This is because a large amount of moisture is produced when you shower or take a bath, increasing the humidity level in the room. If your bathroom is not well ventilated, humid air will condensate on surfaces and lead to mould growth. Bathrooms contain surfaces that are prone to condensation.
Opening windows is one of the simplest ways to reduce condensation in the bathroom. Although opening a window may not be high on the agenda during a cold winter's morning shower, it's an easy way to help excess moisture and steam escape rather than clinging to the water vapour and landing on surfaces around the room.
It's essential for all bathrooms to have an extractor fan installed, which is powerful enough to remove damp air from the room and vent it outside your house. Make sure the fan is running and drawing out humid air while you are in your shower and bath. Leave it running for a minimum of 30 minutes post-shower.
Our bathrooms are often more humid than other parts of the home, mainly due to the moisture our showers create. As relaxing as hot showers may be, they can actually cause problems that you aren't aware of. As moisture accumulates in your bathroom, humidity levels will continue to increase.
Damp towels and clothes contribute moisture into the air. Use a drying rack outside a small bathroom to keep the humidity out and speed up the drying process. Wiping down areas of condensation like the mirror or the bathroom walls can also help to eliminate moisture in the air and contain the humidity in your bathroom.
Bathrooms are humid places and to get rid of excess moisture you will have to air out the room. This can be achieved by simply opening a window or by using a CMV system, a moisture absorber or a dehumidifier.
You might notice bathroom condensation forming on your bathroom ceiling, or your bathroom walls might give the illusion of sweating, and at best, this will cause small irritating watermarks on your surfaces; at worst, it will lead to black mould that could cause medical problems.
Keep windows open during and after showering
As with the extractor fan, leave your window open for at least 15 minutes after you've finished in the bath or shower to allow plenty of time for the air to circulate and moisture to escape.
The second reason, and most blame worthy for growth on ceilings and walls, is due to steam. Steam is created any time you use hot water in your bathroom and also raises the humidity in the air. If an area has a relative humidity above 60% for a prolonged period of time, prime conditions are created for mold growth.
PRO Tips to Keep Your Bathroom Clean
You'll only need to perform deep cleaning with the steam cleaner every several months. Most of the time, wiping down surfaces with a non-toxic, all-purpose cleaner every week will do the trick to keep your bathroom looking bright.
Adequate ventilation – Make sure your bathroom is constructed with ample ventilation, most importantly a vent fan. A good quality vent fan will absorb all the moisture after your shower, preventing your bathroom floor from mould or moss formation.
Microban 24 Hour Bathroom Cleaner is safe and effective on hard, non-porous surfaces. It sanitizes, disinfects bacteria and viruses, deodorizes, and prevents mold and mildew on hard and soft surfaces. As a bonus, Microban is an EPA-registered disinfectant, tested and proven to kill viruses, including COVID-19.
Hot showers and baths will produce a TON of steam that can fill up any bathroom. This steam will cling to the walls, ceiling, and floors – resulting in moisture damage and eventual mold growth (Yuck!). Not only will this make your bathroom unsightly, it can be expensive to fix and remove.
As the air moves around the rest of the shower and bathroom, it gets closer to room temperature and the colder air can't hold as much water, so it condenses in the form of steam. Similar process to how clouds form. If you were to take a 90 degree shower in 90 degree bathroom you wouldn't see as much steam.
Keep the air flowing.
Be sure to leave your shower door open and bathroom door open after taking a shower to keep air moving around your shower. If you have one, be sure to leave the bathroom vent fan on until the temperature has cooled down and the steam is gone.
Leaving windows open during and for a while after showering or taking a bath will stop condensation forming. If your bathroom doesn't have any windows, leaving a door open will reduce the presence of excessive amounts of moisture.
The most popular choice for bathroom ventilation is an extractor fan. These small, electronic fans are installed in your wall or ceiling and suck in air before directing it outside.
Should I put a dehumidifier in my bathroom? We have received many questions like “Are dehumidifiers good for bathrooms?” Our answer is YES! The dehumidifier is the perfect device even for your bathroom. It preserves a humidity level that is healthy and helpful for the environment.
Damage and health problems posed by condensation
Prolonged exposure to copious levels of indoor dampness can reduce lung function and cause chronic health problems such as asthma. When exposed to mould, those who already suffer from asthma and allergies are more likely to have more severe symptoms.
If solving your moisture problem is something you'd like to do inexpensively, rock salt may be your answer. Because rock salt is hygroscopic it absorbs moisture from the air. If your plan is to get rid of the humidity in a damp basement, start with a 50-pound bag of sodium chloride to make your rock salt dehumidifier.
How long will it take to get the moisture under control? As long as the dehumidifier you choose is large enough for the area it is working in, and there are no specific damp problems, then a dehumidifier will normally reduce the humidity to the chosen level within a few days to a week.
Electric dehumidifiers are the most effective.
They are often installed on the wall which means they take up very little space. Some models come with an integrated hygrometer which automatically measures the moisture content in the air and switches on when this becomes too high.
Your bathroom fan requires proper venting to transport steam out of the bathroom. Too many people buy ductless fans as they are easier to install. However, there is a huge difference between bathroom fans and ductless fans. Ductless fans will circulate air through an activated carbon filter but doesn't remove steam.
In our test, baths added 15.7% more moisture into the air!
However, it is not massively different (like 2 or 3 times more).