Mold in wardrobe causing family cough and illness?« Back to Previous Page

Based on your description, it is highly probable that the black mold in your wardrobe is the cause of your family's respiratory symptoms, specifically the persistent cough and scratchy throat. The damp, dark, and poorly ventilated conditions at the back of a wardrobe, exacerbated by condensation from your AC unit, create an ideal breeding ground for toxigenic molds like Stachybotrys chartarum (often referred to as "black mold") and others like Aspergillus.

The Dubai climate, with its high humidity levels, forces us to run air conditioning year-round. This constant cooling cycle causes significant condensation, especially if the AC unit is not properly maintained or if the drain line is clogged, leading to excess moisture accumulation in hidden areas like behind walls and in closed furniture. This moisture, combined with organic materials like cotton, leather, and dust in your wardrobe, provides the perfect food source for mold colonies to thrive.

For a small, contained area, you can attempt a careful clean-up yourself. However, due to the confirmed health symptoms, I must strongly advise against it. Disturbing the mold without proper containment will aerosolize the spores, potentially making the contamination and your family's exposure much worse. The fastest and safest way to deal with this is to call professionals.

Our certified team at Saniservice is trained to handle such scenarios in accordance with Dubai Municipality's health and safety guidelines. We begin with a comprehensive inspection and air quality testing to identify the exact species and the full extent of the contamination, which is often not visible. Remediation involves isolating the area, using HEPA filtration, and safely removing the contaminated materials. We then identify and rectify the source of the moisture—often an AC issue—to prevent recurrence. For your family's health, I recommend you call us immediately for an inspection at 800-MOLDS (800-66537) or email hello@saniservice.com.