Black Mold on Windows: Causes, Removal, and Prevention

Black mold is not a pretty sight on your windows and can cause numerous problems. When mold spores spread, they compromise your home’s air quality and increase your risk for infections, allergies, asthma, and other breathing problems and irritations. Additionally, black mold can leave stains, produce musty odors, and damage your home.

Because black mold can cause so many problems, we recommend understanding what causes it to appear, how to remove it, and how to prevent it from occurring again.

What Causes Black Mold to Appear?

You might be wondering why, of all places, black mold grows on windows. That’s because black mold thrives off the condensation and moisture that’s often there. Moisture shows up on windows because of:

• Inadequate airflow
• Leaking pipes
• Defective heating or ventilation system
• Rainwater from a leaking roof or damaged window frames
• Steam from a kitchen or bathroom
• Rising damp

In addition to moisture, black mold feeds on dirt, dust, dead skin cells, hair, bacteria, dust mites, dead bugs, soil, pollen, clothing fibers, and specks of plastic.

How Can You Remove Black Mold?

Call the experts if black mold covers a large portion of your home. If it’s just your window, there are different ways that you can remove it. But first, invest in protective gear because you don’t want to make contact with any black mold or spores. Protective gear can include rubber cleaning gloves, protective eyewear like goggles, and a respiratory face mask. Opening the window can also help protect you from harm by adding ventilation.

Once you have protective gear, inspect your window to see how far the black mold has spread. Check out the walls and other points of contact. The last thing you want is to overlook some black mold hiding in a crack or crevice because it quickly multiplies and will spread again.

Cleaning Supplies and Process

There are different methods of cleaning that you can use. We recommend having dish detergent, microfiber cloths or paper towels, a plastic bag, bleach, and a fan or blow dryer. Other useful items are a spray bottle and a plastic scraper.

To remove the mold, follow these steps in order:

• Wipe with a dry cloth
• Wipe again with a clean cloth and a mix of a few drops of dish detergent and warm water
• Use a plastic scraper for stubborn spots
• Scrub with a clean cloth and a mixture of ½ cup bleach and a gallon of water
• Let the bleach sit for 15 minutes
• Rinse with clean water
• Dry thoroughly with a fan or blow dryer

After cleaning, disinfect any reusable items and wash the clothes you wore. For any paper towels you use, seal them in a plastic bag before throwing them away. These are measures to keep you from accidentally spreading black mold spores.

How Can I Prevent Black Mold From Appearing?

Even after thoroughly removing black mold, it can reappear if you don’t take preventative actions. Some ways to prevent black mold growth include:

• Using a humidity controller
• Reducing the number of houseplants
• Regularly cleaning your windows
• Installing and using exhaust fans
• Opening windows and curtains for at least 5 minutes daily
• Using insulated, properly installed windows with no damage

Learn More From the Experts

Contact ShadesToYou today if you have any other questions about black mold or our window treatment services.