I’m a heating engineer – you can get rid of condensation from windows from just 2p WITHOUT using a dehumidifier

CONDENSATION and mould can cause serious health issues but there are ways of keeping them both at bay.

The pesky vapour occurs when warm air hits a cooler surface and creates moisture.

Left alone, it can create mould and mildew which is both a pain to get rid of and can cause havoc with your health including worsening asthma, eczema and allergies.

Luckily, there are several ways you can tackle condensation to save yourself issues further down the line, and you don’t need to invest in a dehumidifier.

While they’re handy at removing moisture from the air and preventing mould, but they can cost up to £150.

Luckily, there are cheaper ways of keeping your home mould-free, and they can cost as little as 2p.

Cat litter -2p

It may sound not sound like something you want around your house, but cat litter can be used to to remove moisture from the air.

Cat litter is created to absorb liquid, so it makes sense that it’s good DIY dehumidifier, says Stephen Day, heating engineer at iHeat.

“Non-clumping, unscented cat litter is a far more effective desiccant than salt for absorbing moisture as it will not leech moisture or become ‘soggy’ and can help deal with damp odours,” he said.

“The best type of cat litter to use is silica crystal cat litter which can be used for weeks at a time before needing to be replaced.”

You can fill an old sock with cat litter and place it near the affected area.

Many cat litters are fragranced so you won’t have an unpleasant smell around your home.

You can pick up a 10kg bag of Just Essentials cat litter from Asda for £2.19.

This works out at just 2p per 100g.

However, it’s a good idea to keep cat litter out of reach of children so they don’t eat it.

Salt – £1.25

Salt has the power to draw in moisture – and there’s plenty of internet folklore that suggests bowls of it around the house can dry out the air.

Ordinary table salt works, but rock salt can be more effective in large spaces at clearing condensation.

“Salt is a desiccant, meaning it absorbs moisture in the air,” Mr Day explained.

A container of rock salt from Sainsbury’s is currently going for £1.25 online, though prices may vary in store.

However, Mr Day cautioned that salt can only absorb a limited amount of moisture before becoming “saturated and ineffective”, so you will need to use much larger amounts.

“The moisture can leach out from the bowl and leave salt deposits on your surfaces which can cause irreparable damage and be hard to clean,” he said.

Make sure to keep a regular check up on any salt bowls and empty them if they begin soaking up moisture.

Keep your home well-ventilated – free

As the weather gets colder, you might warm up by having hotter showers.

To avoid steam clinging to your bathroom walls, make sure you open any windows and turn on any extractor fans, Nicholas said.

Keep the bathroom door closed after you’ve showered as well, to stop any excess steam escaping into the rest of the house.

Use the trickle vents on windows or keep a quarter light open for background ventilation.

Trickle vents are small vents that can be added to the tops of windows and allow a constant stream of air in and out.

Dry clothes outside – free

Hanging your pants and socks up inside can create condensation as the moisture from them escapes into the air.

Instead, hang your clothes up outside, even if there’s a slight chance of rain.

Alternatively, dry clothes using a tumble dryer or in a closed room with the window open.

Silica Gel packets from Amazon – £3.75

These are probably a lesser known damp remover.

The little sachets that come in shoes and clothes – could end up protecting your walls and window sills.

That’s because they’re designed to prevent moisture from damaging a product – so they’re ideal for keeping dampness at bay around your home.

You can currently get them on Amazon for £4.95 although they do come for free within packaging of certain products – so keep an eye out.

In the review section, one shopper said: “These are perfect for what I wanted them for.

“My cupboard, where I store all our shoes, is very cold and was starting to feel damp in places. I bought these to pop in the shoes.”

Chalk and clove oil – £5

Another low-cost method involves using mega chalk and clove oil.

If you have children, you may be familiar with them using chalk for arts and crafts activities.

What you might not realise is that it’s also a very absorbent material.

Clove oil, meanwhile, has anti-fungal properties which can kill spores, and effectively prevent the growth of mould.

The chalk will remove condensation and the clove oil prevents it from returning. Both items are relatively inexpensive

You can, for example, pick up a 12-pack of chalk from Hobbycraft for £2 and a 10-ml bottle of clove oil from Boots for £2.99.

All you need to do is dab a few drops of the oil onto your chalk.

Once this is done this, simply place the chalk in any affected areas to help keep it dry.

You might, for example, want to put the chalk in the corner of your bedroom, or in your drawers or wardrobe.

The key is to place a stick or two around the house wherever you need moisture to be absorbed such as windowsills.

You can then return to those pieces of chalk every month or so, and add a few more drops of clove oil.

If you spot small areas of mould, clove oil is a great product you can use to clean these up before the fungus spreads too far.

Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.

Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories