Mold in closet causing kids' persistent cough? Safe cleanup?« Back to Previous Page

Yes, the mold in your closet could very well be the cause of your children's persistent coughs. In Dubai's high humidity, closets storing seasonal items are prime spots for mold growth, especially if the room feels damp. Mold spores become airborne and are inhaled, commonly causing respiratory irritation, coughing, and worsened allergy symptoms.

For your safety, do not attempt to clean significant visible mold yourself. Disturbing it will release a massive cloud of spores, potentially making the coughs much worse. The highest priority is to isolate the area. Keep the closet closed and the room vacant until it's addressed.

The damp feeling indicates a larger humidity problem that cleaning alone won't fix. In villas here, this is often due to condensation from AC units set too high or inadequate ventilation. A professional inspection is crucial to identify the moisture source—it could be a hidden leak, poor insulation, or an AC drain issue. They can also assess the HVAC system to prevent spores from circulating.

For cleanup, this requires professional remediation. Reputable companies will seal off the area, use HEPA filtration to capture spores, safely remove contaminated materials like those sweaters, and apply targeted antimicrobial treatments. The goal is to remove the mold, not just kill it, to eliminate the allergen.

After remediation, request a post-clearance test from an independent lab to verify the spore count in the air has returned to safe levels. For future storage, use plastic bins with sealed lids instead of cardboard or fabric containers in our climate.