How to Reduce Moisture in the Bathroom

Rodney is sharing 9 tips for reducing moisture in the bathroom.

As I sat in my recliner this past weekend, I heard my wife Julie telling my twin girls to shut the toilet lid when they went to flush the toilet. This raised my “what in the world is she talking about” radar and I had to go investigate. What possible difference would lowering the toilet seat make to flush the toilet? She explained that the water droplets that escape while flushing cause extra moisture to escape and collect on the surrounding surfaces. This in turn caused potential mold accumulation. Additionally, it is not especially good for bacteria to get blasted into the air each time we flush.

It made sense to me on the surface, but I had to confirm this information. That is what we men do, see…

Upon further investigation, my wife was correct. Moisture does escape in large amounts when we flush the toilet and that moisture is laden with bacteria. Turns out, this moisture source is only one of many that we should be concerned about in the bathroom. I also learned about several others such as:

• Moisture from the shower (particularly hot showers due to condensation)
• Moisture from baths
• Moisture when we run the sink
• Moisture when we get drips or leaks
• Standing water from showers or leaks
• Condensation on pipes that are not properly insulated

These are only a few of the examples I found. All of these things can contribute to mold in the bathroom and bathroom accidents. Here are some tips I discovered while proving my wife right about this silly little comment:

• Wipe up all standing water the minute you see it. Don’t wait on your husband or you will be waiting for a long while.
• Fix leaks and drips right away and never put them off till later. The water lost in a single leak is like paying an extra water bill every month.
• Shower with the door or window open. This will minimize the condensation.
• Keep a squeegee and take the time to use it after a bath or shower. The drier your tub is after the shower, the better off your bathroom will be.
• Wipe all horizontal surfaces after every shower, particularly where the tub and wall meet. This is where moisture accumulates most often and where mold will show up first.
• Wipe down your shower curtain after each shower.
• Check pipes and seals regularly for leaks.
• Wrap the pipes with insulation to keep them from dripping or getting condensation.
• After a shower or bath, always leave the door open.

Although my wife got to be right this time, I did get to learn enough to tell her a few things. I guess that is a small bonus for having to eat my words yet again. It is a good thing she is there to teach me a thing or two in the bathroom.

At least that is what she says…

Based in Greensboro, Rodney Southern has been writing and editing sports and nature articles for going on 10 years. His articles have appeared in “Nicean” magazine, “The Sporting News” website and countless other online venues. Southern was the 2008 Ultimate Call for Content National Award Winner. He attended Guilford Tech and was trained as an EMT in the Army. He now spends his life chasing his two twin daughters and loving his incredible wife while chasing the book in his head. You can read his humorous posts on family life and parenting at RodneySouthern.com.