Ok... it's cold here in WI. Woke up at 7am to -17*F and wind chill of -35*F. I took pictures of the ice and frost that are mounting up on my northern facing window upstairs (it's THICK!), a room that I don't use so not worried about it. But this morning I walked down and my main light switch plate has heavy frost on it... any ideas to keep that out?? It's on a southwestern wall that is right above a central air duct. Some of the frost is even on the paint on the wall. All I have are outlet insulators and insulators for the "typical" switches, these are the "flat" square "click" type switches. Looking for ideas that wouldn't be a hazard and would be "everyday" items. TIA!

BRRRR---mid Michigan here and the Artic Effect is in full throttle here as well--not quite as cold as you--Sunday high of 9* with a wind chill of -17* BRRRRR

Frost on switchplates, walls--I guess I would be concerned about mold if the wall board, etc. is retaining moisture--any way you can just crank the heat or use a space heater in those rooms until this week until the Artic Air moves on out? 

Here is a good site that talks about sources of excess moisture, some I never thought of, that could possibly lead to frosting for you:

 http://www.houleinsulation.com/frost.html

Noticed that there are streaks from water running down. I know it doesn't help to have my boots on a shoe rack over the vent (keeps them warm for my feet). I turned on a space heater. I don't want turn up the the heat as a whole in the house. I'm comfortable at 63. I did turn down my humidifier (it's got adjustable output) but since I have a very drafty place, I use it to keep the temperature feeling ok. 

Ack! This is the only part I don't like about living here!

This Old House magazine has some great tips on their website - go to http://thisoldhouse.com and put "insulation" into the search engine; they have lots of great, and cheap, insulation tips.  For the windows, get the plastic insulating film; for the switchbox, you can buy insulation pads that fit behind the cover.  How that will help with moisture, I'm not sure. 

Came back from church and it was all melted. So not sure what caused it to thicken up overnight. Oh well... It's suppose to "warm" up to the teens above 0 this week so I guess I won't worry about it for awhile.  

WE didnt get as cold as forecast. It was 9* when I got up at 7:30. It is up to 13 now but the wind chill as been back and forth from -3 to 8. Tomorrow will be our coldest morning. tonight will be 0* then add in the wind chill. They are prediciting wind chill at -25 with 30% chance of snow. My crazy teens went sliding this afternoon. I now have a house full of frozen kids watching Star Wars again . Babs 

Luvd_Lioness:

Noticed that there are streaks from water running down. I know it doesn't help to have my boots on a shoe rack over the vent (keeps them warm for my feet). I turned on a space heater. I don't want turn up the the heat as a whole in the house. I'm comfortable at 63. I did turn down my humidifier (it's got adjustable output) but since I have a very drafty place, I use it to keep the temperature feeling ok. 

Ack! This is the only part I don't like about living here!

I highlighted the problem. 

You need to have less humidity and a better heat flow--get the boots off the vent.  You NEED to be concerned about mold.  Water may be streaking the wall board you can see but the underside of the wall board can be ABSORBING the moisture-->mold-->black mold.

As an emergency measure: you can tack up flannel backed vinyl table cloths over windows/doors--looks terrible but keeps out drafts and may be less $$ than clear film kits.