How to prevent mould in windowless bathrooms

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homify Baños de estilo rústico Madera Acabado en madera
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Bathrooms present a lot of design challenges, we need to fit a lot into a small area, they require plumbing and safe wiring, and most importantly you need to deal with the high amounts of moisture. Moisture is inescapable in the bathroom but it can have all kinds of negative effects, such as causing timber to rot and swell, paint to peel, and most crucially mould to grow.

While many people seem to take mould for granted, especially in the bathroom where it can feel like you're fighting a losing battle, the effects are not to be understated. Mould can lead to all kinds of respiratory illnesses, some of which can have permanent impacts on your health, so for the safety of you and your family it's crucial to address it immediately. Of course the easiest way to deal with moisture is simply to open a window, but what if your bathroom doesn't have a window? In that case you're going to want to read today's article, because we're going to show you exactly how to prevent mould from taking hold.

1. Ensure your bathroom is well lit

Mould requires two conditions to grow, moisture and darkness, so it's imperative that your bathroom is well lit. Ensure that there isn't a dark corner in the room by employing plenty of lights, and limit covered spaces, such as underneath the bath or cabinets, as much as possible.

2. Install a fan

If you have a windowless bathroom that doesn't yet have an extractor fan of some kind, then go out and remedy that right now! Bathrooms fill with humidity after showers or baths, and especially if it's where you keep your washing machine, and a fan is frankly the only way to deal with it. There are plenty of options available, they can be either wall or ceiling mounted, and these days many of them are also silent.

3. Regularly clean your bathroom

homify Baños de estilo rústico Madera Acabado en madera

No matter how dark or moist your bathroom is, if you give it a thorough and regular clean you should be able to prevent mould from getting a foothold. So pull out the cleaning products and give your bathroom a good scrub, focusing particularly on corners, and mould won't stand a chance!

4. Use high gloss surfaces that won't absorb moisture

Certain materials are more likely to absorb moisture, which can quickly turn to mould, so you want to avoid using them in the bathroom as much as possible. High gloss surfaces like they've used here are completely moisture resistant, and it's also more difficult for mould to attach itself, making them ideal choices for the bathroom. If you do want to use timber elements like they have here, you'll need to ensure it is properly treated.

5. Glass enclosures for the shower

Most of the moisture in the bathroom comes from the shower, and shower curtains are not only unreliable, they also hold onto the moisture. Instead opt for a glass enclosure that will keep the moisture in one place, this way most of it will go down the drain, even as the steam cools and turns to water.

6. Keep a mop handy

If you have an open shower or a bath you may find the floor gets wet after every use, so it's a good idea to keep a mop handy and give the floor a quick dry off when you're done.

7. Fill your bathroom with plants

Plants act as natural air purifiers, and so they are your best friend when it comes to fighting foul odours and mould. Because of the high humidity and temperatures in the bathroom you ideally want to use tropical plants, basically anything native to Malaysia should do the trick! This bathroom gets extra points for the ventilation in the wall, another great way to get rid of extra moisture!

8. Install a skylight

While you may not be able to get a traditional window in your bathroom, if you have a house or a top floor apartment it's possibly worth checking if you can't get a skylight installed to solve all of your problems!

The main thing is to keep your bathroom bright, dry, and well ventilated, so anything you can do to achieve that will help you in your fight against mould! For more great bathroom ideas check out this article.

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