The last gasps of the summer sun are now starting to give way to the chillier autumnal weather, with rain and windy weather becoming more frequent.
It means it’s time to ditch the shorts and t-shirts for jumpers and coats, and pretty soon it’ll temperatures will drop enough to start cranking the heating. As well as the colder weather, the change of the seasons also means you’ll start to notice condensation building up on your windows. Water droplets on windows are a familiar sight at this time of the year and are caused when warm air inside your home meets the cold surface of the glass, which then forms condensation as it cools. If the sitting water is left unchecked it can result in black mould and mildew forming around your window seal, which is not only unsightly but can also be damaging to your health.
The NHS warns that inhaling or touching mould spores can cause an allergic reaction, such as sneezing, red eyes, a runny nose and a skin rash, and can also lead to more serious health issues like asthma attacks and bronchitis, so it’s important to keep the problem under control.
According to experts, the top cause of mould developing in homes is due to under-heating. So if you keep your house at a warm temperature, and ventilate it properly, this will help to reduce the amount of moisture in the air. It means you can control the issue of condensation by keeping your home at a specific temperature at certain times of the day.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says your living room should be kept at a temperature of 21C while bedrooms should be 18C.
These temperatures can be lowered at night or when you are not at home, but the WHO suggests bringing rooms up to these temperatures for at least some of the day to avoid a build up of damp.
If you don’t want to heat your entire home, you can turn radiators off in some rooms and keep the doors of unheated rooms closed.
If you do get a build up of condensation on your windows, make sure to wipe surfaces down to prevent mould forming and spreading and if you notice any black spots, give your window a clean with a mild bleach solution or anti fungal spray.
Electric dehumidifiers are also useful to help prevent condensation from forming, or you can buy a cheaper disposable plastic version that sits on your windowsill. These are available to buy from Poundland for just £1.50 and can absorb up to 500ml of water.
Placing a bowl of salt on your windowsill to absorb the moisture is another cheap and effective option to tackle the problem.