Is mold behind wardrobe urgent to clean myself?« Back to Previous Page
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My kids have been coughing and I suspect it's from the mold I just found behind our bedroom wardrobe in Al Barsha. We've lived here for 2 years and just noticed it, but it looks like it's been growing for a while with all the dampness from the AC. How urgent is it to get this professionally cleaned, or can I handle it myself with bleach this weekend?
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Yes, this is urgent. The mold behind your wardrobe is a visible sign of a moisture problem, and the coughing in your children is a strong indicator that the spores are already in your bedroom's air.
In Dubai's climate, this is a common issue. The constant AC use creates significant condensation, especially on cold walls behind furniture. Al Barsha's high humidity exacerbates this, allowing mold to thrive unseen for months or years. You should not use bleach. It is mostly water, which can feed the mold, and its surface-level treatment fails to address the root moisture problem or the hidden hyphae (roots) within the wall. Bleach also releases harsh fumes that can further irritate your family's respiratory systems. For a case of this size and with health symptoms already present, professional assessment is strongly recommended. They will identify the moisture source (often a poorly insulated external wall or an AC condensation issue), contain the area to prevent spore spread during cleaning, use specialized biocides to treat the colony at its root, and—most critically—prescribe a solution to prevent its return. The remediation should follow standards like the IICRC S520, which is the industry benchmark for proper mold removal. Until you can get a professional inspection, keep the wardrobe pulled away from the wall and ensure the room is well-ventilated. Do not disturb the mold yourself, as this will aerosolize more spores. The priority is to identify and stop the moisture source; without that, any cleaning will only be a temporary fix. |
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