Cold mornings used to greet me with fogged panes and drip lines. It looked harmless, yet the damage crept along frames and paint. I tried airing the room, which helped a bit but not enough. Then a tiny, everyday buy changed the pattern overnight. For 65p, I found a way to blunt nightly condensation without gadgets. The trick sits quietly on my windowsill, and it keeps its promise. I keep the setup simple so the room stays dry and clear.
Cold glass, humid rooms: why windows mist overnight
When warm, humid air hits cold panes, tiny droplets appear on contact. That water is condensation, born from cooking, steamy showers, clothes drying, and simple breathing. Bedrooms take the brunt overnight, while kitchens and bathrooms spike after use. Even with double glazing, the inside surface can still cool enough.
Left to sit, moisture encourages mould, musty smells, and dark spotting. Frames swell, paint flakes, and plaster softens around the reveal. The result feels minor at first, yet repairs devour time and money. Daily wiping works, however it rarely keeps up once temperatures fall and radiators click off.
I tried the obvious fix: airflow. I cracked the bedroom window for a couple of hours each day. Fresh air eased humidity, though night still brought new mist. I wanted prevention, not cleanup, so I searched for something simple, safe, and cheap I could leave in place.
Why condensation forms faster on bedroom panes
Night changes the balance indoors. People sleep for hours in closed rooms, adding humidity with every breath. Curtains trap still air against the glass. The pane cools while the room stays warm, so dew point arrives quickly. That contact zone becomes the perfect stage for water droplets to appear.
Certain habits push the effect harder. Hot showers late, cooking without lids, and drying laundry indoors release more vapour. Doors closed tight keep that load inside. On cold mornings, the first light reveals sweeps of misted glass, a familiar signature of condensation after a busy household evening.
Double glazing helps overall, yet it cannot remove the physics. Edges near spacers cool faster. Corners collect droplets first, then streaks crawl downward. Bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms share the same script. Understanding the pattern matters, because it shows where a small, targeted action can make the biggest difference.
The 65p windowsill test that changed my mornings
I kept hearing an old-school tip about a kitchen ingredient acting like a mini dehumidifier. I was skeptical. It sounded too easy to trust. Yet the idea turned up again, noted by the Express, so I decided to try it myself and track what happened overnight.
I bought table salt for 65p at Sainsbury’s, poured some into a small bowl, and set it on the bedroom windowsill before bed. Morning brought a clear change. The bowl felt damp, the glass looked cleaner, and the usual bands of condensation were reduced to light speckling around the edges.
That first result convinced me to keep going. I now refresh the salt every few days, or about weekly when the room stays drier. The habit takes seconds. No cables. No refills beyond the cupboard staple. It simply sits there and quietly soaks up the excess.
How to use salt to slow condensation cheaply
Salt is hygroscopic, so it draws moisture from nearby air. Fine table salt exposes more surface area, which boosts absorption. Fill a small dish, then place it on the sill where air naturally passes. Bedrooms benefit at night, while kitchens and bathrooms like a setup during busy hours.
Check the bowl in the morning. Damp crystals or clumps show it is working. Stir or replace when it cakes, usually every few days, or weekly in milder spells. For broader relief from condensation, add a second bowl in stubborn spots, and keep sills clear so air can circulate.
This trick does not replace ventilation or heating balance. It simply reduces peaks so wipe-downs shrink to quick swipes. Even with double glazing, you still want steady airflow and dry fabrics. Think of salt as a simple buffer that makes the rest of your routine easier.
Small daily habits that boost the hack’s impact
Air matters. I still open the bedroom window for a couple of hours each day when weather allows. The room feels fresher, and the frames stay drier. After showers and cooking, I let steam clear before shutting doors. Small moves stack up without adding cost or clutter.
Moisture sources hide in plain sight. Laundry on racks near glass feeds drip lines fast. I shift drying to a warmer corner and leave a little gap around curtains. Those tweaks lighten the load on the salt bowl, which then cuts visible condensation more consistently night after night.
Finally, I keep an eye on frames and paint. A quick morning pass with a cloth stops water settling into woodwork. Regular checks prevent mould from getting a foothold. The routine feels calm and doable, and the room looks better when the sun reaches the sill.
What this simple habit delivers through each cold night
One small bowl made winter mornings easier. For 65p, table salt on the windowsill tames overnight condensation without noise or fuss. It will not fix poor airflow, yet it lowers the peaks that cause mould, damp patches, and flaky paint. Paired with a little daily airing, it keeps panes clearer, frames safer, and cleanup quick. I still replace the crystals every few days, and I wake to drier glass instead of a cold ribbon of droplets.
