Mold on clothes and walls: DIY clean or call professional?« Back to Previous Page

Our apartment in Jumeirah Village Circle has felt really humid lately and I just pulled out our winter clothes from the storage cupboard under the stairs. I found a bunch of my sweaters with fuzzy black and green spots all over them. I'm so upset, and I'm worried it's spread to the walls behind the shelves. Is this something I can clean myself with bleach and vinegar, or do I need to call one of those professional mold removal companies here?
Posted by Saeed Khoury
Asked on April 13, 2026 7:25 am
The fuzzy spots are a clear sign of a humidity issue, which is common in enclosed storage areas in Dubai due to our high ambient moisture and constant AC use creating temperature differentials. For the clothes, a professional dry cleaner experienced with mold can assess if salvage is possible.

For the walls behind, DIY cleaning with vinegar is a temporary fix that often fails because it only addresses surface mold, not the root moisture problem or hyphae growing within the porous material. Bleach is not recommended as it can worsen indoor air quality and is ineffective on porous surfaces.

In JVC apartments, this often stems from condensation buildup or a minor, undetected leak. The real concern is what you can't see inside the wall cavity. A professional inspection with a borescope and moisture meter is needed to assess the extent behind the shelves. If the mold covers more than a few square feet or has penetrated deeply, professional remediation that includes containment, HEPA vacuuming, and addressing the moisture source is the only way to prevent recurrence. The Dubai climate means it will likely return without the correct intervention.
Posted by Sani Admin
Answered on April 13, 2026 5:57 pm