Cut window condensation by drying damp air, boosting airflow, and wiping moisture away before it turns to mould.
CD-01Work out why your windows are steaming upCondensation forms when warm, moist air from cooking, showers, kettles or drying washing hits cold glass. It's worse in winter, in rooms with poor airflow, and in older windows with single glazing or damaged seals. Knowing the cause helps you pick the right fix rather than just wiping it away every day.
CD-02Wipe down windows every morningUse a microfibre cloth or a small squeegee to clear overnight condensation before it drips onto the sill or frame. Wring the cloth out into a sink rather than a towel on the floor. Do this daily until the other steps below start reducing how much builds up.
CD-03Open any trickle vents on the windowsTrickle vents are the small slots along the top of the window frame. Check they're not painted shut or blocked with dust, and open them. Leave them open all year, even in winter, as they give background ventilation without a big heat loss.
CD-04Air each room for a few minutes dailyOpen windows fully for 5 to 10 minutes morning and evening to flush out moist air, even when it's cold outside — this loses less heat than you'd think. Close internal doors while doing this so damp air from one room doesn't spread through the house.
CD-05Contain steam where it's madeKeep pan lids on while cooking and use the extractor fan. In the bathroom, run the extractor fan during and for 15 minutes after a shower or bath, and keep the door shut so steam doesn't reach cooler rooms with windows.
CD-06Dry laundry without adding damp to the airDry washing outdoors whenever you can. Indoors, dry it in the bathroom with the door closed, window open or extractor fan running, and never on a radiator in an open room — that's one of the biggest causes of condensation.
CD-07Check how your tumble dryer ventsA vented dryer needs its hose running to an outside wall, not just left in the room. A condenser or heat pump dryer needs its water tank emptied after every load, or the moisture ends up back in your home's air.
CD-08Add a dehumidifier if condensation persistsIf windows still steam up badly after a week of better ventilation, run a small dehumidifier in the worst-affected room, especially overnight. Empty the water tank daily and keep the room's door shut while it runs so it isn't pulling in fresh moist air.
CD-09Treat any mould before it spreadsIf black spots have appeared on the frame or sill, spray with an anti-mould treatment, leave for the time stated on the bottle, then wipe off with a damp cloth and dry the area fully. Don't paint over mould without treating it first, as it will come back through.
CD-10Check progress over the next weekKeep wiping windows each morning and note whether the amount of condensation is dropping. If one particular window is still much worse than the others, it may have a failed seal or poor insulation and could need a glazier's opinion rather than more ventilation.
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