Looking for some ideas on how to ventilate a bathroom without windows? In this post, I’ve gathered several helpful bathroom ventilation options, so you can easily get rid of unwanted humidity and odors at home.
Excess moisture and poor air circulation is a serious problem for bathrooms. Here are some ways poor bathroom ventilation could impact you:
- Mold and mildew thrive in humid environments. Not only do they create unpleasant musty smells, but prolong exposure can also cause headaches, congestion, and other problematic symptoms.
- Excess moisture can lead to wall and grout damage inside your bathroom. Overtime, humidity can also cause metal items to damage and rust. At best, shower steam causes foggy mirrors which can be annoying to use.
- Without a window, embarrassing and unpleasant odors linger inside your bathroom. This can cause discomfort for you, your roommates, and guests.
Proper ventilation can help prevent odors, structural problems, and health issues. I highly recommend selecting and trying out a ventilating solution that works best for you.
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How To Ventilate A Bathroom Without Windows
Below, I’ve listed several creative ideas on how to ventilate a bathroom without windows. Under several solutions, I’ve also included a helpful product I felt had the most value for the cost.
Here’s how to ventilate a bathroom!
1. Install An Exhaust Fan
An exhaust fan is a MUST have in any windowless bathroom. Exhaust fans work by sucking out old air from inside the bathroom and bringing in fresh air from outside. By doing so, it effectively ventilates your bathroom, removing excess moisture and stinky odors.
For this reason, most building codes make exhaust fans mandatory for any bathroom without windows. If you don’t already have an exhaust fan installed in your bathroom, I highly recommend installing one. Exhaust fans are by far one of the best ventilation options for windowless bathrooms.
At the expensive end, exhaust fans cost hundreds of dollars. Fortunately, you can still find decent products at a fraction of the cost. If you are looking for a quality exhaust fan that’s under $20, check out this ceiling and wall ventilation fan by Broan-NuTone.
2. Leave The Door Open When The Bathroom Isn’t In Use
Not sure how to ventilate a bathroom without windows? Just leave the door open when you’re not using it. I always leave the door open when my bathroom isn’t in use.
This tip helps the excess moisture exit my bathroom after a shower (my bathroom also has an exhaust fan, but I turn it off shortly after I finish). For any windowless bathroom, I recommend trying out this tip. Using an exhaust fan alongside this hack, I haven’t had any issues with mold, or wall and grout damage.
If you don’t have an exhaust fan, leaving the door open alone will not help get rid of odors (they’ll just enter the rest of your home). This hack also might not be enough to get rid of humidity inside your bathroom. For best results, try pairing this tip with another bathroom ventilate hack from this list.
3. Get Rid Of Excess Moisture With A Dehumidifier
Can’t get rid of the excess moisture inside your bathroom? If you don’t have the option to ventilate your bathroom with a window or exhaust fan, one idea to reduce the humidity is to use a dehumidifier.
A dehumidifier is a great option to help reduce moisture inside a damp bathroom. Note that it won’t actually ventilate (remove old air with fresh outside air) a bathroom or remove odors. However, this is a great solution for home owners who struggle with humidity.
For a bathroom, I recommend selecting a small, portable dehumidifier like this one by SEAVON. This dehumidifier is small enough to be placed inside a small bathroom, is quiet, and automatically shut-offs when the tank is full. A bathroom dehumidifier a great way to prevent mold and mildew growth, as well as, structural damage.
4. Use A Moisture Absorber Cup
Besides using a dehumidifier to reduce humidity, another option is to use a moisture absorber. Moisture absorbers trap excess moisture from the air, as well as, odors like musty smells.
Much like dehumidifiers, moisture absorbers won’t actually provide any bathroom ventilation. However, if you are looking for a combination solution to get rid of both excess moisture and odors from your bathroom, try using moisture absorber cups! For a better smelling bathroom, I recommend trying out these moisture absorber cups from DampRid!
5. Use A Portable Fan To Quickly Release Steam From The Bathroom + Dry Wet Areas
Looking for creative ideas on how to ventilate a bathroom without windows? One method to quickly release steam out of a bathroom is to use a portable fan. A portable fan helps improve air flow inside your bathroom, allowing humidity to escape easier.
I recommend using a small, portable fan like this one by AceMining. It has 3 speeds, a rechargeable battery, and can rotate 180 degrees. For the price, it’s an excellent quality portable fan to use inside a small bathroom.
When placing the fan, aim it either at an open door or wet area you want to dry. The improved air circulation should help speed up the drying process inside your bathroom.
6. Open Up Other Windows Nearby
Above, I gave several ideas on how to ventilate a bathroom without windows. If you plan to ventilate your bathroom by simply opening the door, I recommend opening up other windows nearby.
When escaping the bathroom, excess moisture (and unpleasant odors) will enter other parts of your home. To get rid of this, open up other windows nearby. This will allow fresh air to enter your home, and reduce humidity and odors from spreading inside.
7. After Showering, Wipe Down Wet Surfaces
If your bathroom has poor ventilation, excess moisture can not only cause discomfort and mold growth, but also structural problems. Prolong exposure to moisture can cause wall and grout damage which can be expensive to fix.
