How to prevent steam in the bathroom: These things...

Whilst having a shower or a bath can be the most relaxing part of your day, what’s annoying about the aftermath of it is the condensation that is left on the mirrors, windows, and other places around the bathroom. Bathroom condensation is very normal and nothing to be worried about as it occurs in almost every household, but that doesn’t mean we want it! However, there are ways to prevent or reduce steam and condensation in the bathroom.

Help…my walls are sweating!

There are many causes of steam; after a shower or bath, a lot of time the water droplets form on the windows, mirrors, and walls when the damp air is cooled by the colder surfaces, as the warmer air holds more moisture it results in a lot of heavy condensation.

Essentially, it is all down to temperature, the water vapour, and the air. The bathroom is the most popular place to have condensation as it is one of the only rooms in the house which often has sudden changes in temperature and air density. However, condensation can prove a lot of hassle for certain houses as the water vapour and damp air can make your walls to sweat and cause long-term problems such as mould.

What are the ways to prevent bathroom condensation?

In an ideal world, we would love for water condensation to completely disappear, however, the reality is that we must find out the best ways to improve it and sometimes even prevent it from doing any severe damage. Although you will never completely get rid of any condensation in your bathrooms, you can find measures to reduce it and improve any long-term issues with a few simple and effective methods.

Either opening window or switching on a clean extractor fan should allow the water vapour and condensation to stay minimal. It is also important to note that keeping the bathroom door closed whenever you’re in the shower or bath will make sure that the moisture doesn’t escape to other rooms and stays contained in the bathroom. Opening a window will allow the air from outside (which isn’t damp) to circulate and keep the bathroom air a lot less moist. Therefore, reducing the amount of condensation in the air and leaving your bathroom walls in a better condition!
Dehumidifiers may be your new best friend if you’re having a lot of problems with condensation in your bathroom. They take the moisture out of the air and collects it as water, by putting it in your bathroom whenever you are using it, you will significantly reduce any condensation which would otherwise collate and create problems. Depending on the extent of condensation, you may have to consider different types of dehumidifiers, electronic ones range from £100 to £170, or you can get cheaper ones which aren’t as reliable but still do a good job from around £50. Two of the best selling dehumidifiers are the EcoAir DD1 and the large capacity Pro Breeze 12L Dehumidifier.

Moisture absorbers are often confused with dehumidifiers and although they are similar, they do serve different purposes in terms of your condensation. Moisture absorbers work more like sponges in the way they absorb all of the moisture in the air rather than simply turning it into the water like a dehumidifier does. They come in all different sizes and shapes including the classic ball shape, and a rectangular shape too. Generally, moisture absorbers aren’t electronic (unlike most dehumidifiers) so they are a lot cheaper. The most expensive moisture absorber you can come across will be maximum £15, whereas electronic dehumidifiers can sometimes range up to £300. Moisture absorbers with good reviews include the UniBond AERO 360 and ANSIO Moisture Absorber.

How to vent a bathroom without windows

Although it might seem strange to some, there are many households (often flats or apartments) that don’t have windows in their bathrooms, this can cause problems especially when we’re talking about condensation. Despite not being able to open a window to stop the condensation there are other measures you can take to reduce it.

Fix any leaks that might be in your bathroom, they’re very problematic when it comes to condensation and having a few in your bathroom definitely won’t help in reducing any condensation problems you’re having.
Turn up the heating in your bathroom before taking a shower or bath, by warming the air you will warm up the walls and any other cold surfaces meaning that no moisture in the air can collate on the cold surfaces as there aren’t any.
Apply a special paint to your bathroom walls, there are many different types of anti-condensation paints in which you can paint all the walls in your bathroom, it is water absorbing and the formula can also stop mould growth too. Brands such as RONSEAL and Rempro produce and sell these anti-condensation paints.
Taking cooler showers can also show an improvement of the condensation of water, although it might seem like the easiest answer, it is a very effective one! We’re not saying jump into a freezing cold shower every night but trying it a little bit cooler than you would normally help it would do your bathroom the world of good.

What are the long-term problems caused by condensation?

As mentioned earlier, there are many long-term issues you can have when the problem of condensation keeps arising. Whilst a little bit of condensation is completely normal, excess condensation can cause a huge list of problems which can end up costing a lot of money.

Mould is one of the most common issues related to condensation, and it’s not pretty. Nobody wants mould in their home, especially if you have children. Mould is a fungus which can occur due to a lot of condensation when the bathroom isn’t cleaned or dried properly, the mould may start to grow. It can be dangerous to inhale the fumes that mould gives off and it isn’t something you want in your house!
Damp is annoying wherever it appears in your house, but it common to occur in your bathroom due to condensation, and it’s not cheap to sort out, not only can it cause a lot of damage to paint or woodwork but it can spread to other parts of your house if you don’t catch it quickly. By taking a few easy and simple steps you could reduce the bills you have to pay out for water damage and damp.

How about demister mirrors?

If you’re more concerned about the little things, such as not being able to see yourself in the mirror after you get out of the shower. You should try taking a look at demisting mirrors. They’re designed to give a clear reflection despite the moisture and damp conditions inside your bathroom. Incorporated into the mirror is a demister pad which tackles any steam emissions and defogs the mirror, leaving a perfectly clear view.

There are many different brands and types of demisting mirrors, and they all range in price! Whilst prices start at £34, you want to make sure you get the perfect demisting mirror for your bathroom. The best selling demister mirror cabinets are the Quavikey and Minifair.

Hopefully, after informing yourself of the ways to prevent steam in your bathroom, you will find ways to reduce the amount of condensation in your bathroom, and you will be left with a beautifully condensation-free bathroom! All’s it takes is a few simple yet effective steps to have a more carefree shower or bath and no longer worry about condensation causing unnecessary problems!