Controlling the condensation and airflow is the best way on how to prevent mold around windows. It is a real bother if mold and mildew start to appear on your window sills, and becomes more annoying when the stubborn mold persistently returns even after repetitive cleaning.
Besides the risks it poses to your home, mold can also be a threat to your and your family’s health and safety. Luckily, there are simple ways you can try at home to efficiently prevent the mold from developing in the first place.
How Does Mold Grow And Develop On And Around Windows?
Mold loves to dwell and multiply in areas with high humidity. It enjoys its stay on damp surfaces, and your window perimeters are probably part of its itinerary.
Differences in temperature from inside to outside of your home can also cause mold growth around your windows. Your sealed-up home creates a condensation when moisture hits the window.
Mold spores are airborne bacteria that trigger a mold to grow in other nearby areas of your home. Combined with a moist environment, their presence enables the spores to extend their float in the air unless killed by a potent substance.
Suppose you wish to learn more about how mold penetrates different areas of your household. In that case, you may refer to this article that tackles how mold spores prolong their stay in the air at your home.
3 Effective Ways To Prevent Mold Around Windows
It is time to get over your mold worries as we give you feasible and practical techniques to hinder mold growth around windows. The most crucial step in preventing mold growth is to first track the areas on your windows prone to mold infestation.
You can easily track molds by their color. Your window frames and sills are the first places you’ll want to check.
1. Checking and cleaning windows regularly
Adding to your home maintenance routine, the weekly checking and cleaning of the window area will help you prevent mold growth. You can use a standard cleaning substance to ensure that no dust remains on and around your window.
However, it is necessary to know what materials are effective enough in avoiding fungi. Drying the area after cleaning also serves as an important reminder to hinder steam or moisture around the windows.
Mold infestation can also affect appliances near your window, such as the air conditioning unit. You can check on this helpful guide on mold growth prevention for window AC to hinder this from happening.
2. Controlling humidity or airflow
Since molds live in steamy milieus caused by high humidity, controlling the airflow around your window is another excellent and effective way for mold growth prevention. Use a dehumidifier in home areas prone to prolonged dampness, such as in the bathroom or basement. According to experts, keeping the humidity level to no more than 50% is likely to prevent moisture formation.
You can also try opening your windows from time to time if you don’t have built-in ventilation for your windows. It can help regulate the airflow.
Always turn on the exhaust fan and bathroom fan when cooking or bathing. You can also add caulk around the window sills to help in avoiding moisture from forming. Some advisors say placing a plant along your windows can also help improve the airflow.
3. Using anti-mold coat and paint
Semi to high-gloss paint with anti-mold ingredients can also help protect areas of your wooden window frame or sill. Gloss paint helps make the surface easier to clean and resistant to plies of dust and dirt.
How To Safely Remove Stubborn Mold Around Windows
Cleaning off the mold and mildew is easy, depending on the severity of your mold issue.
Step #1. Wear protective gear before hopping into cleaning
Prepare a mixture of mild detergent, bleach, and warm water in a bucket. Then, scrub the solution on the moldy area.
Step #2. Wipe with a dry cloth and ensure to dry the surface completely.
For highly infested areas, you will want to leave the work to mold removal experts, as professionals have the precise tools and equipment to quickly deal with stubborn and toxic mold.
Can I Use Natural Remedies To Remove Mold?
If you love to use an all-natural material to protect and clean your home, yes, it is also possible to shrug off the mold using natural ingredients. There are natural oils that can remove toxic mold and mildew and even kill its spores.
A great example of an effective natural cleaner is essential oil such as tree tea oil, cinnamon oil, thyme oil, and many more. You may also use vinegar and baking soda for shunning the mold in place of a bleach and water mixture. Just ensure to wear protective equipment before handling these natural chemicals.
Conclusion
Ways on how to prevent mold around windows are indeed helpful as you get to address the mold issue before it worsens. Living with mold can put you and your family’s health at risk. It is essential to check any mold-prone areas at home and inspect and fix the airflow.