How to Inhibit Mold Growth in a Bathroom with Poor Ventilation

The bathrooms of many older homes do not have much ventilation. A lack of ventilation in a bathroom can lead to a build-up of excess moisture. Excess moisture in a bathroom can lead to mold and can eventually cause damage to the bathroom or unhealthy conditions for the users. There are some things you can do as a homeowner to manage moisture in a poorly ventilated bathroom, without having to overhaul the bathroom completely. If you have moisture problems in your bathroom try these ideas to prevent mold, damage, and unhealthy conditions in your home.

Use the Fan. If your bathroom has a bathroom fan installed, use it! Make sure that the fan is running during every bath or shower Also, keep the fan running for 10-15 minutes after you have finished taking a shower. The fan will work to remove warm moisture from the air quickly. If your bathroom does not have a fan installed, consider this home improvement. Installing a bathroom fan is much less invasive, and much less expensive than installing a window or making a major bathroom makeover. A bathroom fan makes all the difference when it comes to too much moisture in a poorly ventilated bathroom.

Leave the Door Open. If modesty isn't an issue, try leaving the bathroom door open during your bath or shower. Opening the door to the bathroom creates automatic ventilation. Even the most poorly ventilated bathrooms will have plenty of air flow if the door is left open during a shower or bath. To prevent moisture problems in a poorly ventilated bathroom simply leave the door open for the best ventilation possible.

Leave the Shower Doors Cracked. If you have shower doors rather than a shower curtain, don't close them after you have finished your shower. Instead, leave the doors standing open about 4 inches on each end. Later in the day when the shower has mostly or fully dried, go ahead and shut the doors completely to make sure the overlapping areas dry completely as well. Leaving the shower doors open after a hot shower will allow the steam and moisture to more easily escape, inhibiting mold growth and moisture problems in your poorly ventilated bathroom.

Stick to Baths. If you have more than one bathroom in your house, try using the bathroom with poor ventilation for baths only. While baths still produce hot steam, they do not cover the walls and shower curtain or door with moisture. The heat also evaporates slowly throughout the bath rather than being a constant stream of hot water like a shower. If this is an option for you, consider using your poorly ventilated bathroom for baths instead of showers to keep too much moisture from becoming a greater problem.

If you have lived with a poorly ventilated bathroom you know how much of a problem they can be. Mold growth, mildew, nasty smells, and overall unhealthy conditions can results from a bathroom that harbors too much moisture. If your bathroom has poor ventilation try these tips to keep your bathroom mold and moisture free.