Mold behind wardrobe: DIY clean or hire a pro?« Back to Previous Page

Our family villa in Jumeirah has a persistent damp smell in the downstairs guest room since the heavy rains in February. We just pulled back the corner of the large wardrobe and found a patch of black and green mold on the wall behind it. My youngest has been sneezing a lot more lately and I'm really worried about the health risks and the cost. Should I just clean it myself with bleach or is this a job for a professional mold remediation company, and roughly how much would that cost for a single room?
Posted by Anil Joshi
Asked on March 11, 2026 11:15 pm
Based on the symptoms you've described—a persistent damp smell, visible black and green mold growth, and a child exhibiting increased sneezing—this is a situation that warrants immediate professional attention, not a DIY attempt.

In Dubai's climate, the combination of high humidity and year-round air conditioning creates a perfect environment for mold to thrive, especially in concealed, poorly ventilated spaces like behind a wardrobe. The mold you see on the surface is likely just the fruiting body; the hyphae (root system) can penetrate deep into the gypsum board, making surface cleaning with bleach entirely ineffective and potentially dangerous. Bleach can aggravate the spores, causing them to become airborne and spread throughout your villa, worsening the indoor air quality and your child's allergic reactions.

A certified professional inspection is crucial. We follow UAE standards and use tools like moisture meters and thermal imaging cameras to identify the full extent of the moisture intrusion and contamination, which is almost always greater than what is visible. For a single room remediation, the cost can vary significantly based on the extent of the damage. For a contained case like this, you could be looking at a range of approximately AED 2,500 to AED 5,000. This would typically include containment setup, safe removal of contaminated materials (like the affected section of drywall), HEPA vacuuming, antimicrobial treatment, and air scrubbing to ensure the spores are removed.

Given the health risk to your family, particularly your child, we strongly advise against handling this yourself. For a definitive assessment and quote, please call our experts at 800-MOLDS (800-66537) or email hello@saniservice.com. Saniservice is equipped to handle this safely and in compliance with all necessary protocols.
Posted by Sani Admin
Answered on March 13, 2026 1:09 am