Asked on Aug 13, 2019
What is this white powdery substance on our windowsill (pic)?
by Cathy
+6
Hi, we came home for being away for two months and found these small piles of a white powdery substance on one of our windows. Tried googling but cannot find anything similar (other than a post where it was determined to be from an extraterrestrial!). Any clues? We live in the norhteast and were gone for June and July.
do you have aluminum windows? This might be oxidizing residue.
No, they are vinyl wrapped wood Anderson windows. Also, there are no boring holes to indicate any insect boring.
Even though there are no visible holes, it does look like insects have been chewing on the vinyl, somewhere, to get to the wood. If you haven't already cleaned this sill, I would collect the residue in a small container and wipe down the sill. If it appears again, you'll be able to see the origin and possibly insects themselves - and don't forget to check above the area and any molding that might be present. At that point, you can decide if you want to call in an exterminator.
It looks like white mold to me. The two primary conditions are warm temperatures and moist, humid air. Dust, laden with dead skin cells and mites, serve as nourishment, while poor air circulation and low light all contribute to mildew’s growth. Preventing mildew from growing in your home requires time and effort to identify probable areas for its occurrence and eliminating the conditions favorable to its growth. Following up with bi-weekly inspections is necessary to identify its presence early and prevent it from thriving.
I agree with Jan Clark. More likely insects eating at the vinyl to get at the wood. Could be termites or carpenter ants. Mold would not be in piles. Oxidation would be a white film on the frames.
Did you figure this out? I have found the same on my vinyl window sill. Vacuumed and wiped it away and no damage to the frame so don’t think bugs are eating the framing. 🤔
I also have this on my window sills in two different rooms. We have bronze colored aluminum windows. Any more thoughts on what this could be?
Insulation? Stuffing from pillows or furniture? I have never seen anything like that. Interested to hear what it is. Is it something to do with the insect laying there? Was he eating something?
Hello, have you figured this out yet? Is it possible the insects got into a sweet treat and were enjoying it on the window sill?