Mold in wardrobe causing kids' coughs - safe to clean?« Back to Previous Page

Mold in your wardrobe is very likely contributing to your children's persistent coughs. The dampness in your Deira bedroom creates an ideal environment for mold growth, and its spores become airborne, irritating the respiratory system. Children are particularly susceptible to these irritants, which can manifest as coughing, congestion, and worsened allergy symptoms.

For your safety, do not attempt to clean significant mold growth yourself, especially with children present. Disturbing it releases a high concentration of spores. The safest first step is to isolate the affected items. Seal the moldy sweaters in a plastic bag and remove them from the home. Keep the wardrobe closed and the bedroom door shut to contain the area.

The root cause must be addressed; in Dubai's climate, this dampness is often due to high humidity levels and condensation from AC units. A common issue in older buildings is an AC that is oversized for the room, causing it to cool the air too quickly without properly dehumidifying it, leaving the space cold and damp.

For a situation involving child health, a professional inspection is strongly recommended. They can identify the mold species through lab testing to confirm the health risk and locate the moisture source—whether it's a leaking pipe, poor insulation, or an AC issue. Reputable remediation will involve containing the area, using HEPA filtration to capture spores, and removing the contaminated materials.

Until you can get an assessment, improve ventilation in the room. Run a dehumidifier if you have one and ensure your AC unit is set to a reasonable temperature, ideally between 22-24°C, to help it manage humidity more effectively.