With temperatures well and truly fallen, every morning I wake up to condensation on my single-glazed windows in my Victorian home, and I am sure I'm not alone. But I've come across a budget fix in the form of these dehumidifier bags, RRP £18.99 from Amazon.
I rely heavily on one of the best dehumidifiers to help in my bedroom and throughout the day in the rest of the home. And although the one I own is relatively cheap to run, using it too often can quickly add up when I'm using it every day.
I'd seen people rave about these dehumidifier bags online for a while before giving them a go myself, but I finally bit the bullet a few weeks ago to see if they really are worth the hype.
They're essentially moisture-absorbing crystals that quietly pull water from the air over time. Without a plug, noise or faff. You just place them somewhere damp and let them do the rest. Now, don't expect them to dry out an entire room, but in targeted areas like windows, bathrooms or even acting as wardrobe dehumidifiers, they are known to work a treat.
So I popped them on the windowsills of the worst-affected and hoped for the best. Within a few days, I did notice a change. It was nothing dramatic, but a marked difference from the dripping wet panes I usually deal with daily.
Instead of full sheets of water that needed a towel (yes, a towel) to soak up, I was left with a light mist around the sills. I think that's progress.
And after a few weeks of using them, I've learned a thing or two about how to get the right result.
I use one bag per window and place it right on the sill. I also combine good airflow by airing the room for ten minutes. Or if you don't fancy the sharp breeze blowing through your room, just keep the door ajar.
I also make sure to keep an eye on the bag filling up and replace it once it is full. That's why I bought myself a 10-pack.
But what I love most is just how ridiculously cheap and effective they are. They don't use electricity or emptying but yet they've reduced my condensation. I'm now buying them in bulk.
More window condensation must haves
And if these bags aren't quite your thing, there are plenty of other condensation-busting products we rate that are well worth a look.
Meaco's Arete Two is our favourite dehumidifier overall because of its range of sizes, smart connectivity, large tank and general condensation and damp-busting power.
The whole team love this Karcher window vac for wiping down our steamy windows, especially our cleaning guru and content editor, Lauren, who rates this particular model.
I've got this reusable dehumidifier to fight condensation in my small windowless ensuite. It's a must-have and is just as useful for window condensation.
The Absodry Duo is another team favourite at Ideal Home, for its looks as well as its effectiveness. This refillable product houses a moisture-absorbing bag in stylish packaging.
We rated this Pro Breeze dehumidifier the best dehumidifier under £100. It's small, affordable, super quiet, and has low running costs of just 1p per hour. It's another great, budget-friendly option for minor moisture problems.
With the capacity to hold one litre of water, this snake-like Window Water Eater will guzzle up excess water before it causes damage to your wood and paintwork. Simply lay it out on your windowsill.
Now, dehumidifier bags for windows are no miracle worker by any stretch, but they're easily the best low-cost change I've made to my condensation woes.
For a couple of quid each and zero running costs, they've saved me a lot of effort wiping down my drenched windows every day, which definitely eases the endless to-do list.
