Has anyone tried swapping out just the glass for double pane instead of replacing the whole window?
I actually went the double-pane glass route in my 1920s place. It was a lot less invasive (and cheaper) than full window replacement, but I still get a little condensation when it’s super cold. Did you notice if your condensation is worse on certain windows or rooms? For me, the bathroom’s always the worst offender... guessing it’s just humidity, but curious if others see the same pattern.
I’ve noticed the same thing—condensation is way more of an issue in my bathroom than anywhere else, even after switching to double-pane glass. I’m pretty sure it’s just the humidity from showers, since the kitchen and bedrooms almost never fog up unless it’s a really cold snap. I did try running the exhaust fan longer and cracking the window a bit, which helped some, but not totally.
One thing that surprised me was how much difference curtains or blinds make. If I leave them closed overnight, the condensation’s worse in the morning. Leaving them open lets the glass stay a bit warmer, I guess? Not a perfect fix, but it helps.
Honestly, I don’t think you can get rid of it 100% in older houses unless you go all-in on new windows plus better ventilation. But for me, swapping just the glass was good enough—less mess and didn’t break the bank. The bathroom’s always going to be tricky though... kind of comes with the territory.
That’s interesting about the curtains—I always thought closing them would help, but now that you mention it, mine are definitely worse when I forget to open them. Ever tried one of those little dehumidifiers? I keep thinking about it, but not sure they’d make much difference in a steamy bathroom.
Those little dehumidifiers are hit or miss, honestly. I tried one of the rechargeable ones in my bathroom—helped a bit, but if you take long showers like I do, it fills up fast and needs to be reset constantly. Have you noticed if the fog is worse when it’s colder outside? I swear mine turn into a sauna scene every winter, even with the fan running.
Yeah, colder weather definitely makes it worse. The warm, humid air from showers hits those icy windows and—bam—instant fog. Even with the fan running, if your bathroom’s not well-sealed or insulated, you’re fighting a losing battle. I’ve tried bigger plug-in dehumidifiers, but honestly, they just add to the electric bill and don’t keep up if you’re taking long, hot showers. Sometimes cracking a window works better, even if it’s freezing.
Sometimes cracking a window works better, even if it’s freezing.
I’ve done the “open the window and freeze” routine too—my teeth are chattering just thinking about it. Has anyone tried those anti-fog sprays people use on car windows? Wondering if that’s just a gimmick or actually helps with bathroom glass.
I’ve actually wondered about those anti-fog sprays too, but I can’t shake the feeling they’re more hype than help—at least for bathroom mirrors. I tried one of the cheaper ones last winter (can’t remember the brand, just grabbed it at the hardware store), and honestly, it worked for maybe a week? After that, it was back to drawing smiley faces in the fog after my shower.
It might be different for car windows since you’re not blasting them with hot steam every morning. My bathroom’s got pretty bad ventilation (old house problems), and unless I run the fan plus crack the window, nothing really keeps the glass clear. The spray left a bit of a streaky mess too, which was annoying.
If anyone’s found a brand that actually lasts, I’d be interested. But for now, I’m sticking with the old towel wipe-down and grumbling about it... at least until I finally get around to installing a better fan.
I’ve wondered if the mirror fog is just something you have to live with in older houses. Mine’s from the 1950s and even after putting in a stronger fan, the mirrors still fog up unless I leave the door open a crack. Has anyone actually found a permanent fix, or is it just one of those “old house quirks” that never really goes away? Maybe those heated mirrors are worth it, but I’m not convinced they’d make enough difference for the price.
Maybe those heated mirrors are worth it, but I’m not convinced they’d make enough difference for the price.
I’ve looked into the heated mirror thing too and honestly, they seem cool but kinda overkill unless you’re doing a full reno. I tried applying Rain-X (the car windshield stuff) to my bathroom mirror and it actually helped for a couple weeks—then it wore off. The only “permanent” fix I’ve seen is those big hotels with built-in mirror heaters, but that’s a whole project. For now, I just crack the door and live with the fog... 1950s house quirks, I guess.
Heated mirrors sound fancy, but honestly, I don’t see the point unless you’re gutting the bathroom anyway. I’ve had the same fog problem in my 1960s ranch for years, and every “solution” I’ve tried is either temporary or a hassle. Those stick-on mirror heaters are out there, but then you’re running wires and possibly messing up your wall, plus it’s not cheap. I don’t know—seems like more trouble than it’s worth for a little bit of convenience.
Rain-X is clever, but yeah, wears off quick. I tried a similar thing with shaving cream (someone online swore by it), but it left the glass streaky and honestly just looked gross. In my experience, nothing beats just flipping on the exhaust fan and cracking the window or door. Not perfect, but it’s free and keeps the fog to a minimum.
If you’re asking what’s “normal,” I’d say a bit of fog is just part of living in an older place without high-end ventilation. Unless you want to drop serious money, it’s probably not worth chasing a perfect fix. I figure if hotels need to install those big heated panels, that says something about how hard this is to solve without a full remodel.
If it gets really bad, maybe check your bathroom fan—mine was barely working and swapping it for a stronger one helped a bit. But for me, I’ll take a foggy mirror over tearing up the walls or spending hundreds. Just not worth the hassle.