Can I clean large mold patch myself or hire professional?« 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 the wardrobe in our master bedroom. We've lived here for 2 years and just noticed it when we moved the furniture to clean. It's a pretty big black patch on the wall, maybe two feet across. Is this something I can clean myself with bleach or do I need to call a professional company to handle it?
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A patch that size, especially hidden behind furniture, suggests a deeper moisture issue that needs addressing. In Dubai's climate, with high humidity and constant AC use, mold often grows due to condensation or a hidden leak in the wall. Simply cleaning the surface won't fix the source.
For a two-foot patch, DIY with bleach is not recommended. Bleach only removes surface discoloration and does not kill the mold roots (hyphae) within porous materials like drywall or plaster. It can also release a large number of spores into the air, potentially worsening your children's respiratory symptoms. The priority is identifying and stopping the moisture source—this could be a leaking pipe in the wall, condensation from an AC unit, or moisture wicking from the slab. Given the size and the health symptoms, a professional inspection is strongly advised. They will use moisture meters to find the water source and assess the extent of the growth, which is often larger than what's visible. Remediation involves containing the area, safely removing affected materials, and using HEPA filtration to capture spores. For verification, post-remediation testing by an independent lab is the standard to confirm the environment is safe. This process is crucial to ensure the coughs subside and the mold does not return. |
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