Could mold in clothes cause my kids' coughing and allergies?« Back to Previous Page

Yes, mold on clothes can definitely be the source of your children's coughing and worsened allergies. The damp, musty smell indicates active microbial growth, and disturbing those items releases spores into the air, which are potent irritants when inhaled. Children are particularly susceptible to these airborne particles.

In Dubai's climate, storage rooms are high-risk areas due to humidity and lack of constant air conditioning, allowing condensation to form and mold to thrive on organic materials like cotton and wool. The first step is to isolate the problem: seal the moldy clothes in plastic bags and remove them from the house to prevent further spore dispersal. Do not attempt to shake or vacuum them indoors.

For cleaning, commercially available mold-specific cleaners can be used on non-porous surfaces in the room. However, for porous items like clothing, the safest and most effective method is to have them professionally cleaned by a service that specializes in mold remediation, as household washing often fails to kill spores embedded deep in the fibers.

Given that the issue is already affecting your family's health and involves porous materials, a professional inspection is strongly recommended. They can identify the full extent of the contamination, including hidden growth within walls or the AC system, which is common when a musty odor is present. A science-driven approach with proper diagnostics, like air or surface sampling analyzed in a microbiology lab, will pinpoint the species and concentration, guiding the correct remediation strategy to make your home safe again.