Bathroom odors are quite common, whether from cleaning products, aerosols, bacteria and mold, human-caused odors, or other pollutants.
Unfortunately, they can make the bathroom uncomfortable to use, not to mention embarrassing when you have visitors. On top of that, poor air quality can be a health hazard for you and your family.
So, if you are wondering whether you can use an air purifier in your bathroom, the answer is yes.
Like any other room in your home, air purifiers can help eliminate the bad odor and other pollutants that make your bathroom smelly and stuffy.
Unlike air fresheners, they don’t just cover odors, they eliminate them.
Below, we will take a detailed look at the benefits of having an air purifier in the bathroom.
We will also look at some of the best air purifiers for bathroom spaces and tips such as proper placement.
Contents
Why should you have an air purifier in the bathroom?
There are several benefits to using an air purifier in the bathroom. Below is a look at some of them:
1. It helps prevent mold growth
Bathrooms are a breeding ground for mold due to moisture and the warm temperature. Uncontrolled mold growth can result in serious health problems for you and your family.
An air purifier can help prevent mold growth by removing excess moisture from the air.
Air purifiers can also help remove mold spores from the air if you have a mold problem. They’ll also get rid of mold and mildew smell from your bathroom.
But unfortunately, they cannot get rid of the actual mold, so you have to remove it from the source to eradicate the issue.
2. It removes bad odors
More often than not, people use air fresheners to mask the bad odors in the bathroom. But, unfortunately, they are not always effective.
They can even worsen the situation – once the air freshener mixes with other smells, such as cleaning products, mold, body odors, bacteria, etc.
An air purifier is, therefore, the best solution as it eradicates the odor and odor-causing airborne particles.
3. Improves ventilation
Bathrooms are built with privacy in mind, meaning most lack proper ventilation. Furthermore, most people don’t bother installing air vents or fans due to the limited amount spent in the room.
Unfortunately, this creates a bad environment, leading to your bathroom becoming stuffy, smelly, and overtaken by mold.
In such a case, an air purifier can come in handy, helping clean the air and improve ventilation.
4. Kills bacteria and germs
Bacteria thrive in the moist, warm, and dark conditions found in most bathrooms. It can be especially worse if you have a toilet in there.
Fortunately, air purifiers (with HEPA filters or UV light) are excellent at trapping and removing bacteria and germs from the air.
Which is the best bathroom air purifier?
There are many air purifiers on the market, but not all are suited for use in bathrooms.
When purchasing one, you must take special consideration for those that can eliminate moisture, bacteria, and mold. You might also have to consider the size of your bathroom.
Below is our top pick of the best air purifiers for your bathroom:
1. Bissell 2609A Smart Purifier with HEPA and Carbon Filters
Bissell 2609A Smart Purifier is a multifunctional air purifier that can be used in any room.
What makes it ideal for bathroom use is its three-stage filtration system, which features a large, activated carbon filter and medical grade H13 HEPA filter.
The HEPA filter helps trap up to 99.97% of bacteria, germs, and other microscopic pollutants in the bathroom.
On the other hand, the activated carbon eliminates odors and volatile organic compounds from cleaning products and air fresheners.
It can also come in handy by absorbing excess moisture in the air, thus preventing the growth of mold and bacteria.
As a bonus, the Bissell Smart Air Purifier comes with a large fan with up to five fan speeds. It increases airflow and improves ventilation in your bathroom.
2. GermGuardian GG1100W Elite Air Purifier
GermGuardian GG1100W is a plug-in air purifier for bathroom, kitchen, laundry spaces, and other rooms affected by germs, odors, and poor air quality.
It is equipped with UV-C light technology, which neutralizes a wide range of airborne pollutants, keeping your bathroom smelling clean and fresh.
The UV-C light technology also effectively kills mold, germs, and other organic pollutants, making GermGuardian GG1100W one of the best air purifiers for bathroom mold control.
It is also very effective at removing odors and VOCs in the air.
Where to place an air purifier in a bathroom
Proper placement of an air purifier is vital to get the most out of it and keep your bathroom air clean.
One of the first placement tips to consider is to elevate the device. This is because air moves from the bottom (where it is cold) to the top.
Aside from elevation, the air purifier should be where pollutants are mostly concentrated. A good example is close to the toilet (if you have one in your bathroom).
However, one special consideration to make in the bathroom is moisture. Unlike dehumidifiers, air purifiers don’t love moisture.
The thing about moisture is that too much of it can overwhelm your air purifier. On top of that, filters (especially carbon ones) can absorb too much humidity, making them ineffective.
Therefore, you should avoid placing it too close to the showerhead. You can even use a dehumidifier in the bathroom to greatly reduce the moisture content and guarantee the best results.
Do air purifiers cause dampness?
Due to air purifiers’ issues with moisture, most people are concerned about using one in the bathroom.
However, these devices do not affect the moisture levels and cannot make your bathroom damper than it already is.
On the contrary, air purifiers with an activated carbon filter can remove moisture from the air, reducing dampness.
Should you use an air purifier in your bathroom?
Using an air purifier in your bathroom is not only okay but essential, especially if it gets wet and is not well ventilated.
An air purifier can eliminate odor, bacteria and germs, mold spores, and other pollutants that make your bathroom smelly, stuffy, and unhealthy to use.
However, you must get the right air purifier to start with. Those with HEPA, activated carbon filters, or UV light tech are great options.
Secondly, you must place it in the right location – elevated, close to the odor and pollutant sources, and away from too much moisture.