how do you get rid of mold and moisture growing on the inside of the windows-it is destroying the wood trim?

Answer 1

clean the area with TSP or bleach solution. Then after it dries apply a fresh coat of paint. You have to get to the source of the moisture (where is the humidity coming from?) as this is a temporary fix.

Answer 2

I must disagree with the bleach recommendation. Bleach (a.k.a Sodium Hypochlorite) does not stop mold. It kills surface mold, but can't penetrate to the roots, which means mold always grows back after a bleach treatment. And bleach is hardly safe to use - off-gassing not only smells bad but can be harmful.

Unchecked, mold will eventually 'destroy' wood trim, through staining or deterioration of the building material. You've got a condensation you need to address there - mold only grows when moisture/condensation is present.

Until you get a chance to weatherproof the window a little better, look for a non-bleach solution that will eliminate the existing mold and prevent mold from coming back too. They're out there - try an Internet search. Look for a solution that is EPA-registered and doesn't contain bleach or ammonia. Home Depot is carrying a product called Concrobium Mold Control that meets these criteria.

Answer 3

I'm guessing you have a swamp cooler or live in a very humid area. The only way to remedy this is to use a bleach solution on the mold & then use a fan & heat to completely dry out the wood BEFORE you prime & repaint it. You'll need to measure the amount of moisture that is on the inside of the wood BEFORE you apply any type of new paint or primer. First, I'd suggest that you find out if you also have any type of a moisture barrier from the outside of the wall in question. You MAY have a leakage problem at the tops & sides of the windows & these may need to bee resealed. You could also have drainage problems coming from your roof or from a rain gutter . Your window sill could also be the problem, if it traps water & it goes into your wall. You could also have a water leak somewhere in your walls or your drainage system. Good luck & try to get some fresh air circulating in that room.