Yeah, those mini dehumidifiers are really just a bandaid for small spots. I’ve tried the closet door trick too—makes a bigger difference than I expected, especially if you can get a cross-breeze going. One thing I did in my last place was drill a couple of vent holes up high in the closet door and cover them with decorative grilles. Not the prettiest, but it helped airflow without leaving the door wide open all the time. For hair, I swear by a little argan oil—just a drop or two, otherwise it gets greasy fast. The humidity battle never really ends, does it?
Vent holes in the closet door are a clever workaround, even if they aren’t exactly going to win any design awards. I’ve seen people use those louvered doors, too, but honestly, they’re not my favorite look either. Still, airflow is everything when it comes to mold. I tried the “keep the door cracked” method for a while, but then my cat decided the closet was her new nap spot and that was a whole different battle.
If you’re up for a bit more of a project, I’ve heard of folks installing small, silent fans (like the ones used in computer cases) at the top of the closet to keep air moving. They’re low voltage, so you can run them off a USB adapter, and they barely use any power. Not the most elegant solution, but it’s less intrusive than leaving the door open all the time. Just make sure you don’t accidentally blow more humid air in from the rest of the house.
On the hair front, argan oil is a lifesaver, but I’ve had mixed results depending on the brand. Some are way heavier than others, and I’ve ended up looking like I haven’t washed my hair in a week. Coconut oil was a disaster for me—frizz city. I’ve started using a leave-in conditioner with a bit of silicone, which seems to help seal out the humidity without making things greasy. It’s a constant experiment, honestly.
Humidity really is relentless, especially in older houses. I sometimes wonder if it’s just a losing battle, but then again, I’ve seen some pretty dramatic improvements just by tweaking airflow and storage habits. Maybe not a total victory, but enough to keep the mold at bay and the hair somewhat manageable... most days, anyway.
I tried the “keep the door cracked” method for a while, but then my cat decided the closet was her new nap spot and that was a whole different battle.
That made me laugh—my dog did the same thing, except he’d drag shoes out and chew them to bits. I ended up putting a small dehumidifier in the closet, which helped more than I expected. It’s not silent, but it’s less hassle than fans or venting. Ever tried one of those moisture absorber tubs? Curious if they actually work long-term or just mask the problem...
Tried those moisture absorber tubs before and honestly, I wasn’t that impressed. They seemed to work for a bit, but the closet still felt damp after a few weeks. Plus, changing them out gets annoying fast. I actually had better luck just tossing a bowl of baking soda in there—sounds weird, but it soaked up some of the mustiness. Dehumidifier is probably more reliable, but yeah, the noise is a trade-off. Anyone else find the tubs just kind of...meh?
Honestly, those tubs are just a band-aid. I tried them in my old apartment and they barely made a dent—plus, the refills are a pain. Ended up just biting the bullet and getting a small dehumidifier. Yeah, it hums, but at least it actually works. Baking soda’s not bad for musty smells, but if you’ve got real moisture issues, you need something with more muscle.
