Is mold in our clothes causing family illness?« Back to Previous Page

Yes, the mold on your clothes is very likely contributing to your family's persistent runny nose and cough. This is a common scenario in Dubai, where high humidity and condensation in enclosed spaces like storage cupboards create ideal conditions for mold growth. The damp, earthy smell confirms active microbial growth, and its spores are now airborne in your home, irritating respiratory systems.

Stop using that cupboard immediately and do not attempt to clean the moldy clothes yourself. Disturbing the mold will release a large number of spores. For porous items like jackets and sweaters, professional mold remediation cleaning is often the only way to salvage them; home washing usually won't remove deep spores or mycotoxins.

The visible mold on the clothes is a symptom of a larger problem in that enclosed space. You need to identify and address the moisture source, which is often condensation from AC ducting running through the ceiling or a small, unnoticed water leak. Simply cleaning the surface won't prevent it from returning.

For a situation of this scale with health symptoms already present, a professional inspection is strongly advised. They will identify the moisture source, assess the full extent of the contamination (which often spreads inside walls), and perform air quality testing to gauge spore levels. Remediation must include fixing the moisture issue, physically removing the contaminated materials, and using HEPA filtration to clean the air. In the UAE, look for providers who can conduct before-and-after testing to verify the environment has been returned to a safe, acceptable standard.