A plumbing expert has issued a warning to anyone who has already used or is planning on using a viral TikTok 'hack' that is said to help stop condensation. Evan, from Bathroom Supastore, is urging people to avoid the method shown in viral videos 'right away' as it could cause serious damage to your home and be bad for your health.
The method doing the rounds suggests people cover their windows with a thin layer of washing up liquid, which claims to prevent condensation forming on them. However, Evan says by doing this, homeowners could actually be making things much worse, Manchester Evening News reports.
"While the videos clearly show that they are condensation free, what they don't show is that the moisture that would have formed on those windows has now gone elsewhere," he said. By applying washing up liquid to windows, the moisture that would have collected on them could instead end up soaking into porous surfaces, like walls, ceilings and window frames, increasing risk of mould in your home.
"Removing mould from your walls is more difficult than removing it from PVC," he added. "If the mould does develop in your walls then it could cost thousands to fix and could make you very ill in the process."
While the 'hack' may stop condensation forming on your windows, Evan warns the rest of your home may feel "like you have a leak", as instead of getting rid of the moisture, the method just makes it all "move to a different area". The expert also pointed out how window fitters and manufacturers do not recommend putting washing liquid on windows since it can damage the rubber seals.
"Failed double glazing can then cause moisture to develop in between your window pains causing the glass to fog up and mould to develop," he said. "Using washing up liquid to prevent condensation can make the situation a whole lot worse.
"If you are using washing up liquid on your windows to prevent condensation you need to stop right away as there are better and safer alternatives that won't damage your home or your health." He continued: "One of the best ways to safely remove moisture in your rooms is to use a dehumidifier.
"While dehumidifiers can be costly they will remove excess moisture from your home and reduce the chance of mould developing significantly." Electric dehumidifiers can be noisy and costly to run long-term, but there are cheaper alternatives. Interior dehumidifiers that do not need plugging in cost around £4 each.
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