The best thing you can do is open your windows as often as you’re able to

Ventilate!

The importance of ventilating your home cannot be overstated.

Getting fresh air circulating helps rid your home of moisture, smoke, cooking odours, and indoor pollutants like dust. Keeping these trapped inside reduces the air quality, which can make allergies and asthma worse. Excess moisture is likely to cause condensation, which can lead to issues with damp and mould.

The best thing you can do is open your windows as often as you’re able to – and particularly after using the shower or cooking. Please just ensure children and pets are safe when you do this, and close any accessible windows when you leave the house.

Lubricate windows and doors

A quick bit of regular maintenance on the tracks and hinges (all the moving bits) of your doors and windows can help head off problems with sticking or jamming.

When you’re vacuuming, run the nozzle over the tracks and hinges. Grit and grime from outside builds up in these areas and can drastically affect how well your doors and windows work, even reducing the overall lifespan of the tracks and hinges.

Using a silicone-based lubricant spray once a year will keep the moving parts running smoothly and help prevent squeaks. It’s like oiling a bike chain – you wouldn’t expect it to run well forever without a bit of help.

You can pick up a lubricant spray at most DIY stores.