Mold on your windows? Learn how it got there and how to keep it away.
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Have you ever had that moment where you’re looking out the window and suddenly noticed that you have mold growing on it? If you have, then you have definitely experienced, a) the shock and mild disgust associated with seeing a patch of dark, moldy yuck living on the glass in your home and, b) a sense of annoyed curiosity about how on earth it got there in the first place! The truth is that mold will grow anywhere if the conditions are right. And while it prefers to settle down and raise its colony in a vast field of organic material even non-organic material like stone, tile and glass can support mold if the conditions are just right.
And those conditions are:
· Excess moisture
· Lack of ventilation
· An organic food source
Certainly there are places in your home where it’s far more common to find mold than on the windows. Bathrooms, basements and closets are the typical contenders in the battle for the “Moldiest Room in the House Award.” That said, mold is capable of taking root anywhere it can! Before we go over how to remove mold from your windows, it’s important to understand why mold grew there in the first place because, while getting rid of mold is important, you probably also want to know how to keep from coming back, too.
How Mold Grows on Your Windows
When there’s a significant temperature differential between the inside of your house and the air outside, your windows are caught in the middle of an atmospheric turf war. Here’s why: warm air contains more moisture than cold air so when the warm air on the inside of the house touches your cold windows (which are cold thanks to the air temperature outdoors), that moisture filled-warm air grows quite cold. And because cold air can’t hold as much moisture, the moisture that was in the warm air transforms into tiny drops of water (a process known as condensation). As this turf war goes on, these drops bunch up and form that familiar “fog” you see on the inside of your windows on cold winter mornings. This is all the moisture a budding mold family needs to thrive.
But what about that “organic food source” that mold needs to survive? We’re sorry to be the ones to tell you but what we call “dust” in our homes is primarily composed of dead human skin cells – a delicious thought, I know! Mold simply loves dead skin cells! It also loves fabric, lint and pet dander. If you haven’t been judicious about cleaning your windows and window sills, then the consistent moisture left from the condensation process combined with the dust can definitely create the conditions for mold growth.
So, if mold is growing on your window glass, here’s how it happened:
· “Dust” floated through the air and settled on your windows
· Moisture developed and lingered on your windows
· You didn’t open you windows so there was no air to dry the moisture or blow away the dust.
· Mold spores floated in and found this ideal place to grow … and grow it did!
Removing Window Mold
Removing window mold is very simple. Just make sure you wear a simple face mask to protect yourself from breathing any mold spores that take flight during clean up!
· Make a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar
· Spray this mixture on your windowsills and windows.
· Wipe solution off with a clean rag and make sure to dry it completely before lowering the blinds or replacing the curtains.
And a simple prevention tip? To keep the mold from coming back, remember to clean your windows regularly and wipe away any visible moisture as soon as you see it.
