Window Cleaning: Preventing Mold in Montreal

In Montreal, long and cold winters create ideal conditions for an often overlooked health problem: mold around windows. Condensation that forms on windows and window frames is a breeding ground for mold and fungi growth. Regular window maintenance is essential to protect your health and your home.

Why condensation forms on your windows

Condensation appears when warm and humid indoor air comes into contact with the cold surface of the glass. In Montreal, where winter temperatures regularly drop below -20 degrees Celsius, this phenomenon is almost inevitable, especially in older apartments with single-pane windows or aging windows with deteriorated seals.

Factors that worsen condensation:

• High indoor humidity: cooking, showers, drying clothes indoors
• Insufficient ventilation: windows sealed shut in winter, faulty exhaust fans
• Older-model windows: single glazing or double glazing with a broken seal
• Overcrowding: more people in a home generates more humidity

The health risks of mold

Mold is not simply a cosmetic problem. It releases microscopic spores that, once inhaled, can cause serious health problems:

• Allergies: sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, itching
• Respiratory problems: chronic coughing, shortness of breath, worsening asthma
• Infections: immunocompromised people are especially at risk of fungal infections
• Irritation: irritation of the eyes, skin and mucous membranes

Health Canada recommends acting as soon as mold appears and not waiting for the problem to get worse. Children, the elderly and people with asthma are the most vulnerable.

How to prevent mold around windows

Regular maintenance

• Wipe up condensation daily: use a dry cloth or a squeegee every morning to remove the water that accumulates on the windows and sills
• Clean the seals and frames: at least once a month, clean the window seals with a mix of water and white vinegar to prevent mold growth
• Check the weather seals: replace deteriorated seals that let in cold air and encourage condensation

Humidity control

• Use a dehumidifier: keep relative humidity between 30% and 50% in winter
• Cross-ventilation: briefly open opposite windows for 5 to 10 minutes a day, even in winter
• Exhaust fans: use the exhaust fans in the kitchen and bathroom during and after cooking or showers
• Avoid drying laundry indoors: it adds a great deal of humidity to the air

When to call a professional

If you notice black or greenish stains on the window frames, seals or adjacent walls, it's time to act. Surface mold can often be cleaned by the owner, but in the following cases, call in a professional:

• The affected area exceeds 1 square metre
• The mold comes back after cleaning
• The mold is in the ventilation ducts
• Members of the household show persistent health symptoms
• The mold has spread behind the walls or under the floors

At Y CLEAN, our regular cleaning service includes cleaning windows, frames and sills. For more advanced situations, our deep cleaning service includes a deep clean of all affected surfaces, including anti-mold treatment.

Don't wait for the problem to get worse. Prevention is always less expensive than remediation. For a cost estimate, check out our house cleaning price guide for Montreal.

We serve all of Greater Montreal: Montreal, Laval, the Rive-Sud, the Rive-Nord and the West Island.