As a member of Ask Team Clean, you get access to exclusive offers and the best cleaning tips.
Most of the time, moisture on your windows is a matter of temperature and humidity. When the air is hotter and more humid on one side of the glass, moisture collects on the windowpanes. In winter, condensation can form on the interior of your windows because it’s cold and dry outside but warm and humid inside. If there’s moisture inside your home, it’s likely because it’s become too humid indoors.
Here we have three solutions for preventing your windows from fogging up. See which one works best for you.
- One easy way is to simply wipe it off. You can start here and use a towel or sponge and wipe off the water/condensation.
- If your winters are especially cold and your windows have condensation all the time, there is one fairly new tool you can purchase called a window vacuum that literally removes the water into an airtight canister by sucking the water off the window. Several companies make these and if you have a lot of condensation, you can look into purchasing one. Voilà! In minutes the condensation is removed.
This solution is a bit more complex. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the relative humidity in your home should always be below 60 percent. Ideally, you want it somewhere between 30 and 50 percent. The EPA recommends picking up a hygrometer—a small, inexpensive humidity meter you can find at your local home improvement store. Knowing the humidity level will assist you in finding solutions.
Lowering the humidity on a regular basis will help the house “breathe” and there will be less of a chance of the condensation occurring. Here are some ways to lower the humidity in the home:
- Open window treatments. Condensation is more likely to occur when drapes are closed or shades are pulled down. Try opening up everything a few times a day so the heat isn’t trapped on your windowpane.
- Circulate the air. The same way a gentle breeze can take the edge off the humidity outside, some air circulation can do wonders indoors. You can use ceiling fans in a clockwise direction—even during the winter—to move warm air down from the top of your room.
- Turn down the humidifier. If you’re using a humidifier—in a nursery, to treat a cold or as part of your furnace—turn it down or off for a while until the relative humidity is reduced.
- Ensure proper ventilation in your home. Some areas are more prone to moisture, like your kitchen, bathroom and laundry area. Make sure to run exhaust fans when cooking and for 30–60 minutes after a shower. Check that exhaust fans and the clothes dryer vent outside your home are in good working order. If your home doesn’t have exhaust fans, try opening your window just a little for a few minutes to dry the air out.
If the condensation on the glass is bothersome, try applying a water repellent to the exterior of your windows—you may have some in your garage already. Water repellent is commonly used on car windshields to help improve visibility in rainy weather. It can work in the same way to prevent condensation on house windows.
We hope you enjoyed our tips on how to stop window condensation. Don’t forget to check out our other cleaning tips such as how to clean mirrors, how to clean windows with ease, and how to clean quickly and effectively: Handy tips and tricks.
Don’t forget to register with Ask Team Clean to get more advice and rewards sent to you, as well as exclusive offers on your favorite products!