How to prevent mold from growing around windows
Mrs Hinch is a cleaning influencer with over four million followers on Instagram. She became famous thanks to her practical cleaning tips. Now fans have created Facebook pages in her honor – places to share advice with each other.
On a Mrs Hinch Facebook page, with over 10,000 members, a cleaning enthusiast wanted to know how to prevent and get rid of mould.
Megan Caldwell wrote: “For the past few months we have been struggling with condensation and now recently mold. We live in a recently (two year old) completely renovated house. The condensation is now thick and is soaking up the entire window molding around the windows.
“A few months ago we found mold on the bottom of our bed, also next to the window. We have tried everything we can think of, dehumidifiers, windows open a crack, white vinegar wiped over them when they are cleaned, clean the condensation every morning, there are no vents on top of windows and we have shutters.
“Do we call in window fitters to check the seals? Where do we go, we’re at our wits’ end. Worth noting, just this one room it happens too.”
Bev Mardy advised investing in an electric dehumidifier. They said, “When you say you’ve tried dehumidifiers, you mean the gel. Our old house was an absolute nightmare with it. Like you, I tried every tip and trick. The only thing that worked was an electric dehumidifier.
“It was an expensive layout to begin with, but very much worth every penny. At first I emptied it three to four times a day, which shows how much condensation was in the house. This went on for 12 weeks, then it settled on and off when needed. It was honestly a life saver for me when I was at the end. Hope you get it sorted.”
Becky Mossop wrote: “I was told by a window fitter that you only need to open vents or windows for 30 minutes to change the air flow in the rooms longer than the air changes in the winter, the warm air from the house also mixes a lot with cold air outside causing condensation.”
Some Mrs Hinch fans recommended buying dehumidifying crystals. Rebecca Curtis wrote: “Put one of these on your windowsill, you can usually get them from pound shops.” Donna Bristow agreed, saying, “These have been a game changer in my house.”
Lesley Watkins commented: “I don’t dry washing indoors. I open windows. I open kitchen windows and close doors when I cook, but as soon as I turn on my heating (which is only for an hour) we wake up with a river on our windows . I have socks with cat litter in them. Salt pans, etc. Everything helps, but not when the heat has been on. I just keep drying every morning.”
Nicola Cheyne said: “I read on another site a few days ago that someone put a cup of salt on the windowsill and when it went hard after a day or two they threw it away and replaced it, they said it worked wonderfully. “
Toni-Ann Hamilton added that the cat litter trick worked for her, saying: “I’ve had this problem for so long too but recently found an article about a solution and had to try it!
“I put some cat litter in a sock, tied the sock, and placed it on my windowsills (hidden behind ornaments, etc. Let’s face it, socks on your windowsill are kind of unsightly), but for the first time in so many winters, we woke up to clear the windows!”
