Yep, I’m right there with you. First winter in my new place and I learned real quick that north-facing bathroom windows are just… a whole thing. Mine isn’t even that old (built in the 90s), but the aluminum frame gets so cold, it’s like it’s daring the hot shower steam to come at it. I started wiping down the sill every morning just to keep the little puddles from growing into something out of a nature doc. No mushrooms yet, but I did find a patch of what I think was mildew trying to take over behind the shampoo bottles.
I looked into new frames too, but wow, those quotes were not friendly. Decided to try a stronger extractor fan first—one with a humidity sensor. It helps, but like you said, it’s never perfect. Sometimes I’ll crack the window just a bit, even in January, and it still fogs up. I guess the only “normal” is that there’s always going to be some condensation unless you want to shower in the dark and cold.
Funny thing, I thought moving into a newer house would mean less of this kind of hassle, but old or new, moisture finds a way. My neighbor swears by keeping a little portable dehumidifier running, but the noise drives me nuts. I’m starting to think the real trick is just not letting it sit—wipe it down, keep the airflow moving, and hope for the best.
Maybe someday I’ll pony up for the fancy frames, but for now, I’m just happy when the window’s dry enough that I can actually see out in the morning.
That’s pretty much my life every winter—north-facing window, aluminum frame, and enough condensation to water a small garden. I tried the dehumidifier thing for about a week, but it sounded like a jet engine and honestly, I’d rather risk a little mildew than lose sleep. I’ve just accepted that wiping down the sill is part of my morning routine now, right up there with brushing my teeth.
I did wonder, though—has anyone actually found a permanent fix for this without dropping serious cash? I’ve heard about those window insulation kits (the cling film you stick on with a hairdryer), but I’m not sure if they do much besides fog up even faster. And those fancy triple-glazed units are way out of my league for a bathroom window.
Curious if anyone’s tried the old-school trick of putting a bowl of salt or rice on the windowsill to soak up moisture. Seems a bit like wishful thinking, but desperate times...
I’ve actually tried the rice trick—ended up with a crusty mess and still had puddles on the sill. My neighbor swears by those window film kits, though. Says it helped a bit but didn’t totally solve it. Ever notice if certain days are worse than others? For me, it’s always after a hot shower, even with the fan running.
For me, it’s always after a hot shower, even with the fan running.
That’s basically my life every winter. The fan in my bathroom might as well be decorative at this point. I used to think I was doing something wrong, but turns out, you can run the fan for an hour and still end up with foggy windows if it’s cold outside and the humidity spikes inside.
The rice trick made me laugh—tried that once with a leaky windowsill and all I got was a weird science project. Window film kits are decent for drafts, but they don’t really deal with the moisture inside. They just make the glass a little warmer, so less condensation forms, but it’s not a silver bullet. If you’ve got single-pane windows (like me, in my 1950s ranch), it helps a bit, but you’ll still see fog when you’re cooking pasta or taking long showers.
Day-to-day, I notice it’s worst when the temps drop suddenly or after I’ve been drying laundry inside (bad habit, I know). Hot showers definitely make it worse, especially if you close the door and trap all the steam. Even with a “good” fan, it sometimes can’t keep up if your house is sealed up tight for winter.
If you want to get nerdy about it, it’s all about dew point—the temp where the air can’t hold any more moisture, so it dumps it on your coldest surfaces (hello, windows). Newer double-pane windows help a lot, but they’re not cheap. I finally caved and bought a small dehumidifier last winter. Not glamorous, but it actually made a difference. Still get a little fog, but nowhere near as bad.
Honestly, I think a little fog is just part of life unless you want to spend big bucks on upgrades. Anyone else have luck with those moisture absorber tubs? I’m skeptical but tempted to try one just to see.