Kitchen Mold Remediation in Mira Mesa, San Diego

A slow leak under a kitchen sink in Mira Mesa, San Diego left mold hidden behind the cabinets and dishwasher. We removed it under containment following IICRC S520, passed independent clearance testing and rebuilt the cabinet run.

Project at a glance

Location: Mira Mesa, San Diego (92126)
Area: kitchen sink base, behind the dishwasher and adjoining lower cabinets
Cause: an earlier leak under the sink, already stopped (no active leak found when we ran the drain and supply)
Signs: swollen sink-base shelf, rusted dishwasher legs, cabinet base at 100% moisture
Work: containment with negative air, removal of the lower cabinet run and affected drywall, HEPA cleaning, antimicrobial, drying, third-party clearance testing, rebuild
Standard: IICRC S520

What we found

In September 2026 the kitchen looked normal (photo 1). Behind the sink base, though, the cabinet bottom read 100% moisture, the shelf was swollen, and the dishwasher's leveling legs were rusted. Once we opened it up, mold covered the drywall behind the sink and continued behind the dishwasher and the neighboring cabinets.

What we did

Sealed off the kitchen with containment and HEPA-filtered negative air.
Removed the lower cabinet run and the moldy drywall.
HEPA-vacuumed and treated the framing.
Dried the area with dehumidifiers and air movers.
Kept the upper cabinets and appliances wrapped in plastic throughout.

Result

We don't test our own work: an independent lab ran clearance testing. The first test still showed elevated spores, so we cleaned the area again and had it re-tested, and it passed. The rebuild followed: drywall, the cabinet run, and plumbing and dishwasher reconnection.

Photos from this project

Inspection day: the kitchen looked fine from the outside
Cabinets removed: mold behind the sink and dishwasher
HEPA air filtration and drying, cabinets protected
Rebuild: cabinets going back in

Questions homeowners ask

How do I know if there is mold under my kitchen sink?

Look for a swollen or soft cabinet floor, a musty smell when you open the doors, stains on the back wall, and rust on dishwasher legs or fittings. A moisture meter on the cabinet base is the quickest check.

Can the sink cabinet be saved?

Particleboard sink bases that have swollen or grown mold are normally replaced. Solid surfaces can often be cleaned.

Why use an independent clearance test?

A third-party lab has no interest in passing the job. If spores are still elevated, the area is cleaned again and re-tested before the rebuild goes ahead, as happened here.

Can I clean mold under my sink with bleach?

Bleach isn't recommended for mold cleanup: it doesn't remove growth from porous materials like drywall and particleboard. The EPA suggests homeowners can usually handle areas smaller than about 10 square feet on hard surfaces themselves. Mold on drywall or cabinets, or spreading behind them, should be removed under containment so spores don't travel through the house.

Why did the whole lower cabinet run come out?

The mold didn't stop at the sink base: it continued behind the dishwasher and the neighboring cabinets. Removing the full lower run let us reach all of the affected drywall, clean the framing and pass clearance testing before new cabinets went in.