How To Prevent & Reduce Bathroom Condensation

Condensation is the process in which water vapour turns to liquid. This is typically caused by warm, humid air coming into contact with a cold surface, creating small droplets of water on the surface. In the bathroom, the air holds a lot of moisture when someone uses the shower or bath, while the room also contains a lot of cold surfaces such as tiles and mirrors. Taken with the fact that warm air holds more moisture than cold, this combination means that condensation is always going to be an issue in the bathroom.

Keeping your bathroom warm will also help reduce condensation as the surfaces won’t be as cold and so less likely to attract water vapour. Heated towel rails are a great way to heat a bathroom (as long as they’re not covered in damp towels), while underfloor heating will also help to increase the temperature. Of course, like any other room in the house, having double glazing will also help to keep your bathroom warm.

If your bathroom is particularly prone to condensation, there are a few other things you can do to reduce the moisture in the atmosphere.

An extractor fan pulls the humid air out of the bathroom and expels it outside. If your bathroom has a window that can’t open or doesn’t have a window at all then this is a good alternative. A good tip is to leave the fan running with the bathroom door closed at least 15 minutes after your shower or bath to make sure most of the moisture has been extracted.

To prevent mould from being formed because of condensation, use an old towel to wipe down the surfaces of your bathroom after you’ve had a shower or bath. The surfaces don’t have to be bone dry; just not have puddles of water that are the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. A great way to remove water from a glass shower screen and from tiles is to use a squeegee, a long rubber blade with a handle that you drag down the surface to get rid of all the water droplets. There are a huge range of squeegees available that you can hang in the bathroom and use after every shower.

As an alternative to tiles, there are bathroom wall panels on the market that are designed to reduce bacteria that builds up on the walls. Our wall panels feature BioCote^® technology that reduces bacteria by up to 99.9%, and perfectly complement our range of shower enclosures and shower trays.

If you find condensation of your bathroom ceiling and walls after your shower, there are paints on the market that will absorb moisture to prevent condensation. Some also contain anti-mould agents to help prevent the formation of mould.

If you have a big problem with condensation and nothing seems to be helping, you may need to invest in a good dehumidifier. This is an appliance that will extract the moisture from the air and collect it as water. Using it during or after your shower or bath will greatly reduce the amount of condensation in the room.

A simpler and cheaper approach would be to just turn the temperature of your shower of bath down. By lowering the temperature of the water, your bathroom won’t get as hot and its air won’t hold as much moisture, thereby reducing condensation. If you remain a big fan of hot showers, try stepping out a few minutes earlier and reduce the humidity that way.

With a few simple changes, you can get your bathroom condensation under control. For more tips for looking after your bathroom, visit our blog, or read our guide to removing limescale.