I hear you on the moisture absorber tubs—they’re kind of a band-aid, honestly. I’ve tried them in closets and they help a little, but if you’re seeing condensation on windows, especially with doors closed, it’s usually a ventilation thing like you said. I ended up getting a small dehumidifier for our back bedroom (also 60s construction) and it made a noticeable difference, but it does add to the electric bill. For us, cracking the window just a bit or running a fan helped more than anything else. Dehumidifiers aren’t overkill if you’ve got persistent dampness, but sometimes just improving airflow is enough.
Yeah, those tubs are like putting a tiny umbrella over a leaky roof—helps a bit, but not really fixing anything. I’ve noticed in my place (built in ’72), the windows fog up worst when I keep the doors closed for days. Ever tried just leaving the closet door cracked? Sometimes it’s all about letting things breathe, even if it gets a little drafty. That said, my dehumidifier is basically a pet at this point... noisy, needy, but does its job.
Honestly, I’m not convinced those tubs do much beyond making you feel like you’re doing *something*. I get what you mean about the dehumidifier—mine sounds like a freight train, but without it, I’d have mushrooms growing in the corners.
the windows fog up worst when I keep the doors closed for days
That’s a red flag for airflow. I’ve tried cracking windows, but sometimes it just makes the room cold and doesn’t really solve the moisture problem long-term. If you’re seeing fog between panes, though, that’s likely failed seals—no amount of ventilation fixes that. Otherwise, it’s a balancing act: too drafty and your heating bill spikes, too sealed and you get condensation. Old houses are tricky like that.
Otherwise, it’s a balancing act: too drafty and your heating bill spikes, too sealed and you get condensation. Old houses are tricky like that.
That hits home—literally. Our place is a 1920s craftsman, and I swear the windows have a mind of their own. Some days there’s so much condensation it looks like the house is sweating. I’ve definitely tried the “crack a window” trick, but in January, that just means I’m wearing a hoodie indoors and watching my breath.
Funny thing, I used to think those little moisture-absorber tubs were magic. Threw them everywhere—bathroom, closets, even under the kitchen sink. All they really did was fill up with gunk and give me one more thing to forget about until they started smelling weird. Maybe they help a bit in small spaces, but for an entire room? Not so much.
I do agree about airflow being the real culprit. Once, I left the guest room door shut for a week and came back to find the windows completely fogged over. Opened the door, and poof—gone in an hour or two. But yeah, then you’re dealing with a cold draft sneaking in from somewhere else. It’s like a game of whack-a-mole with humidity.
About the fog between panes—ugh, I had that in the old dining room window. Turns out, it was a busted seal like you said. No amount of airing out or running fans did a thing. Ended up replacing the glass (which was not cheap), but at least now I can see the backyard again.
It’s wild how much the weather outside messes with things too. On dry days, no problem. As soon as we get a rainy week, the sills start collecting puddles. I’ve been toying with the idea of one of those quieter dehumidifiers, but I’m not sure if it’s worth the cost yet. The freight train ones are just too much noise for my sanity.
Old houses definitely keep you on your toes. Sometimes I wonder if newer windows would help, but then I worry about losing all the character.
Those little moisture-absorber tubs were magic. Threw them everywhere—bathroom, closets, even under the kitchen sink. All they really did was fill up with gunk and give me one more thing to forget about until they started smelling weird.
Haha, yeah, those tubs are basically “out of sight, out of mind” until they start to reek. I tried those too, but once winter hits, it’s like the condensation laughs at my efforts. I did cave and got a small dehumidifier for the bedroom—surprisingly quiet, but I still have to empty it every couple days. Honestly, I’d love newer windows too, but losing that old wavy glass would feel wrong. There’s just something about the quirks of an old house… even if it means fighting puddles on the sills all winter.
Honestly, I’d love newer windows too, but losing that old wavy glass would feel wrong.
I get that—those old panes have a charm you just can’t fake. I’ve tried the shrink-wrap window film in winter, and it helps a bit with drafts and condensation, though it’s not exactly pretty. Dehumidifier’s pretty much the only thing that keeps my sills dry, but yeah, emptying it is a pain. Honestly, a little fog on old windows is normal, but if you’re getting puddles, it might be worth checking for leaks or gaps around the frames. Sometimes a bit of caulk goes a long way.