Totally get where you’re coming from on the CFM thing—took me way too long to realize my old fan was basically just making noise and not actually moving any air. I tried one of those fancy humidity-sensing fans a while back, thinking it’d be “set it and forget it,” but it kept kicking on in the middle of the night for no reason. Drove my partner nuts.
Ended up swapping it for a basic, beefier model and honestly, it’s been way less hassle. Didn’t have to mess with extra wiring or settings, just made sure the CFM matched up with our tiny bathroom. It’s not high-tech, but at least I know when it’s running, it’s actually doing something.
One thing I started doing—probably a bit lazy—is just leaving the door cracked after showers. Between that and the new fan, haven’t seen any mold pop up since. Sometimes all those bells and whistles just aren’t worth the headache (or the price tag).
Totally agree on the “keep it simple” approach. I’ve seen way too many folks get sucked into the smart fan hype, only to end up frustrated with random cycling or complicated controls.
- Matching CFM to room size is key—too much and you’re just wasting energy, too little and you’re not moving enough air.
- Cracking the door works, especially in smaller spaces. Sometimes low-tech wins.
- Quick tip: If you want to go a bit greener, try a timer switch instead of a humidity sensor. You control how long it runs, no surprise 3am fan noise.
Honestly, less wiring and fewer settings means fewer things to break down the line. Mold hates fresh air more than any gadget, anyway.
Keeping Mold Away From Your Shower—My Favorite Lazy Hack
Timer switch is a solid move, but I’ll admit I’m lazy enough to just leave the fan running while I get ready and hope for the best. Sometimes I just wipe down the walls with a towel—old-school but it works. Anyone else just crack the window and call it good?
Cracking the window is a classic move—honestly, sometimes it’s the only thing that works in these old houses. My bathroom fan is ancient and barely moves air, so I’m right there with you just propping the window open and hoping for the best. I do try to squeegee the tiles when I remember, but I’m not exactly consistent about it.
Wiping down the walls with a towel actually does more than people think, especially if you’ve got that old plaster that loves to hold onto moisture. In my place, if I skip it for a few days, I’ll spot a little mildew creeping in around the caulk. It’s a pain, but honestly, whatever keeps the mold at bay without turning it into a huge chore is a win in my book. Sometimes “lazy” just means “efficient,” right?
Honestly, I get the appeal of just wiping things down, but I’ve found it’s kind of a band-aid if your caulk is already letting mildew in. I ended up scraping out the old stuff and re-caulking with a mold-resistant type—took an afternoon, but now I barely have to wipe anything down. Sometimes a little extra effort up front saves you a ton of hassle later. Just my two cents...
