Healthy Design for Bathroom series 2/4: Indoor Air, Ventilation and Heating
Hello and welcome to number two of my Healthy Design for Bathroom series. Each month I will be focusing on a different room in the house. This June it’s all about the bathroom and how to create your ultimate, sustainable and healthy bathroom retreat. Whether you have a redecoration project in mind or just want to give your existing bathroom a bit of a revamp, then my June blogs are for you. (If kitchens are more your thing, stay tuned for my Beautiful Healthy Kitchen series in July.)
This week I am looking at…
INDOOR AIR, VENTILATION & HEATING
INDOOR AIR
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) for building occupants has received increasing attention world-wide over the last few decades. Have you heard of VOCs? Don’t worry if you haven’t. A lot of people haven’t come across the term and it’s only recently that the acronym has become common in the paint and decorating industry. VOC stands for ‘volatile organic compound’ and refers to the airborne particles released as gasses by certain liquids or solids. This is commonly referred to as ‘off-gassing’. Smells such as newly painted walls, freshly varnished flooring and the interior of a new car all signify newness but sadly not freshness nor healthiness. Volatile organic compounds are often a mix of man-made airborne scents, perfumes and pollutants and it appears that “concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors.” say the Environmental Protection Agency in the US. Sadly it is no better here in the UK as we are one of the top five countries in the world that have the highest prevalence of clinical asthma that seems to be being driven by our poor home environments.
There are health risks associated with dampness, mould and tobacco smoke and air pollutants released from cooking, heating, electronics, cleaning products and candles - and that’s not to mention our bedding, clothing, furniture, carpets, skincare and DIY products! Even if you are fortunate enough to be able to eliminate the first three from your list it would appear there is a dizzying amount of VOCs in all of our households at any one given time. And the bathroom is no exception - VOCs come from bathroom cleaning products, toilet blocks, shower gels, hair products, perfumes, spray deodorants and even particle board or MDF furniture! So what can we do about it? We cannot eliminate VOCs completely but we can explore ways to reduce them.
Beautiful Healthy Home’s mission is that everyone’s home should be as free as possible from toxic chemicals whilst still reflecting your own personal style.
It is okay to be concerned about this - I think we all should be but please don’t panic. We have been surrounded by chemicals for years and the only way to start reducing them is one step at a time.
So, let’s start with the bathroom…
As airborne toxic chemicals come from cleaning products such as bleach the first thing is to ditch bleach and non-plant based cleaners in favour of more natural ingredients to clean with - bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar work wonders on loos, tiles and glass.
If you are redecorating, make sure to choose environmentally friendly wall paints that contain little to no VOCs - check the paint tin for a circular logo which will tell you the level of VOC contained within the product.
Vinyl flooring is made with resins, plasticisers and stabilisers - all of which can contain toxic chemicals like cadmium and lead but the most worrying is a group called phthalates. These are known endocrine disruptors which interfere with the body’s natural hormone system and are particularly harmful to babies and children (who are more often closer to the floor than grown-ups). Choose a healthier flooring such as marmoleum which is similar in appearance to linoleum but is naturally antibacterial, biodegradable and doesn’t contain any nasty toxic chemicals. (more on flooring in series 4/4).
Avoid paraffin wax candles and choose beeswax or natural plant wax candles. Shop here for our selection of gorgeous soy wax candles with essential oils.
Avoid flat-packed bathroom cabinet furniture or pre-made units made with MDF as they both contain adhesives that may off-gas formaldehyde - a known carcinogen. Building cabinets around a sink from wood or sourcing vintage furniture is a healthier option.
Tiling, glass and porcelain basins are all a good option as these are pretty inert materials and shouldn’t add VOCs to your indoor air.
Introducing a good number of plants into the bathroom area will also help reduce any potential airborne pollutants. The ivy is great at getting rid of faecal particles would you believe, and the spider plant and peace lily both get rid of formaldehyde, benzene and xylene*.
* Toxic chemical notes -
Formaldehyde can be found in - easy press fabrics, glues, paints, cosmetics, detergents, newly manufactured MDF products and flooring. It is a known carcinogen and affects the respiratory system.
Benzene can be found in - detergents, carpeting, synthetic fibres, plastics and resins. It can cause leukaemia, a cancer of the blood.
Xylene is used as a - solvent in cleaning agents and in nail polish. It affects the respiratory system, can impair memory and lead to kidney and liver changes.
We may only be exposed to the chemicals in minute amounts each time we use a product but there is increasing concern that we are exposing ourselves to the same chemicals (often unwittingly) day in, day out, month after month, year after year. We have no real knowledge as to the toxic burden we are putting our bodies under and there has been no real study to determine the effects these chemicals in our indoor environments are having on our long term health. What we can see is that there is a steady increase in the rate of diseases in humans worldwide - illnesses such as strokes, heart disease, respiratory infections and cancer, and it is thought that these are being brought on by continuous exposure to certain toxic chemicals in our environment from the products we use, the food and water we drink and the air we breathe.
So if you intend to relax in a warm bubble bath one evening, make sure you clean the bath with white vinegar**; that the bath products you use contain natural ingredients; the candles you burn are beeswax or natural plant wax; the decor is environmentally friendly; your extractor fan is on or the window is open; and the fluffy towel you wrap yourself in at the end, is organic cotton.
