Households across Ireland are being urged to place bowls of salt behind curtains before Thursday night to help reduce condensation, damp and mould as cold weather returns.
15:56, 14 Jan 2026Updated 16:22, 14 Jan 2026
Households across Ireland are being encouraged to place bowls of salt behind their curtains this week as a simple way to reduce condensation and prevent damp.
While salt is best known as a kitchen staple, it can also play a surprisingly effective role around the home during cold spells by absorbing moisture from the air and helping to keep windows, walls and wardrobes dry.
Condensation forms when warm, humid air inside the home comes into contact with cold surfaces like windows. This is particularly common during winter, when homes are heated overnight while outside temperatures drop sharply.
Everyday activities including cooking, showering, drying clothes indoors and even breathing release moisture into the air. Homes with poor ventilation or naturally high humidity levels are especially vulnerable to this problem.
While condensation itself isn't dangerous, the damp conditions it creates can encourage mould growth. Over time, mould spores can contribute to respiratory conditions like asthma, eczema and bronchitis.
Ireland has only just emerged from its first cold snap of 2026, but winter conditions are set to return. Met Eireann has warned that "there will also be a switch to a more easterly airflow towards the weekend", which will bring below average temperatures once again.
On Thursday night, temperatures are forecast to fall to freezing, dropping even further to -1C on Friday. With colder weather on the way, condensation is likely to make a comeback in many homes - prompting experts to urge households to act before Thursday night to reduce the risk of damp.
Fortunately, there's a cheap and easy fix for those without a dehumidifier - a simple bowl of salt. Salt has natural moisture absorbing properties and can help draw water vapour from the air, reducing the likelihood of condensation forming on windows and other cold surfaces.
Experts recommend placing bowls of salt behind curtains, on windowsills and inside wardrobes or cupboards that are prone to damp, Express reports.
Table salt can be picked up cheaply in supermarkets across Ireland, including Dunnes Stores, where a 750g bottle costs just 45 cents.
DIY expert Glen Peskett from Saxton Blades explained: "A bag of salt can act as a natural dehumidifier. Salt pulls moisture out of the air.
"Leaving a small bowl on windowsills, especially overnight, can noticeably cut down condensation and stop mould before it starts. Fill a small ramekin, jar or dish with any cheap table or rock salt and place it on windowsills, behind curtains and inside wardrobes or cupboards prone to damp.
"The salt absorbs moisture from the air and will gradually clump together as it becomes saturated, a sign that it's working. It can be replaced cheaply whenever needed."
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