Mould on Windows

To sum up the tips I have seen.

PREVENTION

You and every adult, child, and pet, are breathing out about one littre of water every night, and every day. 

If you go camping, the tent instructions tell you this:

You normally close your tent at night to protect yourself from insects animals or human intruders as well as weather.

However, make sure to open the flap in the morning to let your tent dry out (every day and before folding it up and putting it away). Each person breathes out about a lier of water each night. In the monring the walls of your tent will be wet, even if you have a double walled tent, and you need to dry out the fabric. 

You also need to keep your sleeping bag six inches away fro the walls and be sure not to roll over and touch the walls. Otherwise your sleeping bag will absorb the moisture and get wet, be uncomfrtable, and develop mould.

The lesson for your home is the same. In Germany it is common practice to open the windows and dooor every monring for fifteen minute to half an hour, however long it takes to refresh the air and dry the windows and walls. 

You also need to keep the bed away from the walls. This means the bedhead. And also any hanging duvet.

OBSERVATION

When you see mist on the mirror, or on the windows, you need to wipe it off straight away. And/or open the windows.

Do the net curtains, blinds, and heavy drapes rest against the windows?? If so move them away from the windows and walls.

CURE

Most expensive

Buy a humidifier large enough for the room size. Or move it from room to room. It needs emptying, every day, every morning, and when it fills up - otherwise the water evaporates into the air again.

 Least expensive

Buy a windowsill plastic tub with water absorbent crystal sachets. For example, from Wilko. (Branch in Harrow?) Cost in November  2022, about  one pound fifty pence. You might need one for each room. Eventually you need to replace the sachets.

Bleach

You can remove mould from heavy drapes by soaking them in a bucket of diluted bleach, changing the water and re-washing with hot water (taking into account the fabric and any washing instructions. Make sure no children or pets have access to the bleach, and water containing bleach. Cover nearby carpets and your own clothes. 

You must use clear coloured bleach designed for clothes, not the coloured bleach for cleaning toielts which is caustic, and stains as well as rotting the rabric.

Free

If you already have a cat, cat litter.

If not, a tub of salt. 

Wipe down the window with a towel, and/or those water absorbent cloths. 

Use a sponge on a stick used to clean floors. (But check no sharp metal edges can scratch the window. You might want to cover the edges with a rubber band or other protection.)

Useful Websites

https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/mrs-hinch-fans-swear-150-28589033

Lst updted March 2nd 2025.