How to quickly treat mold in closet professionally?« Back to Previous Page
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My kids have been coughing and I suspect it might be our bedroom closet. I was putting away winter clothes today in our Marina apartment and found a bunch of black, fuzzy spots on the back wall and on a couple of leather jackets. We keep the AC on all the time so it feels dry, but it must be humid in there.
What’s the fastest way to get this professionally cleaned and treated so it doesn’t come back?
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First, isolate the affected area. Keep the closet closed and the bedroom door shut to prevent spores from spreading, especially important with children present. Do not attempt to clean it yourself with bleach or other household cleaners, as this can aerosolize the spores and often fails to address the root cause, leading to quick regrowth.
The fastest professional approach is a two-step process: proper diagnosis followed by targeted remediation. A certified inspector should first conduct an assessment, which typically includes moisture mapping to find the water source and air or surface sampling to identify the mold type. In Dubai's climate, the issue is rarely just the closet; it's often hidden condensation from the AC system, a leak in the external wall common in Marina apartments, or humidity being trapped in enclosed spaces despite the AC running. For remediation, the gold standard is containment and removal. Expect the professionals to seal off the area with plastic sheeting, use HEPA-filtered negative air machines to create negative pressure, physically remove the contaminated materials (like the affected drywall or insulation), and then HEPA-vacuum and treat the area with antimicrobial solutions. Merely fogging or spraying is insufficient. The critical step is fixing the moisture source—this could be insulating cold water pipes, repairing a sealant failure on the exterior wall, or adjusting your AC system to better manage humidity levels. For a lasting solution, request a post-remediation verification test from a third-party lab to confirm the spore count inside the contained area matches the outside ambient levels. This is the only way to be sure the problem is resolved. Reputable companies here should be able to provide this documented evidence and hold certifications from bodies like the IICRC. |
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