Hullo, all.
I have to go around to most of the windows in the house, and clean up and paint the sills and stuff between the sashes and the storms. Quite a few have lots of black mold (mildew?) I assume I should kill the mold before I repaint the wood bits. Here’s the deal–I have asthma, so I don’t want to start by vacuuming all the dusty stuff up first. Can I spray the storm frames and the sills with a bleach or other solution, and let that sit awhile to kill the mold, then go in with brushes and sponges, etc, and scrub like heck?
Then let it dry really well before painting, right? Can I get mildewicide put in my paint? Do I need it only in the primer, or in the paint as well?
Thanks.
“when the pendant moon in the leafless tree
clings and sways like a golden bat
i sing its light and my love for thee
ours is the zest of the alley cat”
-“The Song of Mehitabel,” Don Marquis, 1927
Replies
What comes to mind first is "Why is there mold?"
It would indicate a water/moisture problem that needs to be corrected, otherwise in a short time the black mold will return. Check it out before refurbishing.
More questions........not much resolution!
......................Iron Helix
Yes, Iron, I do have a moisture problem in the house, a long-term one, the basement, and the footing drains. That's probably why I got asthma in the first place. I'm not sure if the humidity meter (hygrometer?) is working properly, but 58% with the AC running all the time seems to be the best I can do. And the dehumidifier in the basement running 24/7.
I have to get the house ready to put on the market. I can't jackhammer the basement perimeter myself, so I figured I tackle something I have the energy, money, and capability for. I suppose I was thinking the mold in the window frames that is sort of on the OUTSIDE of the house (between the sashes and the storms, might have more to do with outside moisture than the problem in the basement. Especially in this crispy dry year when the basement hasn't gotten damp. So I am left to ponder . . .clean and paint so the windows look cosmetically better to a buyer, but simply present the people who buy the house with a task they'll have to do again themselves?
I tell you what, I think I will just clean them really good for starters.
Bob, that thing looks scarey. I may just open the windows and hold my breath. Ashamedly, I had given more thought to how I was going to save my fingernails. I'll start tracking down the EPA info, thanks for the hint. "when the pendant moon in the leafless treeclings and sways like a golden bati sing its light and my love for theeours is the zest of the alley cat"-"The Song of Mehitabel," Don Marquis, 1927
Short answer, no.
I don't have the web address handy, but the EPA web site has some good advice now about how to clean.
Use a good respirator (EPA sez a mask is OK, I wouldn't use less tah a respirator, myself, with the proper filters.
I use a full face mask myself, but I venture into a lot of potentially risky places.
Short on time, more tonight