Mold & Mildew Cleanup in Gig Harbor, WA

Our house isn't old. Why do the windows grow mildew every winter?

Newer construction does not rule it out. Census-derived figures put the median Gig Harbor home at 1996, and houses from that era tend to be built tighter than older ones, which keeps heat in but also keeps moisture in. Showers, cooking, a drying rack in the laundry room and several people breathing in closed rooms all add water vapor to the air. When that air reaches a cold window frame on a January morning, it turns to droplets that collect in the corners and along the bottom rail. If nobody wipes them up, the wood or vinyl stays damp for weeks and gray-black speckling follows. A home on the bay side of town picks up damp marine air on top of all that.

Can I scrub the black specks in the shower myself?

Usually, yes. EPA says growth on hard, sealed surfaces can be scrubbed with detergent and water and then dried. Use gloves and eye protection and keep the fan running. Caulk that stays stained after cleaning has mold inside it and is easier to cut out and replace than to save. What matters most is what happens after the shower: a bath fan that actually moves air, run for a good while afterward, does more than any product on the shelf. If the ceiling paint is bubbling or the drywall above the tub feels soft, cleaning won't be enough.

When is mildew a sign of something bigger?

Gig Harbor is a city of grades. Its critical areas code regulates landslide, erosion, bluff and ravine hazard areas alongside flood hazard areas, and on a sloped lot, groundwater can push into a lower-level wall that sits against the hill. Mildew that keeps coming back along a baseboard there, a musty smell in a lower bedroom, or paint that flakes off a cool wall usually means water is getting into the wall, not just condensing on it. That is the point where a company should look for the source before anyone starts cleaning. Growth past about 10 square feet is also the line EPA and the Washington Department of Health use for calling in help.

A local note

If drywall or framing has to be replaced, building permits inside city limits come from the City of Gig Harbor Building & Fire Safety Division. Renters with leaks a landlord hasn't fixed can use the city's Report a Code Violation link; Pierce County confirms complaints inside Gig Harbor go to the city. Washington has no state mold license, so check any company on L&I's Verify a Contractor tool.