With the current cold snap in the UK, many homes across the country are struggling with condensation. This usually happens when cold air from the outside meets the warm air inside, causing moisture build-up in windows.
Apart from being a nuisance and having the potential to lead to damage inside your home, it can also lead to mould, which can be harmful to your health, particularly if you're allergic as it can trigger conditions like asthma.
Figures from 2022 found that 455,000 homes in England have condensation and mould problems.
There are several ways of combatting condensation, but many involve costly measures like investing in a dehumidifier, or keeping windows open to allow ventilation – but this could cause your heating bills to skyrocket.
Luckily, experts at Cut Plastic Sheeting have shared a DIY hack that will allow you to create a DIY silica gel dehumidifier for under £5, which will prevent condensation in your home.
The experts said: "All you'll need to do if fill a jar with silica gel, cover it with a perforated lid (you can do this by piercing the lid with a screwdriver), and leave it by your window.
"Replace the gel once every two weeks for best results. Alternatively, you can also use charcoal in the same way as it absorbs moisture from the air."
The experts have also shared other cheap hacks that could help prevent condensation, including placing rock salt in a small bowl by the window.
Because the rock salt is so absorbent, it will draw moisture to it. This can also be done with baking soda. Both these should be replaced regularly.
A stranger hack is to fill some old socks with cat litter and place this near your window. This is also a product created to absorb moisture, which is great when you're trying to prevent condensation. According to the experts, you should replace the socks monthly.
If this doesn't appeal to you, you could try experimenting with moving your furniture around. The experts said: "Keeping furniture in the same place for a long period of time, when it's close to a cold surface, can prevent ventilation and lead to a build-up of condensation."
Lastly, they recommend opening all curtains and blinds when you get up in the morning, because condensation usually happens when moisture is trapped between the two.
Have you tried any of these tips? Let us know in the comments below.
