I've used thermal curtains in a couple of rooms for a few winters now, and while they're definitely nicer to look at than shrink-wrap, I agree they're not always as airtight. The thing is, thermal curtains mostly slow down heat transfer rather than completely sealing off airflow. So if you've got noticeable drafts around the window frames, curtains alone probably won't cut it.
About condensation—yeah, I've seen that happen too. It really depends on your indoor humidity levels and how cold it gets outside. In my experience, if the curtains are kept closed for long periods (like overnight or when you're away), moisture can build up behind them because the air isn't circulating enough. I had this issue in our bedroom window last winter—didn't notice until I pulled back the curtain one morning and saw droplets all over the glass. Luckily caught it early enough to avoid mold, but it was definitely a wake-up call.
What helped me was making sure to open the curtains regularly during the day to let air circulate and dry things out. Also, running a dehumidifier or even just cracking open a window slightly (counterintuitive in winter, I know...) can help keep humidity down. If you're really concerned about drafts and condensation, you might consider combining thermal curtains with some basic weatherstripping around the window frames. It's cheap, easy to install, and makes a noticeable difference.
Bottom line: thermal curtains are great visually and decent for insulation, but they're not a complete solution on their own if you've got serious draft or moisture issues. Just my two cents from trial-and-error DIYing over the years...
Good points about condensation—I had the same issue last winter. Weatherstripping made a huge difference for me too, and cracking the window slightly (weirdly enough) helped keep things dry. Glad you caught it early... mold is no joke.
"cracking the window slightly (weirdly enough) helped keep things dry."
Yeah, it's counterintuitive at first, but it actually makes sense from a technical standpoint. Opening the window just a crack helps balance indoor humidity levels by allowing moist air to escape and drier air to circulate in. I found that pairing weatherstripping with a small dehumidifier in particularly stubborn rooms really sealed the deal for me—pun intended. Mold remediation is definitely something you want to avoid dealing with... learned that the hard way myself last year.
Yeah, I was skeptical about the window trick at first too—seemed like you'd just be letting more moisture in, right? But after trying it myself, gotta admit it does help. Still, I wonder if it depends on your local climate or something? I've noticed that rooms facing north or shaded areas tend to stay damp longer, even with the window cracked. Anyone else find that certain rooms just refuse to cooperate no matter what you do...?
I've had mixed luck with the window trick myself. It seemed to help a bit in our south-facing rooms, but honestly, in the shaded north-facing bedroom, it felt like it just invited more damp air in. Could it be that airflow direction or wind patterns play a bigger role than we realize? I've started using a small dehumidifier in the stubborn rooms, and that seems to do the trick better than cracking windows...at least in my case.
I've noticed similar issues in my own home. Opening windows in shaded rooms often just introduces more moisture, especially if the outdoor humidity is high. Wind direction definitely matters—prevailing winds can push damp air indoors rather than ventilating it out. I ended up installing a hygrometer to monitor humidity levels and found that targeted use of a compact dehumidifier was far more effective than relying solely on passive ventilation methods.
I've had my own little saga with foggy windows, and honestly, passive ventilation was a total bust for me too. Last winter, I thought I'd be clever and crack open the bathroom window after showers—big mistake. Instead of clearing things up, it felt like I was inviting the entire neighborhood's humidity inside. My mirror looked like a scene from Titanic every morning.
Eventually, I caved and got one of those mini dehumidifiers. Best decision ever. Now I can actually see myself brushing my teeth without wiping down the mirror first. But here's something I've been wondering: does anyone find that certain houseplants seem to make indoor humidity worse? I swear my fern is secretly plotting against me...
I've definitely noticed certain plants seem to amp up humidity indoors, especially ferns and peace lilies. They love moisture, so they're constantly releasing it back into the air. I had a Boston fern in my bathroom once, and it felt like a mini rainforest in there every morning... mirrors fogged up worse than usual. Maybe try moving your fern to a less humid room and see if that helps? Or balance it out with plants that absorb moisture, like succulents or snake plants.
Had the same issue with my fern in the kitchen—felt like I was cooking in a jungle half the time. Ended up moving it to the living room and added a couple snake plants near the window instead. Definitely helped balance things out. Still get some fogging, but nothing like before... plus, snake plants are nearly impossible to kill, even for me.
Had a similar fogging issue a few winters back—plants definitely contribute, but it's usually a combo of humidity and temperature differences. What worked best for me was installing a small exhaust fan above the stove (if you don't already have one). Run it whenever you're cooking or boiling water, and crack the window slightly if possible. Snake plants are great, but managing airflow and humidity directly made the biggest difference in my experience.