The humidity’s through the roof right now, and it’s not just outside. The humidity in our homes is so intense that sticky is the new norm, and exhaustion is all we feel. But while you’re lying on top of your bed, sweating away, it’s worth knowing that the humidity is only getting worse in this room. Humidity that can lead to dampness, condensation and mould growth.
But why is it predominantly in this room and what can you do about it? Before it takes hold, there are a couple of steps you can take mitigate this moisture. In fact, we’ve found 6 things you need to do in a humid bedroom now to limit the dampness. Here’s where you should start.
Don’t open the windows
While you might think opening your windows is the obvious answer to dampness, don’t do it just yet! First, you need to compare the humidity of your bedroom with what’s outside. A humidity reader is what’s needed for this, or if you have a dehumidifier or even an air purifier, that could also tell you. Then, check the Met Office for your local area’s humidity to see which reading is higher. If it’s higher outside, you’d only be letting that moisture into your home! On the other hand, if it's dryer outside, throw those windows open!
Generally speaking, early afternoon is when humidity will be at its lowest, although you could still open them in short 5 minute bursts during the day to refresh the air without letting in excess moisture, aka house burping.
Move furniture around
If moisture does settle on your walls, it needs to be able to breathe to dry properly – otherwise it’s a recipe for mould. An underrated way to help with this is just to move your furniture a few centimetres away from the wall (5cm would do it), especially the bed where you release lots of vapour at night!
Make sure air can circulate effectively around all large pieces of furniture and limit the amount of clutter in the bedroom too so any dampness isn't trapped.
Keep the bathroom door shut
If you’ve got an ensuite, it’s better to leave the bathroom door shut when you’re fresh out of the shower. Otherwise, all of the steam just leaks into your home. It’s far better to keep the door shut and turn on the extractor fan or just open a window instead.
While we encouraged you to shut the windows earlier, it’s unlikely to be damper outside versus your bathroom after a shower, so this is an exception!
But you can open windows first thing
We’re going back on our first point here, but for good reason. Between our breathing and sweating, we release a lot of vapour while we sleep at night, vapour which gets locked in the room if you sleep with the door shut. And if you get up and make your bed, what’s worse, you’re just trapping a lot of that moisture, encouraging mould growth and musty sheets, not to mention a breeding ground for dust mites.
That’s why you should pull back the sheets and fluff the pillows first thing, to release as much of the moisture as possible. Opening the windows (or running a dehumidifier if it’s especially humid outside) is also essential for at least 30 minutes. This will help clear any condensation that’s built up overnight too.
Watch wet clothes
If you’ve just come in from a downpour, watch where you place your wet clothes. Wet coats on the backs of chairs, drenched handbags on floors and even damp socks bunged in the hamper will all add to the humidity level as they dry. They’re releasing humidity just as your laundry will on a clothes airer. But because they’re often bunched up and unwashed, the smell once they’re dry is much less appealing!
Instead, place your wet goods somewhere where there’s maximum ventilation – even the clothes airer would be better than the bedroom chair. This helps the items dry faster and limits the amount of bacteria that grows, so they don’t smell as musty.
Check out 6 creative ways to dry laundry indoors when the rain hits, without making your home damp and smelly.
Invest in a dehumidifier
If you struggle with humidity and condensation, a dehumidifier is a game-changer. These work by sucking in the air and removing the moisture by way of a compressor or a desiccant system. The dry air is then released back into the room. The tank just needs to be emptied routinely – and you’d be surprised at how much they absorb in an hour or two. Just stationing one outside your bathroom or next to your clothes airer makes a huge difference to moisture levels.
If you don’t have the space for a full-size dehumidifier, or your humidity is focused in a tight, awkward space, a disposable dehumidifier might be more what you need. These are great for limiting condensation on windows and cost as little as a few pounds per pack.
