Households urged to scatter cat litter on windowsills in November

It's a constant problem in winter and even if you do everything right, condensation can still create issues for your house, especially in rooms like kitchens and bathrooms and you have the heating running.

While a little bit of condensation is normal and expected, more and more condensation on windows can be a sign that your house isn't set up to deal with it effectively, leading eventually to mould and mildew if left unchecked.

According to experts at Speedy Hire, there are some cheap and easy ways to reduce the amount of condensation in the air - including using cat litter.

Although these quick fixes are not going to tackle the root cause, it can still be helpful to keep on top of excess moisture before you make more expensive changes, like adding an extractor fan, a dehumidifier or even getting new windows.

Machinery rental firm Speedy Hire's condensation guide says: "Condensation forms when warm air collides with non-porous, cold surfaces. So, if you wake up in the morning in winter and your windows are covered in water droplets, your room is warm, and the outside temperature overnight makes your windows cold.

"Condensation itself won't cause any significant issues. However, problems start to arise when this moisture can't get away.

"Damp patches can form if the water pools on windowsills or sealant around windows. This can create black mould, damaging your health and home's foundations. Think chipping paint or, at worst, rotting wood.

"The main thing to remember is condensation is expected. It doesn't mean windows need replacing or you're doing anything wrong. But you must sort out the issue, which could mean daily attention."

It explains that cat litter is, by nature of its absorbent design, a good option for tackling excess moisture in the air too: "In the same way that cat litter is designed to absorb cat urine, it can absorb moisture from the air. It won't be as effective as a dedicated dehumidifier, but it can help.

Just place it in an old sock or bag, tie it up and let it do the job. "Replace this monthly, as it will smell once thoroughly damp. It's not a miracle cure for excess moisture, but it should reduce it slightly."

The ideal solution, though, is to get a dehumidifier. It adds: "A dehumidifier will draw moisture out of the air before it settles on surfaces such as your windows. It won't remove all moisture from the air, though-too dry an atmosphere can damage the home, too.

So, this is the ideal solution. It removes excess humidity and moisture without going overboard."