What we’ll cover…
- What is bathroom condensation and how is it caused?
- What impact can condensation have on a bathroom?
- Effective possible ventilation solutions
- Quick hints and tips for a reduction in condensation
- Long-term strategies to achieve a drier bathroom space
- Energy-efficient bathroom options
- How to deal with mould and mildew
What can lead to bathroom condensation?
Bathroom condensation is so annoying, and it’s a common problem in most homes with a 40% increase in Google searches asking. “how to prevent mould in my home?”
We discovered that 73% of homeowners have mould build up in their bathrooms and it is condensation that is causing the problems.
Condensation forms when moisture is released into the air and mixes with water vapour.
Once this makes contact with cold surfaces, the droplets form on areas such as mirrors and windows.
After a shower or bath, water droplets form on the window, walls and mirror when the warm, damp air is cooled by these cold surfaces.
Warm air also holds more moisture, which results in heavier condensation.
But don’t worry, there are a variety of ways that you can deal with bathroom condensation to help keep the space drier and less prone to unsightly mould growth.
What is condensation?
Condensation is all to do with temperature, air and water vapour.
Take the bathroom for example, it’s a humid environment and moisture is released into the air by taking a shower or bath.
As the moisture mixes with the air as water vapour, it eventually makes contact with a cold surface and forms as droplets on surfaces such as mirrors and windows – this is known as condensation.
The hotter the water vapour, the more moisture the air can hold, which is why condensation becomes a bigger issue in the bathroom, as there’s lots of steam rising from the water.
What is the best way to stop bathroom condensation?
Condensation not only mists up mirrors and windows, it can lead to unsightly mould too. Although you’ll never completely stop condensation there are a few simple yet effective ways to reduce it in your bathroom.
To prevent condensation forming in the bathroom you should open a window and switch on the extractor fan. Keep the bathroom door closed so the moisture doesn’t escape into other areas of your home. If you forget to open the window or turn the extractor fan on, you’ll soon notice the large amount of condensation that’s formed. Ok, so you may not want to open the window on a freezing cold morning, but it won’t be chilly for long, as the hot water and steam will soon warm the bathroom up.
Cold wall surfaces such as ceramic tiles will also attract condensation, and the only solution to reduce this is to keep the bathroom warm. Underfloor heating can help with this issue.
You may also want to consider double glazed windows if you only have single glazed. Single glazing is colder and attracts more condensation.
Open a window
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.
If you have a bathroom without a window, it can prove very difficult to open one!
This great guide on what you can do to ventilate a bathroom without a window is worth a look if that’s how your home is set up.
Turn on the extractor fan
An extractor fan is another way to control condensation.
An extractor fan takes the moist air out of your bathroom and transports it outside. You should clean the extractor fan every so often to remove dust and dirt – this ensures it runs effectively.
Splash out on underfloor heating
Other cold surfaces like ceramic floor tiles will also attract condensation.
Investing in underfloor heating is a great long-term solution when it comes to tackling bathroom condensation and as a bonus, it is likely to add some value to your home as well.
Ensure windows are double glazed
In older properties, double glazed windows may not always be fitted.
Double glazing helps retain much more heat than single glazing which will warm up those colder surfaces that are likely to attract condensation.
Fitting double glazed windows is another long-term solution that will add value to a home too.
Wipe down surfaces afterwards
How a bathroom is left after a steamy shower or a relaxing bathtub soak is extremely important when it comes to eliminating mould.
Always remember to wipe down any surface that has acquired condensation before leaving the extractor on or windows open to air out the room. Use a dry towel to soak up as much moisture as possible.
I would recommended regularly checking walls, fixtures and fittings for mould throughout the colder months and acting fast if you notice any black spots to ensure that the problem doesn’t getting any worse.
How to stop the bathroom mirror from steaming up
Bathroom mirrors can quickly steam up and become covered in condensation. There are a couple of solutions to prevent this from happening. You can fit a new mirror with a heated demister pad – this will keep the surface of the mirror warm, so there’s no chance for any condensation to form. If you don’t want to upgrade your bathroom mirror you can lather it up with shaving cream and wipe clean with a towel – it will stay fog free for a while, it’s as simple as that!
You can also try using a 50-50 solution of vinegar and water. Pour a cup of water and a cup of vinegar into an old spray bottle, add a couple of drops of washing-up liquid and spray onto the mirror. Wipe with a towel and the glass should be free from steam for a few days. To ensure a streak-free finish, use newspaper to wipe it down.
Other ways to tackle bathroom condensation
Here’s a few other simple yet effective ways to reduce condensation in your bathroom:
- Wipe up water around the basin and on the floors
- Fix any leaks
- Air out damp bath mats and towels
- Take a slightly cooler shower
- Apply a specially formulated anti-condensation paint to bathroom walls and ceilings such as Rust-Oleum 5090 Anti-Condensation Coating – this is a water absorbing coating based on a water-based acrylic polymer. It also contains a fungicide to prevent mould growth.
- Turn up the thermostat a few degrees to warm the air in the bathroom. The warmer air will warm up cold surfaces and reduce condensation.
