10 ways to reduce condensation in your home

Kitchens and bathrooms are typically the biggest culprits for condensation. When cooking food, taking a shower, or even boiling a kettle – ensure your bathroom or kitchen door is kept closed to prevent moisture from travelling to colder rooms. 

We know that it’s not always possible, but when it is, try to dry your clothes outdoors. Outdoor drying will help prevent excess moisture from building up in your home. If outdoor drying isn’t possible for you, we’d recommend keeping your clothing in the bathroom with the door closed and the windows open. 

If possible, move your furniture at least 50mm away from external walls to circulate air freely, preventing humid environments. It’s also a clever idea to place wardrobes against internal walls, which are more likely to be warm, to prevent possible mould problems. 

It’s no secret that washing machines and tumble dryers can create a lot of moisture in the air, so if you own either one, it’s important to ensure they’re ventilated properly. Just one load of washing can cause up to two litres of water to be emitted into the air.

If your washing machine lives in your kitchen, the problem only increases while cooking - ensuring your laundry appliances are correctly ventilated is vital to a condensation-free home. 

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that a hot, steaming shower or bath is bound to cause condensation on your cold bathroom tiles. So, to avoid an unnecessary amount of moisture in the air, turning on your extractor fan is a great idea. The fan removes excess humidity in the air before it gets the chance to settle on cold surfaces, creating the dreaded condensation. 

If you don’t have an extractor fan in your bathroom or kitchen, then try to wipe down any cold surfaces when you’ve been cooking or taking a shower. This will remove any moisture that may have settled on the surface. This extra moisture in the air can collect on cold surfaces and can quickly lead to mould if left untreated. 

Overfilling your wardrobes or kitchen cupboards can cause a lack of ventilation and air moisture to be trapped. This supplies the perfect breeding ground for mould due to the lack of fresh air circulating. If your cupboards or wardrobes are overloaded, you might notice a musty scent or find your clothes have a damp texture. Try reducing the number of items in your storage spaces to avoid condensation collecting. 

If you use a room regularly (such as your living room) and the weather is warm outside, open a window slightly to improve ventilation. Unbelievably, breathing is a contributing factor in condensation, so an open window will improve the ventilation in your home. 

While cooking, try covering your pans with their respective lids to reduce moisture from boiling water entering the air. Using an extractor hood or fan can also reduce moisture in the air.

But remember not to turn off your extractor fan or hood right after cooking, moisture can still be in the air even once you’ve finished. Instead, leave it on for 10-15 minutes after to remove the humid air. 

Did you know that gas bottle and paraffin heaters produce a lot more moisture as well as toxic fumes? Not only does this form of heat cause excess condensation in your home, but it’s also a health and safety hazard that is stated as a banned item in most tenancy agreements.