From several hand washes daily, hot baths, and steam showers, your bathroom can turn into a humid area. The added moisture may end up ruining your décor and wallpaper but the worst thing that can happen is mold growth in your bathroom.
So, how can you dehumidify your bathroom, then? You can dehumidify a bathroom by keeping it dry and well-ventilated, buying a bathroom dehumidifier, or using natural methods.
Some other things that you can do include opening the windows, using a heater and exhaust fan, removing damp items, and practically doing things that will ensure that no unwanted moisture will remain in this important part of your home.
Humidity in Your Bathroom
What makes your bathroom humid, in the first place? Just so you know, the humidity in your bathroom is brought about by condensation that can pave way to numerous problems. As mentioned earlier, humidity can promote growth of mold and bacteria, cause wallpaper or paint to peel, and pose possible slippery hazards.
The problem can get worse for a bathroom that doesn’t have adequate ventilation, particular one that doesn’t have fans or windows. Grime and mold in the bathroom can be very difficult to clean and can also become a health hazard as these are the most common triggers for allergic reactions and asthma. Therefore, it is important to dehumidify the bathroom to ensure that these problems won’t occur in the first place.
Common Culprits Behind Bathroom Condensation
Condensation takes place when moist and warm air comes into contact with cold surface, often while using the shower or bath. A bathroom’s cold surfaces can cause the moist and warm air to condense into water droplets. The most typical cold surfaces inside your bathroom include the walls, ceiling, mirror, and window.
Tips to Reduce Humidity in the Bathroom
In just a few easy steps, you will be able to dehumidify and reduce the moisture inside your bathroom.
Try these simple tips to ensure that your personal oasis won’t turn into a health hazard to you and your whole family:
1. Open the windows to allow cool air to come in.
Make sure that you open your bathroom window after taking a shower or bath. If the weather is not too cold, you can even leave the window open while you are taking a shower.
2. Turn on your exhaust fans when you shower
See to it that you switch on your exhaust fan if you have it after your shower or bath.
3. Purchase a small bathroom dehumidifier
A dehumidifier is an appliance that works through drawing moist in air, getting rid of moisture before blowing the dry air out back to the room.
The moisture will be kept in the dehumidifier for it to be emptied. It is a very effective way to reduce the moisture inside your bathroom.
But, the question is do you really need a dehumidifier in your bathroom? If there is no proper ventilation and exhaust fan in your bathroom, it is a wise idea to buy a dehumidifier.
You don’t need to buy a large dehumidifier, though, because there are now mini dehumidifiers ideal for use in all sizes and shapes of bathrooms.
Is using a dehumidifier in your bathroom even safe? Yes, using a dehumidifier in the bathroom is perfectly safe but you need to take extra care when using it just like other electrical appliances.
Do you need to turn on your dehumidifier all the time? No, it is not necessary that you turn on your dehumidifier at all times.
The perfect time for using it is after a shower or bath or if you are living in a region with tropical climate and it is easy for your bathroom to get damp.
If you are already using a dehumidifier in your house, leaving the bathroom door open constantly is more than enough to lower the moisture levels.
4. Put your heater to good use
If your house or bathroom has heating, or there is an electric towel rail, don’t forget to turn this on before you use the shower or bath. Through heating up your bathroom, you can make the mirror and walls warmer, and this will reduce the amount or likelihood of condensation.
5. Prevent condensation by double glazing the windows
The single glazed windows have the tendency to be colder, thus creating more condensation. You can reduce this if you double glaze the window in your bathroom.
6. Get rid of damp items
Ditch those damp mats and towels in your bathroom and allow them to dry outdoors instead. How will you stop damp in your bathroom? You can stop damp and dampness issues in the bathroom if you keep it dry when not in use.
7. Use the mirror defogger
The condensation on bathroom mirror can add more moisture to this room. A cloth can be used for wiping and drying the mirror or you can buy a mirror that comes with built-in defogger. It will keep the mirror warm and prevent condensation from taking place. If you cannot purchase a new mirror with built-in defogger, it is recommended to buy the defogger separately.
8. Always time your showers
It might be time to consider giving up on your long hot bath or shower. You can reduce condensation by reducing the amount of time you spend inside the shower.
9. Maintain dryness in your bathroom
Don’t forget to wipe down on any water on your walls, vanity, shower, and floor using an old towel for the room to stay as dry as possible.
10. Fill your bath properly
When you fill your bath, make sure that cold water is run first before hot water as this reduces steam.
These are just some of the best tips on how to dehumidify a bathroom.
