When I first saw a bowl of salt water on a windowsill in the middle of winter, I really thought someone had left their pasta there. The glass fogged up on the inside, the radiator ticked, and in that small strip of light, a white ceramic bowl quietly did its job. No fancy tool. No humming noise from the dehumidifier. A little bit of salt and some water from the tap.
The sky outside was that dull gray that makes every afternoon feel like 5 p.m. The air inside felt thick, a little sticky, and almost sleepy. But the person who lived there said that since they started using this “old-school trick,” the apartment felt calmer, drier, and easier to heat.
A bowl of water with salt in it. Next to the window. During the winter. It sounds too easy, which is why it stays in your mind.
Why winter windows secretly make you uncomfortable
When it’s cold outside, our windows become quiet actors in a small play at home. There is warm air, steaming showers, cooking pots, and kettles boiling on the inside. It was freezing outside, the streets were frozen, and my breath was turning white. Condensation blooms along the panes and frames where the two worlds meet, slowly soaking everything.
Those small drops running down the glass seem harmless. No, they’re not. They soak into the seals, make the corners darker, and mold sneaks in before you even see it. You turn up the heat when the room feels colder, and the bill goes up. All because the air has more moisture in it than your windows can handle.
Last winter a resident of a 1970s apartment building in Leeds took a straightforward action. They decided to check their heating bills against what their neighbors were paying. What they discovered was startling. Some apartments had monthly heating costs that were three times higher than others even though the buildings were identical in design & the residents used similar amounts of heat. The problem was not about how much energy people consumed. It was about how poorly the buildings retained warmth. The apartments with the highest bills were losing heat through walls & windows that had never been properly insulated. Cold air seeped in during winter while expensive heated air escaped outside. This discovery led to a building-wide investigation. Residents formed a group & hired an energy assessor to inspect every unit. The assessor used thermal imaging cameras that revealed the invisible patterns of heat loss. The images showed bright spots where warmth poured out through gaps around window frames and dark patches on exterior walls where insulation had deteriorated or was missing entirely. The findings were shared with the building management company. At first the management was reluctant to invest in improvements. They argued that the building met the minimum standards required by law when it was constructed. However the residents persisted and presented evidence that better insulation would reduce energy costs for everyone while also increasing property values. Eventually the management agreed to a phased renovation program. Workers installed new insulation in the walls & replaced old windows with double-glazed units. They sealed gaps around doors and added insulation to the roof space. The work took several months to complete but the results were immediate. By the following winter the residents with previously high heating bills saw their costs drop by more than half. Everyone in the building benefited from more consistent temperatures and reduced drafts. The building itself became quieter because the new windows blocked outside noise more effectively. This experience in Leeds reflects a wider issue across the country. Millions of homes were built during a period when energy was cheap & environmental concerns were not priorities for builders. These properties now cost their occupants far more to heat than necessary while contributing excessively to carbon emissions.
She put a big bowl of very salty water on the windowsill in her two most humid rooms, the kitchen and the bedroom. Her routine didn’t change in any other way.
By January, she saw that there was less water on the glass in the mornings. The black lines in the silicone around the frame stopped growing. The radiator dried her towels faster. There was no miracle; physics just worked in her favor. She laughed as she told her friends, “I used aluminum foil to get through the heat wave, and now I’m putting soup bowls by the windows to get through the winter.”
How to use a bowl of salt water like a pro in the winter
The way is so easy that it’s almost funny. Fill a bowl with warm tap water, and make sure it’s wide and shallow. Add a good amount of table salt, rock salt, or coarse sea salt and stir until most of it is gone. It’s okay if there are a few crystals at the bottom.
Put this bowl right on the windowsill or as close to the window as you can. You want it to be where the air is the coolest and wettest. You can use two bowls that are a little bit apart in very damp rooms. You can leave them there all day and night, but you should change the water every few days or as soon as it looks cloudy or crusty.
Important tips to maximize the salt water bowl’s effectiveness
This small habit might seem appealing when you first hear about it in November but it usually disappears before January is even halfway done. The truth is that almost nobody actually keeps doing this on a daily basis.
So, bring it down. Instead of trying to be perfect, try to be “good enough.” Once a week, maybe on a set day like Sunday night, clean out the bowl. You might need to change it more often if your house is very busy with showers, laundry drying inside, and people. Don’t fill the bowl too full, and keep it away from pets and curious toddlers, who are known to treat any strange liquid as a possible experiment. Winter hacks only work if they don’t make things worse.
Salt, foil, and the quiet skill of making your home work for you
These little seasonal rituals are strangely comforting. Aluminum foil taped to the windows to keep the harsh summer sun from getting in. A bowl of salty water keeps the glass safe in the winter. They aren’t fancy or perfect for Instagram, but they are part of that secret toolbox of home tricks that people share with each other over coffee breaks.
You begin to look at your home differently. It stops being just a box and becomes something alive that breathes and sweats & changes temperature with the weather. The foil bounces light back and the salt pulls moisture from the air while you gain more control over how comfortable you feel. There are no monthly fees or apps to download & no new gadget making noise in the room. These are simply actions you repeat and adjust and pass along to others.
That might be the real point.
This trick will not work as well as an expensive dehumidifier. But that is not really the point. The point is that these small habits can make winter easier to handle. A simple bowl on the windowsill sends a quiet message. It tells you that the weather outside does not have complete control over your life.
Important pointValue for the reader in detail
- Salt water takes in water.
- Water molecules from the air are drawn to salty solutions, especially near cold windows.
- Lessens condensation and slows down the growth of mold on walls and frames.
Placement is more important than quantity
- A couple of large bowls placed on the windowsill are more practical than many tiny containers that get lost easily.
- Gets the most out of the least amount of work and mess.
Works best with easy habits that you do every day
- The bowl functions more effectively when it receives brief periods of air circulation combined with restricted moisture removal in its interior space.
- Makes things more comfortable and can lower heating costs a little bit.
Questions and Answers:
Is it true that a bowl of salt water can make a room less humid?
Yes, but only a little bit. The salty water takes in some moisture from the air, especially in small or moderately damp rooms, but it won’t work as well as a full dehumidifier in very humid homes.
What type of salt should I use?
You can use any kind of salt you have at home, like table salt, rock salt, or coarse sea salt. The most important thing is to have enough of it to make a concentrated solution with a few grains that don’t dissolve at the bottom.
How often do I need to change the water?
Every few days if it’s very wet, or once a week if it’s not so wet. It’s time to clean it up if the surface looks cloudy, gritty, or starts to smell.
Is it bad for kids or pets?
It could be if they drink it or spill it. Put the bowl somewhere safe where it can’t be reached, and stay away from places where a knock could send salty water onto wood or electronics.
Can I use this with aluminum foil on the windows?
Yes. In the summer, use foil to reflect heat, and in the winter, use salt water to soak up moisture. Some people also put reflective film behind radiators in very cold places to make them work better.
