Why Your Storeroom Smells Musty All Year Round in Singapore Homes

If your storeroom always smells damp no matter how often you clean, you are not imagining things. Storerooms are one of the most common places where mould grows quietly in Singapore homes.

Many homeowners only realise something is wrong when boxes start smelling, items feel sticky, or mould appears suddenly on stored belongings.

Let us break down why storerooms are such a problem and what actually stops mould from forming there.

Why Storerooms Trap Moisture So Easily

Most storerooms are small, enclosed, and have little to no ventilation. Doors stay closed for long periods, and air rarely circulates. In Singapore’s humid climate, moisture builds up quickly inside these spaces.

Common contributing factors include:

• No windows or ventilation openings

• Doors kept shut most of the time

• Cardboard boxes absorbing moisture

• Items stored directly on the floor

• Warm air entering but never escaping

Over time, the air inside becomes damp and stale. This creates the perfect environment for mould to grow.

Where Mould Commonly Forms in Storerooms

During inspections, we usually find mould in these areas:

• On cardboard boxes and paper packaging

• On walls behind stacked items

• Along floor edges and skirting boards

• On fabric items like bags or luggage

• On ceilings in enclosed storerooms

Mould often spreads unnoticed because storerooms are rarely checked.

Why Musty Smells Never Fully Go Away

Many homeowners try airing the storeroom once in a while or using deodorising products. While this helps temporarily, it does not remove trapped moisture or active mould spores.

The smell returns because:

• Humidity inside the room stays high

• Mould continues feeding on stored materials

• Airflow is still limited

• The root cause has never been treated

As long as the environment stays damp, mould will continue growing.

Why Cleaning Alone Is Not Enough

Wiping shelves or throwing away affected boxes only addresses what you can see. Mould spores remain on surfaces and in the air. When conditions are right, they grow again.

This is why many homeowners clean the storeroom multiple times a year but never fully solve the problem.

How to Properly Prevent Storeroom Mould

To stop mould from returning, the environment inside the storeroom must change.

This includes:

• Improving airflow by opening doors regularly

• Using a dehumidifier consistently

• Replacing cardboard with plastic storage bins

• Elevating items off the floor

• Treating existing mould properly at the root

Once moisture levels drop, mould can no longer survive.

How Sterng Can Help

At Sterng, we inspect storerooms for early mould growth.

Our process usually includes:

• Assessing humidity and airflow

• Treating affected surfaces with a high alkaline solution

• Fogging the space to neutralise airborne spores

• Advising on long term moisture control

This approach removes both the mould and the conditions that cause it.

Final Thoughts

A musty storeroom is not just unpleasant. It is a sign that moisture is trapped and mould is actively growing. In Singapore homes, enclosed storage spaces need just as much attention as bedrooms and toilets.

If your storeroom smells damp or keeps growing mould, Sterng offers free inspections across Singapore. Tap here to WhatsApp us and we will help you stop the problem at its source.