Condensation on its own can be harmless, but left untreated can lead to the growth of mould which can lead to asthma attacks, skin rashes, fever and in severe cases can cause serious illness or death. Condensation can also cause thousands in damage to your home, it can warp your fixtures and fittings, destroy your window seals and even cause structural damage.
Condensation is normal and often the first place condensation occurs is in our bedroom. Bedroom expert Adeel ul-Haq from Bunk Beds explains why this happens and how you can keep mould out of all of the rooms in your home.
Adeel said: “As the temperature drops in the colder months it creates a perfect environment for condensation. As we sleep we create humidity through breathing and sweating, this warm air then circulates until it comes into contact with a cooler surface such as a window, this allows condensation to form.
“The longer the condensation is present the greater the chance that mould can form. Mould spores are all around us but can grow quickly when they find a damp surface. Mould can start to grow within 24 hours of finding a damp surface, so you must remove the condensation as soon as possible.”
A quick and cheap way to remove condensation
You can’t completely prevent moisture from forming in your home, but it’s important to remove it as soon as you notice it. While that’s not always practical, the following hack can help speed up the process.
Adeel said: “Window vacuums are excellent for removing moisture from your surfaces which prevents the build-up of mould, however, they can be expensive and during this time when we are all trying to keep costs down it may not be an affordable option. If you can’t afford a window vacuum the good news is that you can achieve the same results with a £2.99 squeegee and an old towel.
“All you need to do is wipe down the window with your squeegee getting all of the moisture into one place, you can then wipe it up with the towel. Using a window squeegee instead of just a towel will save you time removing moisture, especially during the colder months when you’ll need to do this every day in multiple rooms.”
Other tips for keeping mould at bay on a budget
While you can’t eliminate moisture you can take steps to minimise it in your home.
Adeel said: “If you can keep the air flowing in your home you can minimise the chance of mould growing, you can do this by moving your furniture away from your walls, along with making sure no vents are obstructed. With the weather also being terrible, many of us won’t be using the washing line to dry our clothes, a big mistake that people make is putting their wet clothes on the radiator, by doing this you are releasing a lot of moisture into the air which will turn into condensation when it touches a cold surface. Avoid doing this if you don’t want mould to grow in your home.”