Winter can be tough on an Alaska house – the temperature differences between outside and in combined with our thick, light-blocking shades can leave a think layer of mildew on your windows and sills.
It’s a good idea to check your window casings for mildew often and remove any ice and water that’s accumulated. Even with your blinds open, ice and water can accumulate.
If you find mold or mildew, be sure to wear a respiratory mask as you clean it up. You really don’t want to inhale airborne spores.
Once you’ve removed all the excess water in the window frame, use a vacuum to suck up any loose spores. Ideally you’ll do this with the window open to let anything airborne out (Don’t forget to clean you vacuum nozzle with bleach or vinegar afterward).
If your window are still wet, put on a pair of rubber gloves and wipe the area down, rinsing your cloth often an thoroughly. If your mildew problem is minor, spray your windows and sills with vinegar and leave it on a few minutes. Then, use baking soda to rub away any mildew that still remains – the vinegar will kill the spores and the baking soda will act as a mild abrasive to get anything lingering off.
If you have a problem that’s beyond vinegar, you’ll need to find a commercial fungicide and get to work on the window and frame.
Once clean, dry the areas well and make sure they stay dry. Stay on top of wiping away any condensation that accumulates in window frames and open those blinds to prevent the space from becoming damp in the first place.
A bit of prevention in this case can be worth thousands of dollars of cure.