In the cold winter months waking up to some condensation on your windows can be a common but annoying sight.
Where condensation begins, mould is often soon to follow which can pose some significant impacts to your health.
With opening your windows a common but chilly solution, one cleaning influencer has revealed an alternate method that keeps the mould away without making you home freezing in the process – and it doesn’t involve forking out on an expensive dehumidifier.
Clean With Lily took to TikTok to reveal her highly effective hack, that invovled just one common kitchen item you already have underneath your sink – washing up liquid.
Lily revealed the “cheeky little tip” to her 10,000 followers, explaining: “To keep condensation off your window, put a little bit of fairy liquid on a cloth and buff it onto your window.”
Just using a small drop on a cloth and rubbing it in will also prevent any unsightly smears from appearing on the glass and fuzzing your view outside.
The hack that seems somewhat like magic has some hidden science behind it. Condensation happens when water vapour hits a cold surface causing water in the air to turn into a lquid and causing droplets to form.
Washing up liquid can reduce the water’s surface tension and act as a protective barrier. A small amount of washing-up liquid leaves behind an invisible layer that prevents droplets from sticking to the glass surface and accumulating.
While this is a handy trick, it’s also crucial to try to keep moisture out of your home. This could involve purchasing a dehumidifier or ensuring rooms are adequately ventilated, particularly when drying clothes indoors.
In the comments Lily suggested reapplying the washing up liquid on “trial and error” basis – keeping applying the liquid whenever the condensation reappers.
The hack manages to prevent condensation and prevent the formation of mould which has been shown to have drastic effects on your health.
Respiratory complications associated with dampness and mould were linked to severe illness, and in the worst cases, even deaths, as per a collaborative report by the Department of the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government, Health & Social Care, and the UK Health Security Agency.
Highlighted symptoms in the report include a cough, wheezing, and breathlessness, an elevated chance of respiratory infections such as aspergillosis, and the onset or exacerbation of allergic airway diseases like rhinitis, asthma, and inflammatory conditions encompassing bronchitis and COPD.
According to Homebrite, over half (58%) of privately rented households in England are dealing with damp, mould and/or excessive cold in their homes.