The window is one of the most important unsung heroes of a home. Windows do so much to give a home its personality. They bring light, atmosphere and are practically the basis of climate control in the home. However, sometimes windows can be overlooked. Sometimes,if you are not careful, windows can invite a nasty presence into your home: mold.
Mold is a nasty, toxic, destructive presence in any home. It can cause serious structural damage as well as a physical illness if it is not dealt with in a timely manner.
What Causes Mold on a Window Sill?
To understand what causes mold on a window sill, one must understand what causes mold in general. The two biggest causes are heat and moisture. When those two factors are in play on a surface where there is some form of nutrient, mold will begin to grow.
On a window sill mold occurs due to three causes:
Condensation
When temperatures are conflicting inside and outside it is easy for condensation to begin building up. When condensation builds up you have the perfect conditions for mold growth.
Roof Gutter
Most people think of cleaning the gutters as a boring chore that only serves a single purpose. However, not cleaning your gutter can create major mold growth conditions. This is because moisture builds up in a clogged gutter, eventually causing mold growth. If that mold-afflicted gutter water drips onto your window sill then mold can start growing quickly on your window sill.
Poor Ventilation
When your home is not properly ventilated, the air can easily become stagnant. Mold growth is encouraged when the air is stagnant, particularly in a humid environment.
Does Opening Windows Cause Mold?
Good ventilation can help prevent mold growth, as does bringing in fresh air. This means opening a window to freshen up your home's air is typically a good idea. However, suppose the weather outside is rainy or particularly humid. In that case, you are inviting moisture and other unknown particulates into your home that could lead to mold growth if you are not careful. Since your window is open, the window sill would be the first point of contact and the most likely spot for mold growth.
Is Window Sill Mold Dangerous?
You need to understand that window sill mold can be dangerous if allowed to grow unchecked. Window sill mold is dangerous in two major respects.
Structural Damage
First of all, window sill mold can cause damage to your window and, eventually, your home's very structure. This is because mold is corrosive and will seep into the porous wooden foundation of the home. The wood will weaken as more mold spores spread until it begins to rot out. This can be a dangerous problem if it persists unchecked, not to mention an expensive problem.
Health Damage
Mold spreads by sending out microscopic spores into the air. The people in your home can inhale those spores. When those spores are inhaled they can cause a number of respiratory illnesses, and it can be deadly if the symptoms are not treated properly.
What To Use to Clean Mold On Your Window Sill
To clean the mold from your window sill, you need to use the right tools and cleaning solutions. Before we delve into what you need to use, you must understand what you should not use.
Do Not Use Bleach
Bleach is a powerful agent, and it kills mold quickly. Many people will try to tell you that bleach is the best thing to use to get rid of mold, but the truth is that mold can do its own harm if you do not know what you are doing.
First of all, where mold can stain the colors of a surface, bleach can strip color from a surface. This can make the window sill look bad and require paint touch-ups to make it look good again. Bleach should also never be used on a porous surface such as a wooden window because it will seep into the wood. As bleach is also corrosive, it would further damage the window sill's wood.
What to Use
The following cleaning agents are your best bet to get rid of window sill mold growth without doing more damage.
- White Vinegar – Vinegar is a safe, affordable cleaning agent that kills mold without any discoloration to the surface. Best of all, it is great for porous surfaces because it seems into the surface and kills the mold without weakening the material. You can dilute it with water at a 1:1 ratio.
- Borax – Borax is typically used for cleaning laundry but can also kill mold when diluted with water. You add one cup of borax to every one gallon of water.
- Hydrogen Peroxide – Hydrogen peroxide is an effective cleaner when diluted with water at a 1:1 ratio.
- Tea Tree Oil – Tea tree oil is a great natural solution against mold if you are wanting to avoid reliance on chemicals.
Mold Cleaning Gear
If you are going to get rid of mold you need to have the following tools on hand:
- Rubber gloves
- Protective Eyewear
- Spray bottle for cleaning solution
- Spray bottle of water
- Scrub brush
- Eraser sponge
- Dry towel
Now that you have the tools, you need the know-how.
How to Clean Mold Off Your Window Sill
Step one: Apply cleaning solution
The first thing you need to do is put on your safety gear. This means your rubber gloves and your protective eye wear. Then spray your spray bottle with the cleaning solution all over the afflicted areas on your window sill. Make sure to get plenty of coverage. If the window and window sill are wet due to condensation, dry them off with your towel before you begin to spray. Once there is enough coverage, let the solution set up for 10 to 15 minutes.
Step two: Scrub
After 10-15 minutes of waiting you can start scrubbing with your brush. Rub as vigorously as need be to loosen up the mold from the material. Wipe away all the mold.
Step three: Rinse
Take your spray bottle that has water in it and spray the window sill down. Then take your clean towel and wipe it down thoroughly.
Step four: Reassess
Take a look at your window sill and assess whether or not there is still mold. If there is then you should repeat the process until the mold is gone. If there is even a single speck of mold left, that can be enough to reactivate an infestation.
How to Prevent Window Sill Mold
The best offense against mold is a good defense, which means you need to be preventing mold from happening in the first place. Here are several ways that you can prevent mold growth.
Dehumidifier
Not only will a dehumidifier help you revel in a more temperate setting, but it is also a way to ensure that humidity levels are not so high as to promote mold growth. By keeping humidity levels low enough, mold will not have the moisture it needs to grow.
Good airflow
Keeping good airflow in your home will prevent mold growth because the air will maintain dry conditions. It will also prevent air from being stagnant.
Mold Resistant Silicone Sealant
Preventing mold on a window sill can be done at the structural level of your home. Using mold-resistant silicone sealant will prevent the mold from making its way into the foundation or interior of your home.
Mold Resistant Paint
In order for mold to grow, it needs a surface it can latch onto. Mold resistant paint will keep the wooden exterior of your window sill from being an ideal surface for mold to grow on.
Conclusion
Mold growth on a window sill may not seem like a big deal, especially if it is only outside your home. Allowing mold to spread, however, can only damage your home and, in worst-case scenarios, your health. If you find mold on your window sill, whether inside or out, take care of it as quickly as you can.
