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Original poster

Mould on windows

31 replies

Perime · 10/12/2022 18:41

We're in a new build and have black spots of damp/Mould on the surrounding recess and window cill. Is this normal? Should I be getting up early and wiping the windows down every day? I've opened the trickle vents and closed them - neither works. I've opened windows at the weekend even though it's bloody cold and that doesn't help. What am I doing wrong? If there's nothing else to I can do to help do I have a worthy complaint to go back to the developer with? TIA

OP posts:
PriamFarrl · 10/12/2022 18:41

Wiping down the windows is the best answer.

Tootsey11 · 10/12/2022 18:42

You need to ventilate daily.

Justwingingit2005 · 10/12/2022 18:48

We get this, not a new build.

U need to wipe condensation down each morning first thing. Open the windows daily. Heat. Don't dry washing round the house. Keep bathroom doors shut. Lids on boiling saucepans.

Condensation that isn't wiped up turns to mould.

I also don't put furniture right up against external walls. I leave 5cm gap for air to circulate.

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 10/12/2022 18:49

Vent and wipe every day. It's a massive PITA but has to be done.

I do recommend the cilit bang black mould spray

Dougieowner · 10/12/2022 18:51

We have been in our newbuild since last Feb and haven't closed the trickle-vents yet.
No condensation whatsoever.

Ventilation is the key.
Are you doing anything that is causing an excess of moisture - drying washing on the rads, using an airer without a dehumidifier, showering and / or cooking without using the extractor etc?

ohneilthebaby · 10/12/2022 18:52

I've got a karcher window vac that I use every morning when I open the blinds/curtains. We're in a new build too. I have windows slightly open all day and on the latch at night. I also use a dehumidifier if I'm drying washing.

Plexie · 10/12/2022 18:56

Wiping down the windows - do you mean they have condensation? Or just wiping the surface to keep it clean?

Which room is it? Bathroom or kitchen with high humidity? Are you drying laundry inside?

What is the surround and sill made of - plastic?

Original poster
Perime · 10/12/2022 19:00

Wiping down the windows - do you mean they have condensation? Or just wiping the surface to keep it clean? Yes, condensation

Which room is it? Bathroom or kitchen with high humidity? Are you drying laundry inside?
Bedrooms and Bathroom
Yes, I don't have a tumble dryer
What is the surround and sill made of - plastic?*
Surround is plasterboard and paint.* Window sill is painted wood. *
Windows are PVC.*

OP posts:
CranberryPecan · 10/12/2022 19:06

I wipe wet windows and cills every morning, then open the windows a bit to finish the job off, closing them before I go to work.

Also open the bedroom window a crack at night if you're not on the ground floor, that stops quite so much condensation from breath building up. Also open windows a bit whenever you cook or shower (or use extractor, if you have one).

CranberryPecan · 10/12/2022 19:09

It's not all down to the quality of your windows, but good, efficient windows won't encourage condensation. We did the back of our house last year and they're amazing. The front, which still has crap 30 year old double glazing, is still running with moisture every morning, just like the back used to be.

user47438673 · 10/12/2022 19:11

I had problems with mould due to not ventilating. Follow the steps below and you will be OK.

First of all nuke the mould with this Dettol spray It shouldn't come back if you reduce moisture after that.

Then follow the excellent advice above - reduce moisture inside by eg keeping the bathroom door shut when showering + window open / fan on for a bit after.

Dry laundry in a room with the window open or outside if you can. Lids on pans when they are boiling.

Wipe condensation off all windows every morning - it should only take a few minutes - and air the place for half an hour. If you're not airing the whole place, at least the bedrooms and bathroom. Yes it's cold but it's that or mould, which is worse for your health long-term.

Original poster
Perime · 10/12/2022 21:11

Thanks for all the replies. I've bought a karcher and will air the place as much as possible.

OP posts:
Greentime101 · 10/12/2022 21:16

Sorry to go off on a tangent but I was a young asthmatic child & my mum hung ceramic water holders on the radiators to put moisture back in the air - does that mean we had the heating on so much that we had gone too far the other way?

pizzaHeart · 10/12/2022 21:18

We’ve got this problem recently and DH is used white vinegar spray to clean everything and try to wipe condensation off every morning. We open windows more often and put the heating on more often (unfortunately you can’t just open them more often it won’t be enough). White vinegar is good.

PrincessofWellies · 10/12/2022 21:22

If you stop drying washing indoors it will probably alleviate the issue.

Knockon · 10/12/2022 21:26

Does anyone know what to do about black stains (from mould) on sealant around windows? I’ve cleaned all the mould off

ChimChimeny · 10/12/2022 21:29

When it's below about 8 degrees outside we have a dehumidifier on overnight downstairs otherwise we get condensation. Use it to dry washing too in the bathroom Witt door closed & window open a smidge.

One of these installed in the loft stopped the condensation upstairs

www.nuaire.co.uk/product-list-page/drimaster-eco-range

JenniferBooth · 10/12/2022 21:34

My parents dry washing indoors They havent got mould. They havent been forced into having unsuitable cavity wall insulation so the HA can get funding and the insulation co, can make money though.

PrincessofWellies · 10/12/2022 21:44

JenniferBooth · 10/12/2022 21:34

My parents dry washing indoors They havent got mould. They havent been forced into having unsuitable cavity wall insulation so the HA can get funding and the insulation co, can make money though.

I dry my washing indoors too, and I don't get condensation issues, or mould, but our rooms are large and we always leave doors propped open. We also always sleep with the window open even at minus 5 outside. So the property is always well ventilated.

ssd · 10/12/2022 21:46

Ventilation doesn't work here its as damp outside as in.

hairymuffet · 10/12/2022 21:49

I've never shut the window vents in my life. No condensation here at all

pigonalipstick · 10/12/2022 22:04

I have windows open daily
I don't dry washing in the house
I don't leave the bathroom door open or the lids off saucepans
I hear the house
I have a manual dehumidifier which says there's no water to collect in the room

I still have condensation every morning that doesn't go in the day, more gets added!!!

Only thing I can do is wipe the windows down.

pavillion1 · 10/12/2022 22:13

another vote for distilled vinegar. kills bacteria and prevents fungi ..

BarrelOfOtters · 10/12/2022 22:15

Justwingingit2005 · 10/12/2022 18:48

We get this, not a new build.

U need to wipe condensation down each morning first thing. Open the windows daily. Heat. Don't dry washing round the house. Keep bathroom doors shut. Lids on boiling saucepans.

Condensation that isn't wiped up turns to mould.

I also don't put furniture right up against external walls. I leave 5cm gap for air to circulate.

Marcher window vac is great for wiping condensation off windows.

biscuitbadger · 10/12/2022 22:24

We ended up with mould last month after not putting the heating on for all of October. Think we've sorted it now, fingers crossed.

We have a small dehumidifier that we use when drying laundry indoors - we moved that upstairs and have run it all day every day since we realised what a problem we had.

We've also started being careful about shutting the bathroom door and opening the window after showering, using the kitchen extractor fan when cooking etc.

We sprayed the mould with a special mould killer (HG Mould Remover spray)and put the heating on.

Average humidity has gone down from around 80% to 45% since we started doing this. We're barely getting condensation on the windows now and it feels much nicer in the house!

You can use a sponge cloth to wipe condensation from windows, they are much cheaper than a window vac and do the same job.