Could mold in clothes cause my kids' coughing?« Back to Previous Page

Based on the symptoms and your description, it is highly probable that the mold growth on the stored clothing is a significant contributor to your children's persistent coughing. The black fuzzy spots are indicative of a active colony, likely a common type like Cladosporium or Stachybotrys (black mold), which are known respiratory irritants. When disturbed, these molds release microscopic spores and mycotoxins into the air, which are then inhaled, triggering allergic reactions, asthma-like symptoms, and chronic coughing.

The climate in Dubai is a primary catalyst for this issue. The recent period of high humidity, combined with the enclosed, likely poorly ventilated space under your stairs, creates a perfect microenvironment for mold proliferation. Year-round air conditioning can also contribute if condensation forms and is not addressed.

Cleaning the clothes yourself is not advised. Washing or brushing the moldy fabrics will aerosolize a high concentration of spores, potentially contaminating your entire living area and exacerbating your children's health issues. Standard washing may not kill the mold roots (hyphae) or remove mycotoxins.

For a situation involving health symptoms and visible growth, a professional inspection is critical. We would perform air and surface sampling to identify the spore types and concentration levels, which is essential for determining the correct remediation protocol. The contaminated textiles require specialized hygienization treatment, such as dry steam cleaning or antimicrobial fogging, to safely eradicate the biological contaminants.

Do not attempt to clean this yourself. For the safety of your family, I strongly recommend you call our team for a comprehensive assessment. Please contact Saniservice at 800-MOLDS (800-66537) or email hello@saniservice.com to schedule an inspection.