When removing mold from your windows, it is important to understand that safety comes first. Before you begin, always put on safety goggles, gloves and a dust mask. You want to make sure you do not ingest the dangerous spores that the mold can release into the air. It is also very important that there is adequate ventilation in the room. Open a window or door so the mold spores can escape, instead of staying locked in your home. Make a mixture of one part bleach to three parts warm water.
Scrub the mold off of the windowsill using a non-abrasive brush and frequently dip the brush in the bleach mixture. Use a clean rag to then wipe away the mold you loosened. Allow the windowsill to dry completely before you close the window. There is seems to be a lot of moisture in the room, I don't know why that is but that is also worth figuring out. But as for avoiding condensation, I think the plastic is the first step as it will be a much warmer surface than the glass, so that will cut down on moisture accumulation a lot.
My other suggestion would be to run a fan. You say you don't think it would work, but I think you may be pleasantly surprised. It would be difficult for condentation to form on a surface that has a breeze blowing across it. It should also be quieter than a dehumidifier. Lastly, if all else fails, if you lay a towel or something absorbent at the base of the window that you can remove in the morning and dry out, it could also prevent water getting to places where it can do harm.
Hopefully something in there helps! It seems like you have a pocket of cold air trapped between the curtains and the window. To prevent condensation, every surface in the pocket needs to be above the dew point of your indoor air. When I close the curtains in my bedroom on a cold night 20F or so , the air temperature in the pocket drops to about 45F. The window pane temperature is even lower. You need to raise the temperature of the air in that pocket above the indoor air dew point.
The fan suggestion might work, by pushing warm room air into the pocket. Leaving the curtains open would do the same thing. In theory, completely sealing the pocket off from indoor humid air would work, but I've never tried that. Sign Up to Comment. The thing about condensation on windows, is that there can be a number of causes.
What climate zone are you in? I some regions there can still be quite a bit of humidity even in cold air, that could be a factor. Here is a good page to start reading that may have your answers —. Condensation on windows and how to deal with it. Humidity in homes can be from drying building materials, and general human occupation of a home such as cooking, cleaning, bathing, etc, and whether or not you have sufficient source removal in the form of bathroom fans and range hoods.
The quality of your windows will also impact how much ice you see forming, because the glazing surface of lower quality windows will be cooler and that will lead to more condensation. Do you use bathroom fans when showering? And your stove fan, do you use that as well? Other things that can help would be stuff like putting lids on pots when cooking, shaking snow off boots and jackets, not leaving clothes to dry inside etc.
Do you also have a dehumidifier in your basement? That would be a smart addition too. Condensation on double-glazed windows in cold climates is fairly common unfortunately.
Despite being common it can be a problem, particularly in extreme cases, which yours seems to be. First I would point you to a page we have that should give you all the info you need —. Condensation on windows — what causes it and how to stop it. But running all the way down the wall to create a puddle on the floor is quite a lot.
In order to be able to fix your problem, I would first recommend you get a hyrometer, which will measure the relative humidity in your home. As for the source of humidity — here are a few more questions — do you have basement and is it humid? Do you have and use a stove hood, and does it vent out? Do have you have and use a bathroom fan? And how old is the house - do you know the year it was built?
The answer is actually pretty easy but not one you probably want to hear, and I know I risk getting lots of different opinions and comments - but in our opinion you should probably remove the poly vapor barrier.
Any moisture that may have leaked in through unsealed windows would be a drop in the bucket compared to the amount of water in the concrete foundation , which takes years to fully dry. And even that can only happen if it is protected with a membrane to prevent it from absorbing more moisture from the ground. Either there is no exterior moisture protection separating concrete from the ground and it will just stay wet forever, or it is protected from absorbing moisture on the outside, but still the only way the moisture in the concrete can dry is to the interior, which is currently being stopped by your poly vapor barrier.
So the short story is, despite that fact that so many builders keep putting vapour barriers on the interiors of basement walls, it is the worst thing you can do down there since the main source of moisture is not interior humidity in the air, it's the wet ground and or the concrete itself. Here is an article that will better help you understand why the walls are wet and how renovations should be carried out - ].
Having to remove all the poly is probably not the news you were hoping for but you are at least fortunate in the sense that there is no drywall on at this point. Most people only find out their basements are rotting many years after they've been finished. We can help you with whatever steps you take moving forward, so feel free to send along some pics if you can, or at least let us know the following - Are the wood studs right against the foundation or is there any rigid insulation panels or membrane separating it from the concrete?
Is there any damp proofing spray on the exterior wall, and or a dimple membrane? Do you get condensation on windows in the home? All are factors to consider for health and home durability. What is Interstitial Condensation in Walls or Roofs? Replacing old windows in all but the most extreme cases will not save money in your lifetime.
Repairing old windows or adding layers may be a more cost-effective solution…. Why are basements moldy? Because we build walls so they can't dry. Simple changes in wall design will result in mould-free durable basements.
Basements don't have to be moldy…. Are houses too airtight? No they aren't! Building practices and building materials can lead a building….
As early versions of suspended coated…. Basement mold and mildew can easily be avoided with better designed walls. Common building practices trap moisture in wall assemblies preventing them from drying.
That musty…. The practice of putting polyethylene vapor barriers in houses was intended to keep them dry, but it ends up keeping them wet. But how? You can also.. Reduce humidity in the room Another method to prevent condensation and mold buildup on windows is by reducing the amount of humidity in the air. What does this do? Cleaning up condensation and mold This last method revolves around minimizing mold growth by cleaning condensation every morning.
This prevents mold growth by removing a comfortable environment for it to grow in. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. BC is experiencing severe weather events and flooding issues. Our teams are ready to extract water and dry out damaged properties. Moisture is the enemy to prevention!
Proper ventilation can prevent growth as well. If there are any spots that water is leaking, it is important to dry those immediately. Mould can even make its way in between window panes with the help of condensation, so it is important to keep a lookout on potential problem areas. Wood seals are also an option for prevention as well as sealing cracks. However, be sure the area is dry before sealing.
Open seals that are loose may also be a source of mold. Do you have black mold in your apartment? Read about tenants rights on our article: Black mold in apartment.
If the area you are trying to clean is extensive, a professional should be called in. Attempting to clean it yourself can lead to illness or make the situation worse. A professional can safely clean the mould and prevent future growth. Did you ever thought about black mold on windows? The condensation and moisture that forms on your windows might be of no concern, that is until you see little black specks begin to form. Here are a few tips on how you can take care of it!
Is mold dangerous? What causes mold? Remove mold from window sills Prevent moldy windows Consult a mold professional.
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