How to prevent bathroom humidity
How to prevent bathroom humidity
Bathrooms are one of the most important rooms in our home. A beautiful bathroom adds value to your home but a humid bathroom can do us more harm than good.
Bathroom Humidity
Humidity in the bathroom is caused by condensation and can lead to various problems: promoting bacteria and mould growth, causing paint or wallpaper to peel and potential slippery hazards.
The problem is worse for bathrooms without adequate ventilation, especially those without windows or fans. Bathroom mould and grime can be a pain in the neck to clean- not to mention a health hazard, being a common trigger for asthma and allergic reactions. It’s important to, therefore, dehumidify your bathroom to prevent these problems from occurring.
What Causes Condensation?
Condensation occurs when warm, moist air (ie. steam) comes into contact with a cold surface, typically while the bath or shower is being used. The cold surfaces in a bathroom cause the warm air to condense into droplets of water. In a bathroom, typical cold surfaces include the window, walls, ceiling and mirror.
How do I reduce the humidity in my bathroom?
You can reduce the humidity in your bathroom by keeping it well-ventilated and dry, using natural methods or purchasing a bathroom dehumidifier.
How To Dehumidify Your Bathroom in 10 Easy Steps
With a few easy steps, you can reduce the moisture and dehumidify your bathroom.
1. Open windows to let cool air in
Open the bathroom window after you have a bath/shower. If it isn’t too cold, leave a window open while you are in the shower.
2. Use a small dehumidifier for bathrooms
A dehumidifier works by drawing in moist air, removing the moisture, and then blowing out the dry air back into the room. The moisture is retained in the dehumidifier to be emptied. This is an effective way to reduce moisture in the bathroom.
If your bathroom doesn’t have an exhaust fan and proper ventilation, it’s a good idea to use a dehumidifier. It doesn’t have to be a large dehumidifier- there are mini dehumidifiers perfect for bathrooms of all sizes.
3. Switch on the exhaust fan while showering
If you have an exhaust fan, switch it on after your bath/shower.
4. Use a heater
If you have heating in your home or even in the bathroom, or you have an electric towel rail, turn it on before using the bath/shower. By heating up the bathroom, the walls and mirror will be warmer, which will reduce the likelihood or amount of condensation.
5. Remove damp items
Remove any damp towels and mats from the bathroom and let them dry outside.
By keeping your bathroom dry when not in use, you will stop damp and problems with dampness in your bathroom.
6. Double glazed windows to prevent condensation
Single glazed windows tend to be colder and so create more condensation. This can be reduced by double glazing your bathroom window.
7. Use a mirror defogger
Condensation on the bathroom mirror adds more moisture to the room. You can either wipe your mirror dry with a cloth, or you can purchase a mirror with a built-in defogger. This keeps the mirror warm and prevents condensation from occurring.
8. Keep your bathroom dry
Wipe down any water on the floor, walls, vanity and shower with an old towel, to keep the room as dry as possible.
9. Time Your Showers
Think about giving up your long hot shower/bath. By reducing the time you spend in the shower, this will reduce condensation.
10. Fill your bath with cold water
When filling your bath, run the cold water first and then the hot water to reduce steam.
These easy steps will help you dehumidify your bathroom. By focusing your efforts on increasing ventilation, maintaining an adequate temperature and making a few adjustments to your bathroom habits, you will reduce the moisture levels in your bathroom and prevent the common problems associated with bathroom humidity and condensation.
