I spent years trying to combat window condensation – then a simple dish-soap trick turned out to be the key all along

I’ve lived in my home for three years and have spent most of that time battling damp droplets on my windows. That was until I discovered the dish soap window condensation hack.

After using it for over two months, I can confirm it’s a game-changer and a time-saver. Cleaning pros also agree it’s a clever way to tackle the problem. They’ve shared top tips for trying it and I’ve run through the steps required, as well as weighing up the pros and cons.

If you’re looking to get rid of window condensation quickly and effectively, I can’t recommend this trick enough.

What is the dish soap window condensation hack?

This hack involves applying dish soap to a window with a cloth and buffing it onto the entire affected section. This is a great way to stop condensation forming on windows.

Joy Ramos, cleaning expert at Bear Brothers Cleaning, says, ‘It works because the surface active agent that the dish soap contains reduces the surface tension of water. This prevents moisture from forming into droplets, creating fog or condensation on the glass. Instead, the moisture spreads into an invisible layer, keeping the windows clear.’

When using dish soap to clean windows, one of the most important aspects to consider is what kind of soap you’re using.

Muffetta Krueger, cleaning expert and founder of Muffetta's Housekeeping, explains, ‘Opt for a basic dish soap without added dyes or harsh chemicals to avoid residue.’ For example, the Palmolive dish soap from Amazon is fragrance-free and made with 100% biodegradable cleaning ingredients.

You can also use natural Castile soap for cleaning all around the home. It's a non-toxic home essential made from natural oils, is gentle enough to use on your skin and hair and safe for use around children and pets.

When using the dish soap hack on your windows, it's important not to use too much, as this will prevent streaks or bubbles, which are both big window cleaning mistakes. ‘I mix one teaspoon of dish soap per one quart of water,’ explains Joy.

From here, you simply spray it onto your cloth or sponge, buff your windows, and then buff again with a dry cloth in order to clear any excess liquid and prevent streaks. This will then dry as a water-repelling layer.

Muffetta continues, ‘The soap film will eventually wear off, so reapply every few weeks or as necessary, especially during colder months.’

How to do it

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• Step 1: Wipe any existing condensation off your windows. I use the Homexcel microfiber cleaning cloths from Amazon, as they’re lint-free and scratch-free (plus, the colors make my cleaning supplies look so stylish).
• Step 2: Create your dish soap cleaning solution. Joy Ramos recommends mixing together one teaspoon of dish soap per one quart of water in a spray bottle. I put mine in a glass spray bottle similar to the glass spray bottles from Walmart, as it’s reusable and easy to clean.
• Step 3: Spritz this onto your microfiber cleaning cloth. I do this instead of applying the liquid straight onto the windows, as this avoids excess liquid on your window.
• Step 4: Use your cloth to buff the mixture onto the window, using gentle circular motions.
• Step 5: Buff the window with a clean, dry cloth in order to remove visible streaks.
• Step 6: Leave to dry.
  Step 7: Keep an eye on your windows. The soap film will eventually wear off, so make sure to reapply when necessary – especially during colder months.

Pros and cons

The pros: I love that this hack doesn’t involve having to buy any additional products. All you need is dish soap, cleaning cloths, and a spray bottle. It’s also super time-efficient – it took me under five minutes

Unlike using heavy chemical solutions, the diluted soap and water mix had a lovely fragrance and left my room with a fresh scent, so it turned out to be an easy and unexpected way to make my house smell nice.

It also has saved me from running dehumidifiers like the bestselling Tabyik dehumidifier from Amazon every single day. This is much more energy-efficient.

The cons: The soap film does leave a slightly smeary appearance on the windows. I don’t mind this as I only get condensation on windows overnight in my bedroom, but if you’re applying this to somewhere visible to guests like the living area or kitchen, this might be a concern to you.

The final thing to be aware of is even if this stops condensation gathering on your windows, it does not reduce the humidity in your house. If you don't get to the root cause of the condensation, it may well collect elsewhere in the room, and potentially leave your home at increased risk of mold.

Create moisture channels, and use simple dehumidifying methods such as strategically placing moisture absorbing bags, available at Walmart near windows, or 'shock ventilating' daily to reduce the cause of condensation.

My verdict

I give the dish soap window condensation hack a firm 8/10. I have been using this for the past two months and I’ve found the method to be super effective. I like it because it takes me under five minutes to do per window and it has meant that I’ve spent much less time getting rid of black mold from my window frames.

I’ve had to reapply the soap layer twice during this time, but I have been testing this during the winter. This might be less frequent during warmer months when condensation is less prevalent and proper ventilation easy to keep up with.

While this is a super way to stop pesky droplets from forming, it doesn’t get the full 10/10 from me as it needs to be combined with other techniques in order to stop moisture from spreading around the room.

Joy Ramos says, ‘I open windows to increase airflow in the space and to reduce overall humidity levels.’

I do this during the day, as well as running my trusty dehumidifier right next to the window.If you do see any water forming in between soap layer applications, you can also try using window vacuums to curb condensation even further.

What to shop

I spend so much less time dealing with condensation thanks to this dish soap hack. Now I’m free to focus on my spring cleaning checklist.

For those less concerned about condensation and more concerned about dirt, you could try the ‘Pink & Blink window cleaning hack’ instead, which is perfect for tackling winter grime.