Safely remove black mold behind wardrobe with kids coughing?« Back to Previous Page
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My kids have been coughing non-stop for the past two weeks, and I just found patches of black mold behind their bedroom wardrobe, which is on the wall facing the outside. We live in an older building in Jumeirah, and I’m worried the humidity is making it worse. What’s the safest and most effective way to clean this myself without risking my family’s health?
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The black mold behind the wardrobe is likely a significant contributor to the persistent coughing, as children are especially sensitive to mold spores. In Dubai's high humidity, mold thrives on cold surfaces like external walls where condensation forms, a condition known as "cold bridging."
For your safety, do not attempt to clean this yourself. Disturbing the mold will release a massive cloud of spores into the air, which your children will inhale, potentially worsening their symptoms. The goal is to remove the mold, not aerosolize it. The safest course is to have the area professionally inspected and remediated. Reputable companies will use containment barriers and HEPA filtration to prevent spores from spreading to the rest of your home during the removal process. They can also identify and address the root cause, which is often the condensation on that exterior wall. Before remediation, you can help reduce humidity in the room. Ensure your AC is running efficiently and set to a consistently cool temperature to minimize condensation. Keep the bedroom door open to improve air circulation. For a professional assessment, look for a provider that uses a certified microbiologist and can provide before-and-after lab results to verify the space is safe for your family. |
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