** Cleaning Tip - Use natural plant-based cleaners or make your own using white vinegar. The smell only lingers for a short while and if it bothers you add a few drops of essential oil. Vinegar is acidic and great at dissolving grime, dirt, grease and killing bacteria. White is best so it doesn't stain. You can use vinegar neat on shower heads and add a sprinkle of bicarbonate of soda to your toilet bowl and bath when cleaning as that will help remove stubborn areas of grime. A squeeze of lemon with one part white vinegar and one part hot water works wonders on windows and taps. If you spot mould, don’t use bleach! It will kill the mould but will breed fungus. No better time than now to ditch the bleach and go green! By avoiding bleach, you will avoid breathing in the toxic airborne chemicals they emit and you won’t be flushing any toxic chemicals into our waterways. Happy healthy cleaning!
VENTILATION
Ventilating any space is important to keep the air moving. It not only refreshes the stale air inside, outdoor air is often less polluted, so this refresh will help lower the number of VOCs - and we all know that fresh air with its higher level of oxygen helps stimulate the brain. (btw - ventilation in a home office is absolutely crucial - but more to come on home offices later in the year).
As part of the UK Building Regulations (document F) it is a requirement that a bathroom must have either a window or extractor fan to reduce humidity, condensation and chance of dampness and mould. Without fresh air flow you may build up adverse health affects over time, as well as affecting the performance of the materials within the bathroom. By installing a suitable extractor fan you will help to extend the life of your bathroom and remove potential hazards from accumulating.
For intermittent extraction fans the minimum requirement is 15 l/s and for continuous it is 8 l/s. L/s stands for litres per second, and is the measurement of how much old air is being replaced by new air - be sure to have one installed by a qualified electrician and check the reviews before purchasing. Some fans are quieter than others so do take the noise level into consideration too.
Having your extractor fan on a separate circuit to the light will enable you to have your light on without the fan humming away in the background but if you choose for an intermittent fan, make sure it is a 15l/s minimum.
Zones
Note that when adding anything electrical to a bathroom, it must comply with the correct IP rating (Ingress Protection) - which is a guide to show where electrics can be positioned in relation to the water outlets ie shower/bath/sink). IP67 (Zone 0) is total emersion proof so required on products such as internal spa bath lighting. IP65 (Zone 1) is for products above the bath area and it is good practise to also follow this for the wash basin. IP44 (Zone 2) is for products beyond an area of 0.6m from the bath.
HEATING
Underfloor
If you’re starting a bathroom from scratch then underfloor heating is worth considering. The beauty of this design is that heat radiates upwards and will do so uniformly throughout the room so there will be no cold spots as you might expect with a wall radiator. Plus underfloor heating tends to run on a lower temperature so you get increased energy efficiency and lower bills. Electric systems are easier to install and worth switching to a green renewable energy supplier at the same time. This is a good guide on underfloor heating.
Radiators
If you just want to change your radiator to a new style, make sure you check the heat output to ensure you have a big enough rad for your space. Use a BTU calculator to work out what size you need.
If you already have a plumbed in rad that is floor mounted, look to see if the valve connections are on the side or underneath. They are most likely to be on either side. In which case your vales will be angled. When you come to choose a replacement radiator, choose one with the same side connections and ensure you get angled replacement valves. Straight values are when the connections are underneath. When measuring a radiator, measure from connection to connection, don’t include the valve length.
It is possible to change a floor mounted rad to a wall mounted, however you will then need to change the pipes too which will involve a bit of plumbing and chasing up the wall. Just be sure to build this into your costs and project plan.
Electric radiators are also available and are a great option for loft conversions where taking the plumbing around the bathroom is an added expense. I chose an electric radiator in my ensuite and it doubles up as a towel dryer so works a treat.
Heat Pumps
In 2025 all new builds will be fitted with low-carbon heating systems - but what does that mean for many of us that have older houses? If you have the space then investing in a water or ground-source heat pump is an option. It can also provide cooling and is a energy-efficient solution. A heat pump can be used in conjunction with radiators and underfloor heating although you may need to upgrade to larger radiators to gain enough heat to fully warm each room. Heat pumps have been around a while but not something that has been considered for residential until more recently with the call to move away from fossil fuel boilers. Here is a comprehensive guide for more information.
NEED HELP?
I hope this has been of some help. If you would like guidance on a bathroom project you are considering, contact me for a free discovery chat and let’s see how we can make your bathroom a healthy sanctuary. I offer a variety of design services that suit various budgets and our first chat is completely free.
The services I offer are:
colour advice based on tried-and-tested psychology of colour and its affects on our mood;
key product sourcing that will fit the needs, space and style of your room whilst ensuring the materials are healthy and sustainable;
concept design that cover the aesthetics, functionality and health of a space with hand-drawn elevations and mood boards;
or all of this combined into a full healthy interior design service - from project planning through to completion.
Here at Beautiful Healthy Home, we put health at the heart of design.
NEXT WEEK
3/4 in my Healthy Design of Bathroom series looks at lighting and colour.
NEXT MONTH
Stay tuned for July’s newsletter when I talk about kitchens and how we can make those spaces family-friendly, healthy, sustainable and the hub for entertaining guests.
Images © Unsplash: Toilet Roll - Jas-Min, Marble shower - 99 Films, Wood effect - Filios Sazeides, Peace lily - Feey, Ferns - Lisa Moyneur, Ivy - Curology.
Woman in Shower - Hannah Xu, Condensation - Zach Camp, Shower Head - Chandler Cruttenden.
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