Four simple cleaning mistakes could be making condensation in homes worse this autumn, according to indoor living specialists Vonhaus. As clocks change and windows stay closed for longer, moisture has fewer routes out of the house, and cleaning routines that felt harmless over summer can start contributing to the condensation and mould households are trying to avoid.
Government figures show that around a million homes in England have damp and mould issues. Laura Bradbury, head of e-commerce at Vonhaus, says several everyday cleaning habits can quietly raise humidity at exactly the time of year when homes are least able to deal with it.
Mopping and cleaning habits that add moisture
The first mistake is mopping with too much water. A heavily soaked mop can leave more water on a floor than is needed to lift dirt. Opening a door or window for the short time it takes for the floor to dry gives moisture somewhere to go.
“Wringing the mop out properly before it touches the floor makes a bigger difference than people expect,” says Bradbury. “A floor that dries within a few minutes releases far less moisture than one left glistening for an hour.”
The second mistake is cleaning several rooms at once. It can feel efficient, but it means several sources of moisture release water vapour simultaneously. Spacing out cleaning tasks and briefly airing each room before moving on gives moisture time to clear.
Drying cloths and covering furniture
The third mistake is hanging damp cloths indoors. Cleaning cloths, tea towels and mop heads are often left to dry over a radiator or an airer once a job is finished, and each one continues releasing water into the room for hours afterwards. This can quietly push a room's humidity above the level needed to avoid condensation. Drying clothes outdoors, or in a well-ventilated utility space, keeps that moisture out of living spaces.
“A wet cloth draped over a radiator is doing exactly the same thing as a wet towel, just on a smaller scale,” says Bradbury. “It feels like a minor amount of water, but several dryings in the same room over a day add up.”
Mistake number four is covering furniture before it’s dry. Replacing cushions, throws, or covers traps any moisture remaining in the fabric beneath, which can lead to a musty smell and, in cases of prolonged dampness, mould within the upholstery. This is a particular risk with sofas and mattresses cleaned with steam or shampoo, where drying time is longer than it appears. Leaving cleaned upholstery uncovered until properly dry, with a window open or a fan directed at it, reduces the chance of moisture becoming trapped out of sight.
