I hear you on the leaky mess—those hanging dehumidifiers are a double-edged sword. I’ve used them in my old house (closets here are basically moisture traps), and they do pull a shocking amount of water at first. But yeah, if you forget about them, you’re left with a soggy pouch and sometimes even more musty smells than before.
I’ve noticed that if the closet isn’t getting enough airflow, those things can actually make clothes smell weirder. It’s like the dampness just sits there, especially if the dehumidifier is overdue for a change. I started cracking the closet door open a bit and running a small fan nearby every now and then—helped more than I expected.
Silica packs are okay for small spaces or drawers, but in my experience, they don’t keep up with an old house’s humidity. The hanging ones work better for bigger closets, but only if you remember to swap them out before they get saturated. I set a reminder on my phone now... not glamorous, but it saves me from cleaning up puddles.
If you’re still getting weird smells, maybe try tossing in some cedar blocks or even an open box of baking soda. Both seem to help with odors without adding more moisture to the mix. Old houses come with their quirks—sometimes it feels like a full-time job just keeping mold at bay. Hang in there; you’re definitely not alone in this battle.
Cracking the closet door and running a fan is a smart move—airflow makes a bigger difference than people think. I’ve tried the baking soda trick too, but sometimes it just masks the smell rather than fixing the root problem. Ever looked into adding a vent or louvered door to your closet? It’s a bit of work, but it can really help with persistent humidity. Curious if anyone’s tried that route and noticed a real change, or if it’s just another project that sounds better on paper than in practice...
I swapped out my old solid closet doors for louvered ones last year, and honestly, it made a noticeable difference.
Totally agree—it’s more than just hype. My house is from the 1920s, so moisture’s always lurking, but the louvers let things breathe way better than I expected. The musty smell faded after a few weeks, and my sweaters don’t feel damp anymore. It’s not a miracle cure, but it beats the endless cycle of baking soda and air fresheners.“Ever looked into adding a vent or louvered door to your closet? It’s a bit of work, but it can really help with persistent humidity.”
I did the same swap a couple years back—cut out panels from my old doors and added wood louvers. It’s wild how much it helps, right?
Couldn’t agree more. I used to keep a box of baking soda in every corner, but now I barely think about it. Still get a bit of frizz on humid days, but at least my shoes don’t smell like a swamp anymore.“It’s not a miracle cure, but it beats the endless cycle of baking soda and air fresheners.”
I get where you're coming from—louvers definitely help, but I’ve gotta say, I’m not totally sold on them as a long-term fix. I swapped out my closet doors for ones with big vent panels last year, thinking it’d solve everything. It did cut down on the musty smell, but honestly, the humidity still sneaks in and messes with my hair and clothes more than I’d like.
What worked better for me was actually running a small dehumidifier inside the closet. It’s not as pretty as new doors, but wow, it made a difference. No more swampy shoes or that weird damp feeling on my sweaters. The frizz is still a thing on super muggy days (can’t win ‘em all), but at least the air feels drier.
If you’re still getting that frizz and occasional funk, maybe try combining both? Louvers for airflow plus a dehumidifier to really pull the moisture out. Bit of an investment, but it’s been worth it for me—my hair and my nose are both happier now.
