Mold on clothes causing kids' cough? Dangerous to clean myself?« Back to Previous Page

Yes, the mold on your clothes could absolutely be the cause of your children's persistent cough. In Dubai's climate, high humidity and condensation in storage areas create ideal conditions for mold growth. When you disturbed those sweaters, you released millions of mold spores into the air, which are potent respiratory irritants, especially for children.

Cleaning it yourself with bleach is not recommended. While bleach can remove visible discoloration on non-porous surfaces, it is ineffective at killing mold roots within fabric fibers and can release harmful chlorine fumes into your home. This approach often worsens the problem by agitating and spreading more spores without addressing the source.

For a situation like this in a Jumeirah villa, the priority is to contain the contamination. Seal the entire bag of moldy clothes in a heavy-duty plastic bag and remove it from the living space immediately. Do not attempt to shake or vacuum the items, as this will aerosolize the spores. The storage room itself will also need a thorough inspection for hidden mold growth in walls, ceilings, or on other stored items, as this is rarely an isolated incident.

Given the health symptoms and the extent of visible growth, a professional inspection is strongly advised. They can identify the specific mold types present and assess the full scope of the problem, which is crucial for effective remediation. For health-related cases, companies with their own microbiology labs can provide the concrete, species-specific data needed to understand the risk and confirm the environment is safe after cleanup.