I Put This Mini Dehumidifier in My Bathroom, and It Made It So Much Cooler

The heat and humidity levels in my small windowless bathroom have been a constant source of discomfort since I moved in two-and-a-half years ago. I use the vent fan that’s in there, but it doesn’t seem to do much to alleviate the steamy environment.

Although I live in Los Angeles, which has a relatively dry climate with low humidity, I wondered if investing in a dehumidifier might solve my perpetually humid bathroom problem. In my search, I found that most of these appliances were clunky, bulky, and not exactly aesthetically pleasing. I’ve always thought of my bathroom as my sanctuary, and I didn’t want to have to compromise that by choosing a purely functional piece. Fortunately, I found a stylish, compact solution that not only works, but also gives my space a retro vibe: the Costway.

The Costway 32 Pints Console Dehumidifier is a dehumidifier that looks more like a retro mini fridge. I admit that I mainly chose this appliance for its look and only glanced at the reviews. However, once I started using it and exploring its features, I knew I had made the right decision. It measures at 11 inches long by 7 1/2 inches in depth by 20 inches high, and it fits perfectly in my bathroom that measures at about 70 square feet. It removes about 32 pints of moisture from the air per day with an adjustable humidity setting between 30 and 80%. It can dehumidify spaces up to 250 square feet and has a quiet/sleep mode so that the lights on the machine dim off at nighttime and the noise is much quieter than normal, which is great if you wanted to run this thing into your bedroom. 

The machine has three modes: auto, sleep, and continuous drying. To operate the machine, you simply press different buttons on the LED display — you can set your timer, your mode, or your humidity setting; lock it for child safety reasons; put it to sleep; or pick your fan speed. The water tank capacity is a half-gallon, which might not seem like a lot, but it took nearly two weeks for the tank to be full after I left it on for about four to six hours per day. I also appreciate that it has an auto-shut-off once the tank is full so I know to empty it out immediately. (You can also set up auto drainage on the machine with a tube — the machine will drain automatically if you want it to.) The filter is removable and washable. The design and color options (available in yellow, blue, and pink) are also super cute.

Aside from its bright and compact design, I love the Costway dehumidifier because it has wheels that help you easily move it from room to room (plus, it has a handle in the back if you need to carry it up or down stairs). In addition to the humidity settings and auto-shut-off mode, I really do appreciate how easily I can access the sleep mode, timer, child safety lock, and fan speeds and modes. The reusable filters are quite easy to remove and clean, and while I do manually empty my dehumidifier, I appreciate that the hose is included if you don’t want to manually empty the tank and prefer to drain it into a floor drain or utility sink. For me, this sleek appliance is a must-have for summertime — especially for those who live in warm/humid climates, and for those who want to dehumidify a medium-sized room such as a bathroom, large laundry room, or small basement. 

I have definitely noticed my bathroom’s temperature to be more comfortable and dry; in fact, I haven’t seen a silverfish in weeks! The previous humidity made it hard to enjoy being in my bathroom for more than 10 minutes. Because this dehumidifier directly pulls moisture from the air, I can now step out of the shower without still feeling damp, do my hair and makeup without sweating again (a huge plus), and relax in my sanctuary with the help of a cute yet functional appliance.

Buy: Costway Console 32 Pints Dehumidifier, $125.99