condensation on windows

[madame]

can anyone help please. We live in an old listed building with quite old windows. We aeren't in a position to put in double glazing so are having to work with what we have.
We are getting really bad condensationon on the windows every morning. A friend has lent us a large dehumidifier which I am using but it seems to be doing nothing to help.

Is there anything else I can be doing, somebody told me you can get things to put on the window sill to help but thats all I know and don't know what they are.

make sure you open the windows as much as possible during the day to let the water vapour in the air outside

Also be sure to keep your bathroom door closed after you have had a bath / shower (and use an extractor fan and / or open the window to let the steam out after you have finished)

Drying clothes inside / on the radiators doesnt help either

There's only so much you can do. Condensation happens because the amount of moisture warm air can carry is a lot more than cold air. Therefore, when the warm air hits the cold window, the moisture in it has to condense. If you have open fires (gas, wood, coal), then you are adding to the humidity of the air.

Ventilation can help - this is often in the form of air bricks. Dehumidification/air conditioning is good if you don't have good ventilation (ie draughts). Some old windows have little drain tubes from the window ledge to outside, so if you have these, make sure they aren't blocked. Not sure about what you could put on the windowsill except something to absorb the moisture - towels or muslins would do the trick - not pretty, but it's not something you would have to have there during the day.

If it's any consolation, this is the worst time of year for condensation. The relatively warm days mean that there is lots of moisture in the atmosphere, which then has to condense out during the cold nights. In the winter, the air is much drier.

i wipe it off if it is really bad and am saving for replacement timber sliding sashes! ( it drives me nuts tbh!)

wiping them with a tiny bit of washing up liquid stops them a bit

You can get these from Lakeland which might help. I'm sure they also used to do one that looked more like a draught excluder IYSWIM but I can't find it.