If your home is experiencing condensation, there is one natural method to stop it from forming.
Autumn brings rain and mist, but spotting water droplets on your windows means you need to act fast to wipe them away.
Warm air carries significant amounts of moisture, particularly when clothes are being dried inside, and transforms into water droplets upon meeting cold surfaces – a phenomenon known as condensation.
Removing condensation quickly is crucial as it can damage wooden windowsills, create draughty conditions and provide the perfect environment for mould to develop on your walls.
While most people lack time for morning window cleaning, Alex Morton, a specialist from Manchester Window Factory, has revealed there’s a straightforward method to stop condensation forming in the first place.
Alex said: “Plants have many functions within the home. They are decorative, bring the outside in, and they inject colour and natural beauty. But did you know that certain plants can also be used to reduce condensation on windows?”
Whilst it might seem unusual, specific tropical plants are renowned for drawing moisture from the atmosphere to maintain hydration, making them ideal for positioning on windowsills, reports the Express.
Numerous tropical plants naturally exist on rainforest floors where limited rainfall reaches them due to towering trees with dense foliage, leading them to evolve by extracting humidity from their surroundings.
This represents an economical and straightforward solution to tackle condensation without dedicating 20 minutes daily to window cleaning. However, it’s worth noting that not all houseplants can be simply plonked near your window, as only certain plants are renowned for this ability.
Which houseplants will help keep condensation at bay?
One of the top contenders for the colder season is the spider plant. This plant is a real eye-catcher with its slender, spiky leaves.
Spider plants are often suggested for those who are new to the world of plant parenting. They don’t demand much sunlight or water, making them incredibly hard to kill.
They can be positioned anywhere in your home and are easy to propagate, meaning once you have one, you can easily multiply your collection without spending any extra money.
But if you’re after something a bit more floral, peace lilies also rank among the best plants for combating condensation and are known to ward off mould by absorbing fungal spores.
Peace lilies are a sight to behold with their graceful white flowers, but bear in mind they are highly toxic if ingested, so they need to be kept well out of reach of pets and children.
Another plant worth considering is the areca palm. This palm is famed for its high moisture absorption, making it ideal for particularly damp areas.
Areca palms are brilliant if you’re looking to inject a tropical vibe into your home, but they do tend to grow quite large, so you’ll need to clear some space near a window if you’re hoping to combat condensation.
