There’s little more annoying than giving your home a quick, routine clean and finding mold where you least expect it. Yes, mold can easily grow on your window sills and even on glass panes, if provided an environment with high moisture levels. Learn how to stop mold in its tracks before it spreads with helpful tips from our experts at Window World of Lake Charles.
How Can Mold Affect Your Health?
Mold is more than visually unappealing. It can lower the air quality in your home, releasing allergens that could be a health hazard to your household. If you or someone in your household experiences allergy symptoms like a runny nose, coughing or headaches out of nowhere, mold spores could be the cause. Over time, the exposure can lead to worsening symptoms and even increased allergies to mold. Preventing this prolonged exposure is key to reducing the chances of symptoms, so clean out mold as soon as you spot it.
What Color Mold Appears on Windows?
While you may think mold is exclusively black, truthfully it comes in a variety of colors. Mold may be present in a different color than you would expect, such as:
- Red
- White
- Yellow
- Brown
- Pink
- Green
- Dark gray
Black mold is by far the most dangerous type of mold since it’s connected to toxic Stachybotrys chartarum, a greenish-black mold that is linked to mycotoxicosis (or, illness caused by exposure to mold) in humans and animals. However, any type of mold should be treated as a potential hazard and cleaned up as soon as possible.
Why Does Mold Grow on Windows?
Mold thrives in humid, condensation-rich environments, and Lake Charles is certainly a very humid environment. If you have older or improperly installed windows, this presents the perfect opportunity for mold to set in. Excess moisture or humidity in between the panes means the seal has broken, and your only option to prevent continued problems over time is window replacement.
If you’re not cleaning your windows on a regular basis to remove dust, its buildup can also aid mold growth over time. Dust is a food source for mold, so dust on your windows and excess humidity combine to create an ideal environment for pesky mold growth.
Now that you know what causes mold on windows, let’s learn how to prevent it from coming back.
How to Prevent Mold from Growing On and Around Windows
Luckily for you and your Lake Charles home, mold prevention is fairly easy once you establish a routine. Each part of your window can attract and grow mold for different reasons, so learning prevention for each separate piece helps.
How to Prevent Mold on a Window Sill
Window sills are easy to clean since they’re likely the most accessible part of your window. Most window sills are made of either wood or vinyl, both of which can grow mold. Keeping your window sills dust-free is a key part of mold prevention since it deprives mold of its easily acquired food source. Be especially mindful of dust when it’s rainy out, as those are ideal conditions for mold growth.
How to Prevent Mold on Glass Window Panes
Mold cannot grow on glass alone, but if glass is dusty enough, mold can form. Mold can also grow between window panes in humid conditions, so glass being an inorganic material doesn’t mean it’s immune to mold. Keeping glass clean with your favorite window cleaner or disinfectant helps. You should also make sure the seal between the panes in your windows remains intact. You can tell the seal is no longer in place if there is condensation or mold between the panes.
Mold Between Window Panes
Once mold is growing in between your window panes, your best move is to completely replace your windows as this is a sign the seal between the panes has failed. Humidity and condensation in between the panes means the energy-efficient argon gas inside is no longer effective. New windows installed by trained professionals will last you for decades to come, so you won’t need to worry about mold between the panes for many years once you’ve replaced them. As long as you clean your windows regularly to keep dust and debris off, mold should not develop between window panes.
Preventing Mold in the Window Frames and Tracks
Like window sills, your window frame is likely made of wood or vinyl. Mold can find its way into the joint of your window frame where the pane meets the frame, where dust is likely to pile up, or in the window tracks. Cleaning your frames and tracks regularly, and opening the window if possible to clean the frame thoroughly, can prevent mold from forming in those forgotten corners. This is easy to do with vinyl frames, which all Window World of Lake Charles windows use.
What Should You Do About Mold on Windows?
Cleaning up the mold as soon as you spot it is optimal. Unless it’s been a problem for a significant time period, removing mold up is as simple as grabbing your preferred detergent and a clean rag. Learn specifics on how to safely clean mold off each part of your home’s windows below.
How to Clean Mold from Windows
Before we get into the specifics, let’s cover basic safety measures. Clearing mold away is a simple procedure, but should be approached with caution. Make sure mold doesn’t come in contact with your skin at all, and use a face mask and gloves when cleaning. Once you’ve completely removed the mold, either open the window, run exhaust fans or use another ventilation method in the affected room. For your safety, leave the room to air out for a while, either heading outside for some fresh air or spending time in an unaffected part of your home.
How to Clear Black Mold from a Window Sill
As soon as you spot black mold, it’s important to take action by wiping or drying up any excess moisture. Use your favored household disinfectant like bleach or white vinegar to clear any mold and keep it from reappearing. Don’t mix disinfectants when you’re cleaning, as this could cause an adverse chemical reaction. Stick to one disinfectant at a time. Again, early action is key here to prevent health risks down the line.
How to Keep Mold from Returning
Preventing mold from returning to your Lake Charles home is simple as long as you stick to a routine. Dusting and following up with warm water and your favorite detergent or disinfectant go a long way toward mold prevention—and keeping those beautiful windows sparkling clean!
Air ventilation is another key part of preventing mold growth. Open your windows regularly to allow airflow throughout your home. If this isn’t possible, you have options. Running a fan can provide plenty of ventilation as well. If humidity is a problem, bringing in a humidifier can reduce humidity levels.
Trust Your Windows to Lake Charles’ Renovation Experts
If mold is between your window panes, your windows aren’t doing much to protect your home and could be contributing to higher monthly energy bills. Our replacement window, door and vinyl siding experts can outfit your home with beautiful, durable replacement products that will last for decades to come, keeping your home in tip-top shape. Get in touch with us for your free estimate today!