Eliminate window condensation and mould with curtain hack that's completely free - The Mirror

Wanting to remove condensation and threat of mould for good? This easy trick ensures they won't return - and protects you from inflating bills too. You don't even need to buy a dehumidifier

The winter chill has set in, with Brits across the nation searching for cheap and instant ways to save cash on their heating bills while reducing the January cold in 2026. But another pesky problem persists at this time of year - condensation, and in the worst case mould.

And what may seem like an obvious solution has left many households surprised on how easy it is to reduce condensation and mould with one trick that takes seconds. Taking to Reddit in frustration, one user asked how to eliminate condensation from their windows for good. They shared that after a year of renting, the flat's windows continued to be covered in water droplets "every morning". The user wrote: "My landlord says it's because the windows should be kept open, but it gets so cold when I open them".

Asking whether there was "any other way [to] stop this from happening," they also added that the flat offered "no proper extraction in the kitchen, which is where this mainly happens because the cooker hood just vents the air back into the kitchen for some reason".

After attempting to keep the room warm through heating, the user noticed the condensation still continued, but this time with a growing energy bill along with it. An update two years later shows the quick-fix that keeps money in the bank and requires little effort.

Many took to the comments, with one user 'BibbleBeans' suggesting simply to "open the windows when you're cooking". They continued, instructing to have the windows "open the rest of the time (just at night when sleeping is good) just like on a trickle setting, not wide open. They explained how this small change would not "impact the temperature too much unless you've not got heating on at all, which also isn't particularly good".

Noting that "dehumidifiers do work but you can largely avoid needing them by thinking about your airflow and moisture production," BibbleBeans also mentioned Brits should simply ensure "curtains are tucked behind the radiators". This easy step protects heat from escaping into the window cavity — "it's odd that there's people who don't know this. It's pretty much covered in school isn't it? Within science classes?," asked the commenter.

Additionally, they proposed that "any fan you own can basically become an extractor fan if you have it blowing out an open window," solving the case of condensation and smells collecting in your kitchen. This can be even more effective if you "cook with the kitchen door closed (if possible) to keep the kitchen moisture in the kitchen," said BibbleBeans.

The post has since been edited with an update which states: "Opening the windows slightly during the day made a big difference. I still have some dampness in the mornings, but it could be because I close all the windows in the night. This is pretty manageable now". For more of the suggested products and solutions, read the Reddit post here.