Why Your Towels, Cloths, or Bags Keep Growing Mould (And What It Really Means About Your Home)

If you have started noticing yellow dots on your towels, a musty smell coming from your gym bag, or strange discolouration on stored cloth items, you are not imagining it. These are early signs of mould, and they are incredibly common in Singapore homes.

What many people do not realise is this.

When fabric items start growing mould, it is rarely about the item itself. It is a sign that your home environment is feeding mould growth.

Why Fabric Items Get Mouldy So Easily in Singapore

Singapore’s humidity is the biggest culprit. Moisture gets trapped inside fabrics far more easily than hard surfaces. Once the fibres stay damp long enough, mould begins to grow.

Here are the most common reasons we see during inspections:

• Towels not fully dried before being folded or hung

• Bathroom humidity staying high for long periods after showers

• Bags stored in closed wardrobes with zero airflow

• Cloth items absorbing moisture from damp walls or flooring

• Poor bedroom and wardrobe ventilation

• Aircon condensation dripping onto nearby fabrics

• Poorly dried laundry being brought indoors too early

Because fabric holds moisture, mould can develop within twenty four to forty eight hours under the right conditions.

Why This Happens Even if You Clean Your Home Regularly

Many homeowners think mould on towels or bags means they did not dry them properly. But cleaning habits are not the real issue.

We have seen mould grow on:

• Clean towels

• Fresh laundry

• New handbags

• Gym bags used only a few times

• Cloths stored inside sealed drawers

The truth is simple.

If mould is growing on any fabric item, the humidity in your home is higher than what the material can tolerate.

This usually means the room is above sixty percent humidity, which is extremely common in Singapore.

Common Places We Find Mouldy Fabric Items

At Sterng, these are the hotspots we repeatedly see inside Singapore homes:

• Towels hung behind the bathroom door

• Bags stored on the floor of wardrobes

• Microfibre cloths left under sinks

• Canvas bags stored in drawers

• Clothes packed tightly together

• Leather bags showing mould spots on straps and seams

These areas trap humidity or have zero ventilation, creating mould friendly pockets.

Can Mould Damage Your Towels, Bags, or Clothing

Yes, and often permanently.

Fabric mould can cause:

• Permanent discolouration

• Weakening of fibres

• Musty odours that never fully go away

• Damage to leather surfaces

• Patchy yellow stains

• Colour fading on long stored fabrics

Once mould roots enter the fibres, some damage cannot be reversed.

The Connection Between Mouldy Fabrics and Your Home Environment

This is the part most people overlook.

When we find mould on towels or bags, it almost always means:

• The room’s ventilation is failing

• Humidity is consistently above safe levels

• There may be hidden mould nearby

• Moisture is accumulating inside enclosed spaces

If your fabrics smell musty or develop yellow spots, it is a clear environmental red flag.

How Sterng Can Help

At Sterng, we look beyond surface symptoms. When fabric items grow mould, we inspect the home for:

• Hidden mould in walls, ceilings, or wardrobes

• Poor airflow or ventilation problems

• Moisture intrusion from windows, aircon leaks, or bathrooms

We treat the mould at its root using a high alkaline solution. We fog the room to neutralise airborne spores and guide you on long term humidity control.

This prevents the mould from returning on your walls and on your fabrics.

Final Thoughts

When towels, bags, or cloth items turn mouldy, it is not just a laundry problem.

It is your home trying to tell you something.

Ignoring it can lead to recurring mould, damaged belongings, and unhealthy air quality. But when the underlying humidity and airflow issues are fixed, the mould stops coming back.

If your towels, bags, or clothes keep growing mould, Sterng offers free inspections across Singapore. Tap here to WhatsApp us and we will help you resolve the issue before it spreads further.