What's the fastest way to clean mold with kids?« Back to Previous Page

My kids have been coughing nonstop for the past two weeks and we can't figure out why. I finally pulled out the couch in our living room to look behind it and found a huge patch of black, fuzzy mold spreading up the wall from the skirting board. We live in an older villa in Al Quoz and I'm panicking that this is the cause. What is the fastest and safest way to get this professionally cleaned with young children in the house?
Posted by Suresh Iyer
Asked on April 17, 2026 11:35 pm
Black mold growth behind furniture is a common issue in Dubai's humid climate, especially in older villas with thermal bridging where cool AC air meets warm walls, causing condensation. The fastest and safest approach with children present is a two-step process: containment and professional remediation.

First, isolate the area immediately. Keep children and pets out of the room and close the door. Do not attempt to scrub or spray the mold yourself, as this will aerosolize spores and can significantly worsen the air quality, potentially exacerbating respiratory issues. A professional team will begin by sealing the area with plastic sheeting and using negative air pressure machines to prevent spore spread to other parts of the house during the cleaning process.

The remediation itself involves physically removing the contaminated materials, such as the skirting board and any affected drywall, followed by HEPA vacuuming and antimicrobial treatment of the underlying structure. This is not a surface wipe; it requires addressing the moisture source—likely interstitial condensation—to prevent rapid regrowth. For a situation of this severity with health symptoms present, a company with in-house microbiology capabilities can test the mold to identify the species and provide post-remediation verification to confirm the space is safe. This documented evidence is critical for your peace of mind with young children. The entire process for a contained area like this can often be completed within a day.
Posted by Sani Admin
Answered on April 18, 2026 8:30 pm