- You can also use an electric heated towel rail to keep your bathroom warmer – this helps to keep walls and windows above condensation temperature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is true that a warmer bathroom area, or any other space for that matter, will be less susceptible to condensation, given that the typically cold surfaces will increase in temperature. The fitting of the likes of heated towel rails and dry heat bathroom radiators can help in this regard.
For more helpful hints and advice on tackling bathroom condensation, explore our blog, How To Deal With Bathroom Condensation.
Bathroom mirrors can steam up quickly as a result of condensation, but some measures can be taken to combat the occurrence. A heated demister pad can be fitted to keep your mirror surface warm and prevent condensation from forming. Or, if you aren’t keen on investing in a new or improved bathroom mirror, you can choose to lace the reflective surface with shaving foam before wiping it clean using a towel, ensuring a fog-free frame for some time.
Another means for wiping down your mirror is to do so with a half-and-half water and vinegar solution. You should pour these contents into a spray bottle and add a couple of drops of washing up liquid then wipe down with a towel or cloth to make the mirror steam-free for a few days. A newspaper can be used as an alternative to guarantee a streak-free finish.
To discover more handy hints and tips on tackling bathroom condensation, take a look at our dedicated blog, How To Deal With Bathroom Condensation.
There are a few easy steps you can take to reduce bathroom condensation and prevent the growth of mould, although it isn’t possible to stop condensation entirely.
Simply opening a window, using an extractor fan and wiping down cold surfaces like mirrors and windows are amongst the fuss-free vices to combat condensation. Meanwhile, the installation of underfloor heating and double glazing are more involved methods of condensation prevention.
For a more detailed insight, browse our dedicated blog, How To Deal With Bathroom Condensation.
Yes, it is possible that bathroom condensation can lead to the formation of mould eventually if not dealt with properly. There are a number of measures that can be taken to tackle condensation in the bathroom, with opening a window and wiping down cold surfaces like windows and mirrors amongst the simplest of them.
For further information about bathroom condensation and how to prevent it from leading to mould forming, explore our dedicated blog, How To Deal With Bathroom Condensation.
Bathroom condensation concerns air, water vapour and temperature, all of which are typically released into the air as moisture when bathroom users are enjoying a bath or shower.
When this moisture combines with the air as water vapour, it ultimately touches a cold surface like mirrors or windows and forms droplets. Hotter water vapour enables the air to hold more moisture, and plenty of steam emerges from the water as a result.
To find out more about condensation in the bathroom and how to combat it, take a look at our blog, How To Deal With Bathroom Condensation.
Underfloor heating is helpful in preventing bathroom condensation, particularly in bathroom areas that feature cold wall surfaces such as ceramic tiles, which are a hotbed (or cold bed) for condensation.
There’s plenty of other possible measures to be taken to accentuate the combating of bathroom condensation meanwhile, such as the fitting of an extractor fan or bathroom condensation dehumidifier.
For a more detailed look, browse our dedicated blog – How To Deal With Bathroom Condensation.
Bathrooms with double glazing are typically much better at preventing bathroom condensation than those featuring single glazed windows.
There are plenty of other measures that can be undertaken to tackle bathroom condensation as well meanwhile, including the fitting of an extractor fan or bathroom condensation dehumidifier, in addition to underfloor heating.
For a more detailed insight, explore our dedicated blog – How To Deal With Bathroom Condensation.
There are a few ways to effectively tackle bathroom condensation, the most simple of which is to open a bathroom window and switch on the extractor fan with the bathroom door closed.
In tiled bathrooms especially, underfloor heating can prove an especially helpful vice – it will keep the bathroom warm and alleviate the effect that cold wall surfaces, such as ceramic tile bathroom walls, could otherwise have in attracting condensation.
What’s more, double glazed windows will generally combat condensation far more effectively than their single glazed counterparts.
And the installation of a bathroom condensation humidifier also offers an excellent means to prevent bathroom condensation, as you would expect from the moniker. Bathroom condensation dehumidifiers take moisture from the air and collect it as water, offering superb resistance against condensation in the process.
To find out more, take a look at our blog, How To Deal With Bathroom Condensation.
A bathroom condensation dehumidifier is used to remove excess moisture and improve the quality of air within a bathroom. Also, as their moniker suggests, they help to combat bathroom condensation.
Easy to install, bathroom condensation dehumidifiers operate very efficiently, and offer one of the best vices to consistently tackle condensation as well as extractor fans and underfloor heating.
For further information, take a look at our blog, How To Deal With Bathroom Condensation.
A bathroom condensation dehumidifier will take the moisture from the air and collect it as water.
Bathroom condensation dehumidifiers, when left running while the bathroom is in use, will help to ensure a massive reduction in condensation. As you might expect, given their moniker.
For a more detailed insight into bathroom condensation dehumidifiers, and other tips and advice on tackling condensation, take a look at our dedicated blog on the subject – How To Deal With Bathroom Condensation.
Rikki has a passion for interior design and an even bigger passion for writing about it. When she isn’t writing about gorgeous bathroom interiors, you’ll find her discovering all of the latest trends.
