With autumn approaching, many households will wake up to condensation-covered windows, but one homeowner has shared a £1 trick that can keep it at bay for roughly two weeks at a time. The method uses washing up liquid and a microfibre cloth, and was rated 100% effective in her tests.
Condensation occurs when warm, moist air inside the home meets cold windows, leaving droplets of water on the glass. If untreated, the excess moisture can contribute to mould forming around window frames. Fed up with the issue, one homeowner decided to test several popular hacks to see which actually worked.
A Cheap Household Staple Wins the Test
TikTok user DoingUpMyHome shared her results after trying three different methods over four days. She said: "Have you got condensation on your windows? With the cold weather comes the likelihood of condensation on the inside of your windows. It's not a good thing to have in your home as it can turn to mould, so I searched for a hack to fix this problem."
Her winning method required nothing more than washing up liquid and a microfibre cloth. She used about a 50p-sized amount of washing up liquid, applying it to a clean, dry cloth before wiping it across the entire window pane and frames. She then went over the glass several times to ensure no visible film was left behind.
How the Hack Works
Explaining the results, she said: "Wipe it a few times so that there's no film left on the windows and it worked absolutely brilliant." She added: "The main thing here is that it lasts about two weeks, so it does need to be redone."
The homeowner also tried the technique on her bathroom mirror to stop it steaming up after a hot shower, and it worked well there too. She had also tested a bowl of salt, which she rated as 20% effective, and bicarbonate of soda, which she claimed was 80% effective. But the washing up liquid method came out on top, with her claiming it was "100%" effective on her windows.
Other Suggestions from Social Media
While the washing up liquid hack was her favourite, other social media users offered their own tips for tackling condensation. Several recommended improving ventilation by opening windows regularly. One person said: "Open your windows two times a day minimum. 10 minutes. Everyday! The only way to hold mould away." Another added: "The only thing that works for condensation and to stop mould is to open your windows for at least 30 min every day."
However, some said condensation was a major problem in their homes, particularly during winter. One person wrote: "This is a massive problem for me. It has my heartbroken. My apartment is so cold and my electricity bills in winter is also £1,000 every two months. Every morning I find water running down my windows." Another user said: "I don't get this anymore thank god since moving into an A-rated new build."
While ventilation can help reduce moisture levels, households dealing with persistent condensation may need to look at wider causes, such as poor ventilation, high humidity or inadequate insulation.
