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If you've found yourself in the unfortunate position of battling condensation every single morning like me, you'll know the struggle of dealing with constant dampness in Irish winters. My kids' bedrooms seem to generate rivers of water on the windows overnight, despite opening windows during the day and keeping radiators on low.
My eldest's room isn't massive, but it's large enough where cracking a window open doesn't quite do the trick, leaving me with puddles on the windowsill and that telltale musty smell. I was constantly worried about mould developing, especially with the kids sleeping in there.
Although I'd considered getting an electric dehumidifier, doing so for upstairs bedrooms wasn't really practical because of the noise and I also didn’t like the thought of leaving something electrical running all night. I wanted something silent and safe that I could just leave in the kids' rooms without worrying.
So I jumped at the chance of testing the Bostik Breathe Humidity Absorber for MummyPages. It's small, silent, and designed to absorb excess moisture without needing electricity. All of these factors make it, in my opinion, perfect for bedrooms. But would it actually work?
Admittedly, the concept of a non-electric dehumidifier raised some eyebrows – my husband was very sceptical. Do they actually get rid of damp and condensation, or are they just another gimmick? Given how severe our condensation problem was, it seemed almost too simple.
Setting it up was genuinely easy. The product comes with two tablets and it's just a matter of removing these from the packaging and slotting them into the slots in the upper part. Then you pop the lid on and put it wherever you need it. I placed one on the windowsill in each of the kids' rooms, hoping it would tackle the dampness that lingered constantly.
Within a couple of days of putting them in the bedrooms, I could already tell the difference. The windows weren't completely streaming with water in the mornings anymore. The air felt fresher, and I wasn't seeing as much condensation pooling on the sills. I still open windows during the day when it's not lashing rain, but the Bostik Breathe has really made a noticeable difference in keeping the rooms comfortable.
It actually feels like the bedrooms properly dry out now – no more damp, cold feeling when you walk in.
There was also a pretty notable amount of water that collected in the bottom within those first few days, which showed me it was genuinely working. You can see the water dripping down into the container, which is actually quite satisfying in a strange way – you realize just how much moisture was in the air.
Thankfully, it's also really easy to empty and maintain. You just lift off the top part and pour the water down the sink. I do this every few days just to keep on top of it. The container holds a decent amount considering how compact the whole thing is.
As for refills, I've been using the Bostik dehumidifiers for about six weeks now and haven't needed to replace the tablets yet. The tablets do seem to be dissolving gradually, so I'm expecting I'll need refills maybe after three months or so. They're fairly affordable to replace, which makes it manageable as an ongoing cost – certainly must be cheaper than running electric dehumidifiers constantly.
If you're using it in a less damp room, like a wardrobe or spare bedroom, I'd imagine you could easily reach the four-month claim without needing a refill.
Overall, I'm very impressed with these non-electric dehumidifiers. Do I think they're as powerful as a big electric one? Possibly not, but there are many reasons to choose them instead. They're affordable, completely silent, safe around children, and do exactly what they promise – absorb excess moisture without needing electricity.
If you're dealing with condensation in bedrooms like me, or need a solution for spaces where a standard dehumidifier isn't practical – like bathrooms, wardrobes, or even the car – I think the Bostik Breathe is exactly what’s called for.
For the price, it's brilliant value, especially considering how long the tablets last: I’ve recently seen them on sale anywhere between €12 and €17 and with moisture absorbing tablets that can supposedly last up to four months without replacing, there isn’t a lot to lose by giving them a go.
Suffice to say, I'm very pleased to have these working away for the damp winter months ahead.
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Where to buy: Bostik Breathe is available now in Woodie’s DIY, EuroGiant, Mr Price, Choice Stores, Topline, DIY Independents nationwide, and across Northern Ireland.
