The bathroom fan. It helps to prevent your bathroom from becoming a humid swamp each time you shower, it helps to get rid of some of those more unpleasant odors one finds in a bathroom, and turning one on can even help reduce some embarrassing bathroom sounds from being heard.
Unfortunately, not all homes are equipped with a bathroom exhaust fan. If you find yourself the owner of or a tenant of an older home, you may be in for surprise when you look for that fan switch in the bathroom. So, if you are living without a bathroom fan, what can you do?
The obvious answer, of course, is to simply have one installed. However, that is not always an option for every homeowner or renter. If purchasing an exhaust fan for your bathroom is not an option in the near future, there are still steps you can take to reduce moisture and odors.
6 Steps for Reducing Moisture Without a Bathroom Fan
1. Open the door/windows
One of the easiest things you can do is open the door and the window in the bathroom to help circulate air and move some of that moisture outside.
2. Use a regular fan
Plug in a regular fan and position it to help blow the moisture outside or to disperse into other areas of the home.
3. Purchase a portable dehumidifier
Small, portable dehumidifiers can be placed in the bathroom and used during and after your shower to reduce humidity. These can be used in conjunction with a whole home dehumidifier. As with all electric devices, for safety reasons, make sure that the dehumidifier is not located near your shower or other water source.
4. Change out your towels
Certain fabrics tend to hold more moisture than others. Microfiber towels tend to have a fast dry time, and Good Housekeeping lists their favorite quick drying towels in this article.
5. Wipe down the shower doors and walls
Every. single. time. Keep a squeegee in your shower, and make it a habit to always wipe down the doors and walls. Lather, rinse, repeat, squeegee.
6. Use a daily shower cleaner spray
When moisture is not properly ventilated, it is much easier for mold and mildew to grow. Use a daily shower cleaner spray to help prevent some of that inevitability. You can even make your own yourself!
What About Those Other Things the Fan Helps With?
When it comes to drowning out sounds and helping with odors, there are some alternative techniques for that as well. Patricia Rossi, an etiquette expert, suggested in an interview for Women’s Health Magazine that cold water can be run in the sink to help with sound. She also suggested flushing quickly and as many times as necessary in order to prevent odors.
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