causes-condensation-7-tips-prevent-it/

I do usually have the window open at night but not fully and it was open last night too. There was a light frost this morning. I do t know if that had anything to do with it. The window was wet.

When I get the dehumidifier, will it still work with an open window? Wouldn't that just draw mositure into the room from an open window?

Windows on vent all year round in the bedrooms and bathroom. Very little condensation only when the outside temp in below zero. A karcher vac is fabulous and quick and easy - but I’m cheap and just use an old piece of towel to wipe up. Takes a few seconds.
ventilation and heating are the solution.

Leave a small window in your room open overnight.

Be careful using a dehumidifier for prolonged periods. It may make your wallpaper peel...

No, don’t use a dehumidifier with the window open. Like you say, it will just suck in the moisture from the air outside.

I would suggest getting a humidity meter, (£5-£10) as it helps to understand the levels and what effect any changes have. (Humans aren't good at judging humidity as we're massively biased by the temperature)

Then I would buy a dehumidifier (with at least a 5 Litre capacity), in my experience in a victorian bedroom with 2 people, it will take at least 2-3 weeks to reduce the background humidity. The dehumidifier will pull a couple of litres a day at first, you will be amazed.

You may then find you just need to run it during the day, I have mine on a timer, some have a timer built in as they can be a bit noisy.

We have terrible window condensation in our current house and I've tried all the tips recommended already. The wardrobe hanger versions of the dehumidifier boxes are good if you are able to hang them out of sight behind a curtain too. I also got sick of the soggy towels job every morning (ours is more several hand towels level than anything kitchen roll can handle) so I have invested in a window vac which is so much easier and you don't then have the towels to dry and put the water back into air. Also be fastidious about use of extractors when cooking or showering. It fills the air with moisture that then condenses out overnight. And this year we've put the heating on low sooner in the autumn.

Another observation I made was that condensation is much worse on windows with close fitting blinds. The moisture must get trapped more readily and none evaporates back off. I think it's cos the bit behind the blind doesn't get the benefit of heat from the room. I now try to remember to reopen blinds once the lights are out.

Either window open year-round or close the window and use a dehumidifier.

Window film, the shrink wrap cling film stuff.
My conservatory is awful for condensation in the winter despite double glazing. Granted the rad didn't work properly but conservatories are notoriously cold in winter regardless.
Put this on last year and totally solved the issue.
Cost about £16 for me to do the whole room.

When I get the dehumidifier, will it still work with an open window?

No. As much as I appreciate you trying to dry out my garden too I don't think you will like your electric bill.

Windows shut, door shut. Move the dehumidifier to a different room and repeat. Do not attempt to dry out whole house in one go by leaving internal doors open when it's on, it's not effective or efficient.

When cooking, keep saucepan lids on, the kitchen window open and the door closed. Likewise, always keep the bathroom door shut after a bath or shower, and open the window. If there's no window, leave the light on so the extractor fan can do its job instead.

The main trick is to reduce the humidity level in the air in your home to start with, and then have adequate ventilation as well.

Have a look at a nuaire drimaster, it's a piv system. It goes in your attic and blows air around your house keeping it ventilated. Since getting one we don't have condensation on our windows anymore

Please don't do this OP! Solved it on the windows as they are no longer the coldest spot in the room. This is as bad as the solutions involving smearing washing up liquid over the window. The moisture just condenses elsewhere, usually on your walls or ceilings which is much much worse than the inconvenience of wet windows.

Can I also recommend buying plants that love and thrive in areas with high moisture.

Peace lilies, succulents, mother in law tongues all love the environments that you are describing and hardly need any looking after - ok, so you might have to water them once a week and repot them occasionally but they will help and they don't cost a penny to run.

I'm not saying that they will solve the problem but they might help.

I just have a facecloth on each window ledge and give them a quick wipe over in the morning.

I found last year that if I didn’t leave my curtains closed all night it wasn’t there.

Get a window vac

I have massive windows downstairs and we can't leave them open downstairs so they get wet with condensation despite running a dehumidifier
Upstairs never a problem with windows on latch, except it was getting to
11c inside at night last year

Karcher window hoover

If you're going to leave windows open, ensure the humidity outside is less than likely inside. A dehumidifier will help if you've excluding higher humidity coming in. If you have an indoor humidity thermometer and check local humidity levels online, you can check on this.

Condensation is always worse this side of Xmas, as it gets colder the air can't hold the same level of humidity.

It's worth putting washed clothes outside unless it's raining or less than 5c. Some of the dampness will evaporate outside rather than on an airer or radiator.

I used to smear a little washing up liquid on the window and it stopped the condensation a little.

As in you left the curtains open?

I can do that. I can leave the curtains open.