Find Your Fix

Too much moisture in the air causes wet windows, musty smells and mould. Too little leaves your skin, eyes and throat dry. This guide helps you work out which one you've got and what to buy.

Step 1: Is your air too damp or too dry?

Signs it's too damp (above 60% humidity)

  • Wet windows in the morning
  • Black spots on window sills, seals or in corners
  • A musty smell in wardrobes or cupboards, or clothes that feel damp
  • A misted-up car windscreen

Signs it's too dry (below 40% humidity)

  • Dry or itchy skin and eyes
  • Waking up with a scratchy throat or dry lips
  • Static shocks
  • Most common in winter when the central heating is on

Not sure? A digital hygrometer shows the humidity in seconds. Healthy indoor air sits between 40% and 60%.

Step 2: Find your fix

Wet bedroom windows

Breathing overnight in a closed bedroom fills the air with moisture, which turns to water on cold glass. Get the Bedroom Condensation Starter Kit: a hygrometer to track the humidity, a reusable bag for the windowsill and three wardrobe absorbers. Open a window or trickle vent for 10 minutes each morning too.

Musty wardrobe or cupboard

Leave a small gap between the wardrobe and an outside wall so air can move behind it.

Misted-up car windscreen

Put a Pingi reusable car dehumidifier on the dashboard. It soaks up moisture overnight, so you set off with clearer glass. Bigger cars and vans do better with two, one front and one rear. Recharge it when the indicator changes colour.

When you're driving, your car's air conditioning is the fastest way to clear a misted windscreen, because it absorbs moisture from the air as well as cooling it. If your windscreen stays misted with the air-con on, or the air-con no longer blows cold, it may be low on refrigerant or need a repair. We recommend Cool My Car AC for car air-con regas, diagnostics and repairs.

Caravans, boats, garages and storage

Use moisture absorber tubs on flat surfaces and check them every few weeks. Reusable bags work well in caravans and cars over winter.

Dry air or a stuffy bedroom

A 1.3L cool mist humidifier adds moisture back to a bedroom, nursery or office. Keep a hygrometer nearby and aim for 40–50% in a bedroom, so you don't overdo it.

A whole room is damp every day

If a room has wet windows every morning even after you've ventilated, or you dry washing indoors, moisture absorbers alone won't keep up. That room needs an electric dehumidifier (see below).

Choosing a humidifier

  • Room size: a compact 1.3L humidifier suits a bedroom, nursery or home office.
  • Only use it when the air is dry. Never run a humidifier in a room that already has condensation; it will make it worse.
  • Water: in hard-water areas, filtered or distilled water helps avoid a fine white dust around the humidifier.
  • Keep it clean: empty the tank daily and clean it weekly, following the instructions supplied.

Choosing an electric dehumidifier

  • Compressor dehumidifiers suit heated rooms and whole homes, and work best above about 15°C.
  • Desiccant dehumidifiers suit cold spaces like garages, conservatories and unheated bedrooms, because they keep working in the cold.
  • Size: around 10 litres a day for a flat or 1–2 bedrooms, 12 litres for a 2–3 bedroom house, and 20 litres for bigger homes or drying washing indoors. Size by the daily extraction rate, not the tank size.

Air conditioning and humidity

Air conditioning takes moisture out of the air as it cools: water condenses on the cold coil inside the unit and drains away. That's why a room with air-con feels less sticky in summer, and why many wall-mounted units have a "dry" mode for muggy days.

  • In summer: air-con keeps rooms cool and comfortable, and helps stop that clammy, humid feeling.
  • In winter: for condensation and damp, a dehumidifier or moisture absorbers are usually the better choice.
  • Keep it maintained: a blocked drain or failed condensate pump can leak water into the room, and a dirty unit can smell musty.

For home air-con installation, servicing and repairs, we recommend Cool Service, refrigeration and air-conditioning specialists. For car air-con, see Cool My Car AC.

Step 3: Keep it under control

  • Measure: check the hygrometer for a few days, not just once.
  • Absorb: replace or recharge absorbers when they're full.
  • Ventilate: open a window for 10 minutes each morning, use extractor fans when cooking and showering, and keep lids on pans.

When it isn't condensation

Our products deal with condensation and dry air. They won't fix a leak, rising damp or rain getting through a wall. If you see tide marks low on walls, damp patches after rain, or one damp spot that keeps coming back, get a builder or damp surveyor to find the cause first.