Rocketing utility bills and damp cold winters are a perfect storm for condensation and the resulting black mould growth. With all of us turning down the thermometer, wearing our winter woollies and closing windows tight, battling condensation this year is going to be tougher than ever!

To try and help a little, we’ve gone all Blue Peter and made some homemade dehumidifiers that will assist you in battling humidity and condensation. They cost next to nothing, take 5 minutes to make, and they might the difference between an exhausting cleaning job, or even worse – a trip to the doctors.

Watch the video of how to make them here:

You can buy similar pre-made pots, but they’re considerably more expensive than making them yourself. To make this one we’ve used a sock, an old jam jar, and calcium chloride crystals from a 2.5kg bag purchased from Amazon for £6.50.

The dehumidifiers are perfect for kitchens, bathrooms, understairs cupboards, and bedrooms. Simply pour away the water and top up the crystals as you go.