Bathroom condensation occurs when warm, humid air comes into contact with cold surfaces, like windows, mirrors, and glasses, therefore forming droplets. While you simply cannot 100% stop bathroom condensation from forming, you can reduce it drastically and cut down on the risk of mould.
If your bathroom is not well ventilated or does not have a shower dome, then the humidity will linger and prevent the wet surfaces from drying, therefore leading to problems like mould and possibly damaging your bathroom furniture and dampening towels and toilet paper.
Here are some tips on how to reduce your bathroom condensation:
1. Install a Shower Dome
Imagine you are cooking something, and steam is coming from your pot – what do you do to prevent that from happening? Well, you put a lid on. Shower domes work on the same principle, it puts a “lid” on your shower to stop the steam and warm moisture from getting out of it.
Shower domes in New Zealand cost anything between $280 to $350 and are a great investment if you want to have a warmer shower, reduce humidity, and prevent mould and mildew from forming in your bathroom.
See below some options available:
Turtle Shell
Showerdome ®
Steam Stopper
2. Install, replace or clean your extraction fan
The purpose of an extractor fan is to remove moisture from the air. Routine cleaning on your extractor fan will help extend its lifetime but it will not last forever. Bathroom extraction fans last up to 10 years. So, if your extraction fan is older than that then it is likely time to get it replaced by either an electrician or a licensed tradesperson.
Reminding you that In New Zealand, according to the Healthy Home Standards all bathrooms must either have an extractor fan that vents air to the outside or continuous mechanical ventilation that meets certain criteria. You can check the exemptions to the ventilation standard.
3. Wipe down surfaces and open your windows
If you are not prepared to spend money on investing in a shower dome or an extraction fan, then opening your windows and wiping down all the surfaces after you have a shower each time might be the solution. While time-consuming, this will ensure that your bathroom furniture and surfaces are dry and help in the prevention of mould and mildew in your bathroom.
4. Use a dehumidifier
Dehumidifiers help to extract moisture from the air and collect it as water. You can turn on a dehumidifier during or after your shower, but you will have to remind yourself to empty the dehumidifier when it is full.
5. Add bathroom plants that absorb moisture
Aside from adding style and improving the air quality of your bathroom, certain plants help to absorb the humidity as well. Some of these plants include, ‘Snake Plant’, ‘Peace Lily’ and ‘Spider Plant’.
Snake Plant
Peace Lily
Spider Plant
Did you like our tips on dealing with bathroom condensation? After you tried one of them, let us know how you went!
