Washing-up liquid is a common item that most households will have tucked away in their kitchen cupboard, but it’s not just for cleaning. While it’s most commonly used to do the washing up, the soapy liquid can also be used to stop mould from forming in winter.
Unfortunately, black mould can become a familiar sight at this time of year thanks to the cold and damp conditions. These conditions can result in spores forming on walls, ceilings, window seals, and even clothes. Mould growth is caused by excessive moisture in the air, with condensation being the prime problem.
Condensation forms when warm, moist air comes into contact with the cold surface of your windows or walls, cooling quickly to form water droplets. and this can then create damp areas for mould to thrive. But a cheap and handy way to combat this problem is by putting washing-up liquid on your windows, as this can prevent condensation from forming, thereby reducing dampness and fending off mould.
According to experts, rubbing a thin layer of washing up liquid on dry windows around your home can prevent condensation from forming as the liquid contains surfactants which reduces the surface tension of the glass, making it harder for warm, moist air to condense into water droplets.
So the washing up liquid essentially creates a thin barrier that prevents water droplets from clinging to the glass. Instead of forming droplets, the water is forced to spread out into a thin, invisible film across the glass which can be more easily wiped away.
Experts at Home Things explain: “By taking a small drop of washing up liquid and rubbing it into the condensation-prone window with a dry cloth you can completely stop the issue all together.
“The washing up liquid forms a barrier on the surface of the windows, preventing the water from sticking. So in the space of just a few minutes, you can put a stop to the damp, mould, and mildew that wet windows can cause.”
To apply washing up liquid on your windows, experts recommend using a clean, dry microfibre cloth and applying a very small amount of the soap onto it. Then rub the cloth across the dry window pane so the soap creates a thin film.
Explaining the process, experts at The Spruce said: “First, you take a clean cloth (I used microfibre) and apply a small amount of dish soap to the cloth. Then you simply wipe the window down with the dish soap.
“While this obviously works to clean the current condensation from the glass, the dish soap also leaves behind a thin layer of film that is supposed to keep it from coming back.
“I wiped one side of the window with the dish soap, and one side just with a clean cloth, so I could compare the two. When I came back a few hours later, the results were already clear: The side of the window I used the dish soap on was completely free of any condensation, while the other side had already started to build up again.”
A bottle of washing up liquid costs a mere 63p at Tesco so it’s a very cheap and easy way to prevent condensation and stop mould from forming around your home during the winter months. But the solution is not a permanent fix so you’ll need to reapply it regularly to ensure it remains effective.
Experts at Glazing Refurbishment said: “Applying dish soap to windows can provide a temporary solution by creating a film that prevents water droplets from forming; however, it’s not a permanent fix.
“Over time, the soap film will wear away, and the condensation may return. For a long-term solution, you need to manage the humidity levels in your building and improve insulation.”