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THE COLD winter season is fast approaching and that means two annoying things - hefty energy bills and windows dripping wet with condensation.
A common autumn and winter issue, condensation is water droplets that form on a window when moist air comes into contact with a cold surface.
Not only can this annoyance make an unsightly mess, but these water droplets can also lead to the growth of mould - which, in some cases, can prove to be fatal.
Amongst those most vulnerable are newborns, young kids, elderly, as well as those with respiratory issues, allergies and asthma.
In the UK alone, a staggering 58% of privately rented households have reported mould and condensation, according to .
As temperatures are now slowly but surely dropping, thousands of desperate Brits have been taking to social media to seek advice on how to tackle the common problem.
One of those was an anonymous Facebook user who shared a snap of her wet windows on the popular page and explained that this has been a reoccurrence every single year that she's lived in the property.
''We live in a semi detatched old wimpy build house that's made of concrete, so in the winter it's cold.
''This is our first house so not much experience with these things, this is our 5th year here and every winter the house gets what only I can describe as wet lol windows and outside walls (at the bottom) in every. Single. Room.''
On the lookout for the perfect solution, the woman went on in : ''Has anyone in the same situation got any tips to get the house through the winter?
''I'm fed up of having to get the house redecorated because it all just gets ruined in the colder weather, curtains and blinds get stained black, wallpaper is a no no because that gets black mould behind it, can't put furniture anywhere near the outside walls because again mould grows behind.''
According to the Facebook user, who was wondering if it was ''just a case of having the windows open with the heating on'', the house rendering has been redone, so she was sure it had nothing to do with ''water coming in through cracks in the walls''.
Luckily for the woman - and anyone else searching for the best remedy - the post was soon inundated with more than 100 helpful responses.
The replies varied from using a mould cleaner to snapping up a window vac to soak up all the moisture, however, there was one suggestion more popular than others - getting her hands on a dehumidifier.
One person said: ''We have a dehumidifier if that happens just switch on and empty regularly.
''You will be surprised how much moisture you get out.''
Condensation is water droplets that form on a window when moist air comes into contact with a cold surface.
Condensation occurs when:
Air cools
Warmer air can hold more moisture than cooler air. When moist air touches a cold surface, like a window, the water vapour in the air turns into liquid water droplets.
Windows are colder than walls
Windows are often colder than insulated walls, so condensation is more likely to occur on them.
Windows are poorly insulated
Poorly insulated windows can lead to condensation, especially if they are made of aluminium, which conducts heat quickly. If left untreated, it can lead to mould and other serious problems.
Another chimed in: ''I have the dehumidifiers on all my windows it helps.''
A third was also raving about the method, writing: ''Definitely invest in a decent dehumidifier if you can and lots of the little dehumidifier disposable boxes to sit on sills.
''Keep windows cracked open as often as you can.''
A winter staple for many households, a dehumidifier works ''by drawing air from the room over a coil cooled to a very low temperature by a refrigeration system'', explained the pros at the .
The water vapour then condenses on the cold surface and the water drips into the collection bucket underneath.
Although you can buy the nifty winter gadget from many stores on the high street, such as B&M, there's no need to fork out a fortune - as Amazon shoppers have been raving about a budget option.
Currently slashed to £10.49, comes with ten mini dehumidifiers that will cost you a little over £1 each and they claim to be ''ideal for any room''.
Filled with special hydrophilic crystals, the handy boxes ''help absorb any moisture from the air which helps to prevent any dampness in your rooms that may cause unwanted odours''.
Not only is this great for keeping ''your home smelling clean and fresh'', but the £1 buy will also ''reduce the risk of any damp, mildew, mould or condensation''.
Boasting an impressive 4.3-star rating, the tiny dehumidifiers have received more than 3,500 positive reviews from all around the world, with many giving it the maximum five stars.
One delighted customer said: ''These are perfect to remove dampness around your home [you still need to ventilate your home], but super products and small enough to put around your home in wardrobes cupboards.''
Another fan of the bargain find wrote: ''These do a solid job. I bought them just to stop humidity and moisture on my walls internally, and they do that.''
However, despite the rave reviews, not everyone was happy with their purchase, as one critic claimed the dehumidifier didn't do anything.
''It doesn't seem sulking up any water or damp. My previous item did show it gets heavier over the time but unfortunately this item remains the same in a very damp area...its been weeks...''
