Mold in wardrobe causing kids' coughs?« Back to Previous Page

It's very possible the mold in your wardrobe is contributing to your children's persistent coughs. In Dubai's humid climate, especially in older villas with less insulation, condensation builds up in poorly ventilated spaces like closets on exterior walls. This dampness, combined with organic material like cotton or leather, creates an ideal environment for mold. The airborne spores released can irritate the respiratory tract, causing coughing, congestion, and worsening allergies, particularly in children.

For your safety, do not attempt to clean this yourself with bleach or other household cleaners. Disturbing it will aerosolize a high concentration of spores, potentially making the coughs much worse. The safest initial step is to isolate the items. Carefully bag the moldy clothes in sealed plastic bags and remove them from the home to be professionally cleaned or discarded.

Since this is a health concern for your family, a professional inspection is strongly recommended to assess the extent. In many older Al Barsha villas, the issue isn't just the wardrobe but moisture seepage in the wall behind it. A certified inspector can use moisture meters and thermal imaging to find the source. The actual cleaning should be done by a remediation team using HEPA filtration and containment protocols to prevent cross-contamination. For diagnosis, a lab culture can identify the specific mold species, which is crucial for understanding the health risk and verifying the cleanup was effective. Addressing the root cause, often inadequate ventilation or a thermal bridge in the wall, is the only way to prevent it from returning.