One budget option to reduce moisture is to simply wipe down wet surfaces after showering. Use a towel to wipe off wet floors, walls, mirrors, showers, etc.. Drying up the inside of your bathroom will protect it from future structural problems caused by the dampness.
Although tedious, drying wet walls and surfaces will significantly reduce moisture inside your bathroom. It’s a low cost option that will successfully prevent future mold growth and damage.
8. Let Wet Towels Dry Outside + Swap Towels Often
If you have a bathroom without windows, it’s important to reduce excess moisture as much as possible. Inside a bathroom, wet towels will add extra moisture into the air when they dry. To prevent this, allow your towels to air dry outside the bathroom.
If it’s more convenient for you to leave your towels inside, remember to swap towels frequently so musty smells don’t start forming. Over time, damp towels can become breeding ground for mold and mildew. Swap towels to clean, dry ones at least once a week.
Need more towels to use at home? If so, I recommend checking out this 4 piece Turkish bath towel set from Maura. These towels are SERIOUSLY fluffy and soft!
9. An Air Purifier Can Help Get Rid Of Bad Odors And Existing Mold Particles
When a bathroom isn’t properly ventilated, odors can become a huge problem. Due to excess moisture, musty smells can develop from mold and mildew growth. Without fresh air circulation, odors will linger inside, making it an unpleasant experience every time you use the bathroom.
One way to get rid of bad odors (and floating mold particles) is to use an air purifier. Air purifiers filter out dirty air, releasing “fresh” air back inside and improving air quality. An air purifier is a clever way to “ventilate” a bathroom without a window. Although it won’t reduce moisture, it’ll definitely help your bathroom smell less unpleasant.
I recommend getting a small portable purifier like this one from LEVOIT. This is an excellent purifier to use inside a small bathroom. One feature that makes it stand out is the aroma pad. To use, simply add a few drops of your favorite essential oil and it’ll make your bathroom smell like your favorite scents.
10. Can’t Stand Poopy Smells? Use A Before-You-Go Toilet Spray
Proper bathroom ventilation is a MUST have in any home. Not only will it reduce moisture inside your bathroom, but it’ll help get rid of lingering odors from pooping.
If you are unable to ventilate a bathroom without windows, don’t worry! You can prevent embarrassing odors by using a before-you-go toilet spray before doing the #2. This is a clever solution for unventilated bathrooms without a window or exhaust fan. It’ll also make you, your guests, and roommates feel much more comfortable using the restroom.
Looking for other ways to make your home smell better? Check out this post on the best kept secrets of homes that ALWAYS smell amazing.
Summarized: How To Ventilate A Bathroom Without Windows
In this post, I gathered the best options to ventilate a windowless bathroom. Here are all the bathroom ventilation ideas summarized:
Best Method To Ventilate A Bathroom Without Windows:
- Install an exhaust fan inside your bathroom. Like a window, an exhaust fan with bring fresh air into your bathroom, releasing excess moisture and odors.
Other Bathroom Ventilation Methods:
- If your bathroom struggles with excess moisture, one way to reduce the humidity is to use a dehumidifier.
- Besides a dehumidifier, another way to get rid of moisture is to use moisture absorber cups. Unlike dehumidifiers, these cups will also help eliminate unpleasant odors.
- Placing a portable fan inside your bathroom will improve air circulation, helping your bathroom dry faster.
Tips On How To Ventilate A Bathroom Without Spending A Penny:
- When the bathroom isn’t in use, leave the door open at all times. An open door allows humidity to escape your bathroom, reducing the chance of mold growth.
- If you plan to ventilate your bathroom with an opened door, make sure to open windows nearby. This allows excess moisture and odors to escape your home and not circulate inside.
- To prevent mold growth and structural damage caused by dampness, dry surfaces with a towel after showering. This will help significant reduce moisture inside your bathroom without ventilation.
- To prevent adding extra moisture inside your bathroom, air dry wet towels outside the bathroom. If you prefer to dry inside, remember to swap towels to clean, dry ones at least once a week to prevent musty smells from mold and mildew growth.
Tips To Reduce Bad Odors:
- A moisture absorber cup will help get rid of musty smells and odors inside a bathroom. It is also excellent at absorbing excess moisture, preventing the growth of odor-producing mold and mildew.
- To help get rid of bad odors and musty smells, try using an air purifier. An air purifier will filter out odors, as well as, floating mold particles, making your windowless bathroom smell fresher.
- Can’t ventilate poopy smells from your bathroom? If you don’t have proper ventilation, unpleasant odors will linger inside. To get rid of unpleasant smells after doing the #2, spray some poo-pourri before taking a dump.
Conclusion
Proper bathroom ventilation is important to prevent mold growth, wall and grout damage, and unpleasant odors. This post lists several options on how to ventilate a bathroom without windows. I hope this post was informative and gave you some helpful ideas for your own bathroom.
If you don’t already own one, I highly suggest installing an exhaust fan. An exhaust fan will help significantly reduce excess moisture and odor in your bathroom by bringing in fresh air. It is a highly effective solution for bathroom ventilation, making it well worth the price.
Good luck!