WHEN winter begins, windows begin to steam up as well as glasses clouding out vision.

But why does this happen? Here's everything to know about condensation.

Why do windows steam up on the outside?

Once the temperatures outside start to drop, steamed-up windows quickly become a permanent fixture of many UK homes and cars.

While a window dripping in condensation may provide faux privacy for a short while or signify time to throw another log on the fire, they can also be unattractive, and allowing moisture to build up in your home can contribute to the growth of harmful black mould.

When moisture contained within warm air meets with a surface that is cold enough to turn it back into a liquid (condensation), windows can become foggy.

Window panes are especially susceptible to wetness in the winter, when the temperature difference between the outside world and the inside is at its greatest.

While you might be toasting away nicely indoors, external windows can still be subject to frigid temperatures, especially if they’re only single-glazed.

This big difference in temperature is the reason that windows become especially foggy in the winter.

How do I stop windows from steaming up?

Condensation can be avoided before it becomes a problem, and there are a few things you can do to prevent condensation from building up in the first place.

Getting rid of condensation that has accumulated on your window needn’t require any specialist or expensive equipment.

You can even make a simple, home-made solution to aid you.

Mix two cups of water with two cups of white vinegar and a few drops of washing up liquid.

Place this mixture into a spray bottle if you can find one, this will help you apply it to the glass equally.

Humidifiers or moisture eliminators can draw excess moisture from the air, but these can also leave rooms feeling dry, as well as being expensive to run and often noisy.

One tip is to avoid leaving wet clothes to dry inside your home, as the water from them will add to the moisture in the air.

A tumble dryer makes sense here if there's no way for you to dry your washing outside, but do make sure it has an external vent leading outside of your home, otherwise you will be faced with the same problem.

In the kitchen, keep the lids on your pots and pans as you're cooking to lock steam in, and if you have extractor fans make sure to use them.

Likewise, fans in the bathroom should be left running for 15 minutes after you’ve finished showering, and opening a window can let warm, moist air out.

When should I worry about condensation on windows?

Generally condensation problems are relatively easy to diagnose and detect. If you notice any of these signs then as a ‘rule of thumb’ you likely have a problem with condensation:

• Water droplets on windows or walls
• Decaying window frames, particularly stained & wet corners
• Damp walls causing peeling wallpaper
• Musty/damp smells around the property
• Black mould on walls, curtains, carpets, bathroom tiles and window sills
• Water droplets on felt and timber in the loft possibly leading to rot

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