Black mold in closet from bathroom: health risk and removal?« Back to Previous Page

Black mould in a closet backing onto a bathroom is a common issue in Dubai villas, primarily caused by high humidity and condensation from showers seeping through the walls. The consistent health risk depends on the species, but any active growth can cause irritation—sneezing, congestion, and worsened allergies—especially for those with respiratory conditions or weakened immune systems.

Your description of recent humidity despite AC use suggests a possible leak in the bathroom plumbing or insufficient ventilation, allowing moisture to accumulate in the wall cavity. For a proper assessment, a professional inspection with a moisture meter is needed to locate the water source. Simply cleaning the visible mould is a temporary fix if the underlying moisture issue isn't resolved.

In the UAE, remediation for a spread like this involves containing the area, physically removing the contaminated materials (e.g., section of drywall or ceiling), and treating the area with antimicrobial solutions. DIY bleach cleaning is not recommended as it can exacerbate spore release and doesn't address the root cause. For health safety during removal, the area should be sealed off from the rest of the home.

The best course is to have the mould professionally identified through a lab test to confirm the species and its potential toxicity, followed by targeted remediation that fixes the moisture intrusion. This is a standard process for science-driven companies with their own microbiology labs, who can provide verifiable before-and-after results to ensure the problem is truly solved.