How to Properly Ventilate a Bathroom Without a Window

How to Vent a Bathroom Without a Window

Showering and bathing in bathrooms without a window can lead to some pretty nasty situations. Not only do such bathrooms develop dank, musty smells, but they also cause several health issues.

So it’s super important to properly ventilate such areas to let out excess moisture from the air and keep things nice and dry.

Luckily, ventilating a bathroom without a window is not too hard and requires just a little effort (and money) to ensure it remains safe and moisture-free. This post has several tried and tested methods to do just that, so keep reading!

Understanding the Importance of Bathroom Ventilation

Whether you’re showering or using the toilet, it’s going to add a considerable amount of moisture into the air. And when this moisture has no way to go out, it starts to affect the stuff in your bathroom and eat it away.

This mainly happens due to mold, which loves thriving in humid areas.

Mold spores are always present in the air, and when they land in a particularly moist place like your bathroom, they start to multiply and grow everywhere. Cabinets, walls, tiles – you name it. And before you know, it starts to eat away anything that comes across its path.

Not only does mold look disgusting, but it also has adverse effects on health. According to the CDC, it can cause fungal infections, allergies, respiratory issues, and trigger asthma attacks. Moreover, an unventilated bathroom with high humidity leaves behind a damp, musty odor. Moisture build-up may even cause your plywood cabinets and closets to warp – yikes!

Read Also: How to Ventilate a Basement Guide

Best Ways to Improve Ventilation in a Bathroom Without a Window

Here are seven easy and effective ways to ventilate a windowless bathroom:

Use an Exhaust Fan

If your bathroom doesn’t already have an exhaust fan because your building code doesn’t deem it necessary, then getting one should be your priority. There’s nothing better than the mechanical action of an exhaust fan, which will suck the air out from a bathroom and vent outside all that dampness.

Turn it on every time you shower or use the tap, and let it run for 15 to 20 minutes after you’re done.

When buying an exhaust fan, make sure it’s big enough for your bathroom. For instance, if your bathroom measures 100 square feet, get a fan rated for 100 CFM. Anything less won’t prove useful.

Wipe Any Spills and Drips

Precaution is always better than cure. So before your bathroom starts to rot in the dampness, you should take action and manually get rid of any moisture. You can do this by hand-wiping any spills and drips around your bathroom when you’re done using it.

This involves any water accumulated on the floor, steam dripping down the walls, mirror fog, etc. It might be a time-consuming and tedious task but will guarantee a dry and mold-free bathroom.

Use an absorbent towel, a sponge, or a microfiber cloth to wipe the tiles, cabinets, walls, and mirrors. You can also make use of a mop to wipe the floor.

Open All the Doors

One cost-free way of ventilating a bathroom without windows is to leave the door open after showering. And if it’s possible, try to leave it open while showering too. This will let out any steam and prevent it from getting trapped inside while bringing in some fresh air.

Oh, and don’t forget to leave the shower door open as well, or opening the bathroom door won’t make a difference. However, if you’ve got a shower curtain, don’t push it all the way back as this will create folds and trap water droplets within them. Just open ¼ of it to let out moisture.

Place Portable Fans

As an additional step, you can place a portable fan inside your bathroom to quickly dry wet surfaces. All you’ll have to do is set it strategically so it points at the wettest surfaces.

Try buying a fan that oscillates and can be rotated at various angles to point in different directions. Also, make sure it’s lightweight and small in size, so you can easily place it inside a tight space like a bathroom.

Read Also: A Box Fan Power Consumption

Use a Dehumidifier

A fool-proof way to remove moisture from any room is to use a dehumidifier. These nifty little devices can suck out the moisture from the air and collect it in their reservoirs through condensation. And thanks to advancements in technology, you can purchase them for pretty low prices.

Just make sure you don’t place the device on a wet floor. For this to be possible, you’ll have to purchase a small and compact unit that can be placed on a shelf. If not, look for a dehumidifier with casters or plastic feet.

Read Review: 7 Best Dehumidifiers to Manage Humidity in Your Small Basement

Don’t Dry Towels Inside

One mistake most people make is hanging wet towels inside their bathroom. Doing so creates excess moisture in the air as the towel dries and often leaves a musty and nasty smell behind.

So always remember to hang wet and even damp towels outside the bathroom.

Use a Moisture Absorber

If none of those options are viable for you, try purchasing a moisture absorber like Damprid (check availability & price on Amazon). These little bags are made out of calcium chloride crystals that absorb excess moisture from the air.

Just hang them in your bathroom, and every time there’s excess moisture in the air, it’ll absorb it fully and effectively. It also absorbs odors and leaves the space smelling clean and fresh.

One pack of Damprid will last 45 to 60 days, depending on how often your bathroom has excessive moisture. But since they’re so cheap (under five bucks for a container) and readily available, it’s an affordable and effective way to reduce moisture and odors inside bathrooms.

Conclusion

It’s likely that simply using one method won’t prove too effective, especially if you take a hot shower every day.

If that’s the case, you’ll have to mix and match and try multiple methods together. For instance, try using an exhaust fan while making sure not to leave spills unattended or keep wet towels in the bathroom.

Even if you don’t take long baths and showers very often, always ventilate your bathroom one way or the other for a pleasant and safe breathing space.

Related article: Which Rooms Have The Worst Indoor Air Quality In Your Home