Can You Put an Air Purifier in a Bathroom?

Are you worried about the quality of the air in your bathroom? Even with a ventilation system installed, bathrooms have needs that make it harder to keep the air quality as good as you want it.

Air purifiers are a great way to reduce airborne particles and increase the air quality within your home. While technically you can put an air purifier in any room, certain rooms have their own specific needs.

You also must ensure that you chose the right type of air purifier for your bathroom, considering different elements of the room itself.

So with that out of the way, we need to go over some of the important things that you need to think about when getting an air purifier for your bathroom.

Why You Should Have an Air Purifier in Your Bathroom

There are quite a few reasons that your bathroom is a good candidate for an air purifier. To begin with, bathrooms are a hot spot for mold spores due to a large amount of steam and moisture created by your shower. This can cause bathrooms to be home to unpleasant odors.

Bathrooms are a hot spot for mold spores due to a large amount of steam and moisture created by your shower.

The sad reality is that a lot of homes do not take proper care of their bathrooms. When airflow is removed from the room, and moisture is created due to the hot water present, it creates an ideal location for mold and pollutants to fester.

When you have a mold problem in your bathroom, it can unfortunately contribute to other issues. Not only does it stain materials and fabrics, giving your bathroom a dingy and unwelcoming look, but it can also contribute to allergies. Read my article about preventing mold in the bathroom if you want to learn more.

There may also be chemicals floating around in your bathroom from cleaning products used on your shower, toilet, or sink. These cleaning supplies can potentially cause irritation around the eyes and throat, and in some cases cause more serious medical issues.

Having human-caused odors present in your bathroom can be embarrassing if you’re the one causing them. This is especially true if you’re having guests over. Having an air-purifying to help combat odors can give you peace of mind when using the bathroom.

Another natural way to improve your bathroom air quality is to place a couple of plants in there.

But What About Air Fresheners?

When bathrooms aren’t taken care of properly, they can produce a bad-smelling scent that is unpleasant for you and any guests. People often try to mask bathroom odors with fresheners and scented sprays, but the reality is this won’t do enough to actually deal with the problem.

People often try to mask bathroom odors with fresheners and scented sprays

While sprays and fresheners are okay to be used, they won’t make your bathroom smell good on their own. Not to mention, they don’t actually fix the problem. Rather, they just mask it with an artificial scent.

Don’t let this give you a false sense of security, because if you are dealing with a dirty moldy bathroom, they are not going to contribute to fixing the underlying problem.

The carbon filters within air purifiers, which we stress the importance of when placing one in your bathroom, will work hard to eliminate the odors that are present rather than just masking them.

Adverse Health Effects

On a more serious note, poor indoor air quality can cause immediate and long-term health implications to those exposed to it.

There are minor effects that can show up in the short term after exposure, such as things like headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and irritation around the eyes, nose, and throat. You can be more exposed to the immediate effects of poor indoor air quality if you are someone with a preexisting condition.

Some of the immediate effects that can come from indoor air quality closely mimic those of a cold. You should pay attention to when and where symptoms make themselves apparent to help determine what the cause is.

Another sad reality is that more sinister health effects can show up a long time after exposure to poor indoor air quality. These effects can include things like respiratory diseases, heart disease, and cancer. The EPA suggests that you should make an effort to improve indoor air quality even if you do not have any symptoms present currently.

Factors That Come Into Play

There are multiple factors that you need to consider before you go out and invest in an air purifier for your bathroom. Assessing these different factors will help you make the right purchase decision, and get an air purifier that will be up to the work your bathroom gives it.

Size of Your Bathroom

If your bathroom is on the larger side, then it is going to require more out of the air purifier’s cleaning abilities. Something that you should familiarize yourself with is a clean air delivery rate, otherwise known as CADR.

Something that you should familiarize yourself with is a clean air delivery rate, otherwise known as CADR.

While the measurement isn’t perfect, it is the only way to gauge how strong the air purifier is going to be. A purifier with a lower clean air delivery rate is going to struggle to purify the air in a large room, whereas one with a higher clean air delivery rate should do just fine. So if you have a big bathroom, lean towards getting a higher CADR rated air purifier.

Room Usage

The level of room usage will also have a big impact on the effectiveness of the air purifier. It is a given that your bathroom is going to be used every day, at least a couple of times.

You should be considerate about how many people live in your home, and how many of them regularly use the bathroom that you are putting the air purifier in. The more the bathroom is used, the more it is going to demand out of the air purifier, so keep that in mind.

Ventilation

One of the most important factors you need to think about is how good the ventilation is in your bathroom. Ventilation is crucial to lowering the amount of moisture in the room, and can also help with odors as well.

So while air purifiers can help with the mold that is caused by moisture, they aren’t actually able to take moisture out of the room. That’s why a proper ventilation system is equally important as an air purifier. If you don’t already have one set up in your bathroom, you should pursue that before you start thinking about an air purifier.

The ideal set up is to have a good ventilation system that you can pair with an air purifier. That is how you are going to achieve the best results in terms of lowering moisture levels, preventing mold, controlling odors, and keeping the air clean.

Types of Pollutants

You should also consider the common types of pollutants that are going to be present in your bathroom. Bathrooms are actually one of the most common sources of air pollution in homes, which increases the importance of an air purification system.

Showerheads and faucets will naturally accumulate bacteria, and mold from the moisture in your bathroom will make the situation worse.

Best Air Purifiers For a Bathroom

An ideal bathroom air purifier should utilize a powerful carbon filtration system that will ensure mold and odors are combatted and cleaning chemicals are taken out of the air. However, it is important to keep in mind that it is necessary to clean the filters regularly!

Here are some options that you can look into to keep your bathroom fresh.

Levoit H13 Air Purifier

The Levoit Compact Air Purifier is a great option to put in your bathroom. It’s compact, so it won’t get in the way, but don’t let that fool you. It will work just as well as a larger air purifier, leaving your bathroom’s air just right. Not to mention, it comes with a built-in nightlight. That means you won’t have to struggle your way to the bathroom late at night.

Amaircare Roomaid VOC

Similar to the Levoit, the Amaircare Roomaid VOC is also a compact option for your bathroom. It has a strong carbon filtration system that you can put in your bathroom confidently knowing its filter will hold up well. Its 360-degree air intake system gives you more flexibility in terms of placement. You can also adjust the fan speed between two options to suit your bathroom size.

The Bottom Line On Air Purifiers In Your Bathroom

Air purifiers are great to have in your bathroom, and they will help you eliminate airborne pollutants that are plentiful in the space. The best way to keep the air fresh in your bathroom is to pair an air purifier with a ventilation system. That way, you can reduce the level of moisture that creates excess pollutants, as well as effectively filter out odors and mold.

You do have to consider what type of air purifier you choose as some have the potential to cause adverse health effects.