What you’re seeing is almost certainly condensation forming on your windows. Here’s what’s happening step by step:
Why It Happens
- Cold Outside, Warm Inside – In winter, the glass in your windows gets very cold.
- Warm, Moist Indoor Air – Activities like cooking, showering, or even breathing release water vapor into your home.
- Condensation Forms – When the warm, humid air hits the cold window surface, the air cools down and can no longer hold all its moisture, so water droplets form on the glass and drip onto your blinds.
Potential Damage
- Wooden blinds or sills: Can warp, rot, or get moldy if they stay wet repeatedly.
- Paint and window frames: Prolonged moisture can cause peeling or rot.
- Mold growth: Condensation is a perfect environment for mold, which can affect health.
How to Reduce It
- Reduce indoor humidity:
- Use exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms.
- Avoid drying clothes indoors.
- Consider a small dehumidifier in the room.
- Improve air circulation:
- Keep blinds slightly open so air can move around the window.
- Move furniture away from windows.
- Increase window temperature:
- If possible, use storm windows or double-glazed windows.
- Keep the indoor thermostat consistent—don’t let windows get extremely cold.
- Protect your blinds temporarily:
- Wipe down moisture daily.
- Consider switching to metal or vinyl blinds, which handle moisture better than wood.
💡 Quick tip: A simple hygrometer can tell you the humidity level in the room. Ideally, indoor humidity in winter should be around 30–50%. Above that, condensation problems are likely.
If you want, I can give a step-by-step strategy to stop your blinds from getting wet all winter, even without replacing the windows. Do you want me to do that?
