Charcoal bags are pretty solid for closets, but yeah, they need a bit of babysitting. I usually toss mine out in the sun every month or so—depends on how musty things get. If you forget, they just stop working as well, but no big deal.
Baking soda’s a classic, but it does clump up fast if there’s real humidity. I’ve had better luck putting it in a shallow, open container instead of dumping it straight onto a shelf or into a sock. Less mess, easier to swap out.
Those USB dehumidifiers are interesting. I tried one in a tiny bathroom—honestly, it pulled out more water than I expected, but you do have to empty the tank a lot. For a closet, it might be overkill unless you’ve got a real moisture problem. The upfront cost is a bit much, but at least you’re not tossing out bags or boxes every few weeks.
Low-tech is great, but sometimes you just want to set it and forget it, you know? If only there was a gadget that could fix frizzy hair and moldy closets at the same time...
Baking soda’s a classic, but it does clump up fast if there’s real humidity.
That bit about the USB dehumidifier made me laugh—been there. I tried one in a rental property’s closet and, yeah, it worked, but emptying that tiny tank got old fast. Here’s what’s worked for me: I use a combo approach. First, I stick with the charcoal bags (like you said, “they need a bit of babysitting”), but I also add a small fan on a timer to keep air moving. It’s not fancy, but it keeps things drier and helps with that musty smell. As for frizzy hair...if only closet solutions worked on that too. Maybe one day.
Charcoal bags and fans are clever, but I’ve gotta throw my two cents in for the old-school route: cracked open closet doors. I know, I know—everyone wants their closets shut tight, but in my 1920s house, those doors are basically decorative anyway. If I keep them closed, it’s like a spa day for mold.
“I use a combo approach. First, I stick with the charcoal bags (like you said, ‘they need a bit of babysitting’), but I also add a small fan on a timer to keep air moving.”
I tried the fan thing, but the hum drove me nuts at night. And the charcoal bags? My cat thinks they’re toys. I just prop the door open with a shoe, let the air do its thing, and honestly, it’s made a bigger difference than any gadget. Downside: you have to be okay with seeing your mess. Upside: less musty funk, and I haven’t had to empty a tank or replace a bag in months.
As for frizzy hair, if anyone figures out a way to ventilate that, I’m all ears.
Title: My Battle With Moldy Closets And Frizzy Hair
Cracked closet doors are totally underrated. I’ve spent way too much money on “miracle” closet gadgets—charcoal bags, moisture absorbers, even those little plug-in dehumidifiers that sound like a jet engine taking off. Half the time, I forget to empty them and then I’m just growing science experiments in the corner. But just leaving the door open? Low-tech genius.
I do get what you mean about the mess being on display. My “system” is basically a pile of shoes and a tangle of scarves that looks like a raccoon’s nest. But hey, at least it doesn’t smell like one anymore.
Funny thing—my house is from the 1940s and those closets are basically glorified cubby holes. I tried putting in louvered doors for “ventilation,” but all it did was let my dog stick his nose in and steal socks. At this point, I’m convinced old houses were designed by people who never owned more than two shirts.
The frizzy hair thing cracks me up because every time I try to fix the humidity for my clothes, my hair rebels. It’s like, pick your battles: smooth sweaters or smooth hair, but never both. Has anyone actually found a way to keep both under control? I’ve tried those little closet dehumidifier packs and a fancy ionic hairbrush (total scam), but nothing seems to work for both at once.
Curious if anyone’s tried running a small dehumidifier just during the day and then cracking the door at night? Or is that just doubling up on pointless effort? Sometimes I feel like my house is winning this war...
I’ve actually tried the day dehumidifier/night cracked door combo, and honestly, it helped a bit with the musty smell but didn’t do much for my hair. The only thing that really made a difference was getting a humidity monitor—turns out my closet was way more humid than the rest of the house. Ended up sealing some gaps and running a small fan in there for air movement. Not glamorous, but it works better than any gadget I bought. Hair’s still frizzy though... can’t win ‘em all.
