Found black mold in apartment; clean myself or call pro?« Back to Previous Page

Given Dubai's high humidity and your description of the location, a professional inspection is strongly recommended. The spot behind the sofa is a classic sign of condensation buildup, where the cold wall from the AC meets the warm, trapped air, creating a perfect environment for mold. The persistent cough in your children is a significant indicator that the issue may be affecting indoor air quality.

For a small, surface-level patch (under ~1 sq. ft), you can carefully clean it with a diluted detergent solution, but this only addresses the visible growth, not the underlying moisture problem or any hidden spores. However, given that the mold is on a structural element (wall/floor junction) and there are health symptoms involved, a DIY approach is not advisable. The mold may have penetrated the porous materials like concrete or drywall.

A certified inspector will use moisture meters and thermal imaging to find the moisture source—often a tiny plumbing leak or insufficient insulation—and can take air and surface samples for lab analysis to identify the species. This is crucial, as some types common in UAE apartments, like Aspergillus, can be more problematic. They provide a verified report that details the contamination level and necessary remediation steps, which is often required for landlords to authorize and pay for the repairs. The goal is to resolve the cause, not just the symptom, to ensure your family's health.