I hear you on the guinea pig cage smell—cedar’s supposed to help, but it just made my closet smell like a pet store. I ended up using those little moisture absorber tubs from the dollar store, and they actually sucked up a scary amount of water. Ever tried one of those dehumidifier bags? I’m half convinced my house is just a giant sponge some days...
Cedar’s one of those things that sounds great in theory, but yeah, it can totally backfire with the smell. I’ve seen a lot of folks try those moisture absorber tubs and honestly, they do pull a surprising amount of water out of the air. It’s kind of wild how much moisture can build up in a closet, especially if your house tends to run humid.
Dehumidifier bags are a decent step up, but if you’re still fighting that musty smell and the frizzy hair (been there—humidity is relentless), you might want to check for any sneaky leaks or gaps around windows or baseboards. Sometimes it’s not just the air, but a little water intrusion making things worse. Even just running a small fan in the closet for a few hours a day can help keep things drier.
Don’t get discouraged—humidity’s a pain, but you’re definitely not alone. It’s a process, but every little thing you do helps chip away at the problem. And hey, at least you’re not ignoring it like half the people I know...
I get what you’re saying about moisture absorbers and dehumidifier bags, but honestly, I haven’t had much luck with those long-term. They fill up fast, and then it’s just another thing to remember to replace. I actually went with a rechargeable mini dehumidifier—one of those silica gel ones with the color-changing beads. It’s not perfect, but I feel like it’s less hassle than constantly tossing out those little tubs.
Also, have you tried just leaving the closet door open more often? Sounds simple, but it made a bigger difference for me than I expected. I still use cedar blocks, but I sand them down every once in a while so they don’t get that stale smell. Not a cure-all, but it helps.
I actually went with a rechargeable mini dehumidifier—one of those silica gel ones with the color-changing beads.
Leaving the closet door open does help, but in my experience, it’s more of a band-aid than a fix. I’ve seen a lot of folks try those silica gel dehumidifiers—like you mentioned, they’re less hassle, but if your closet’s on an exterior wall or near a bathroom, you might be fighting a losing battle. I once had a client who finally just drilled some vent holes up high and low on the closet wall (covered with grilles), and that made a world of difference. Not the prettiest solution, but it actually worked. Sometimes you gotta get a little more hands-on if you want to stop mold for good.
Drilling vent holes is definitely a bold move, but I get why it works—airflow really is everything with these stubborn closets. The silica gel dehumidifiers are a nice low-impact option, though, especially if you’re trying to avoid more invasive fixes. Sometimes it’s about finding that balance between practicality and aesthetics, right? I’ve seen folks line the closet wall with cedar planks too... not a cure-all, but it does help with both moisture and musty smells.
