I get what you mean about the cedar balls—mine always end up under the dresser or in some random shoe. I’m with you on the louvered doors too; they help a bit, but not a total fix. That musty “old library” vibe seems to linger no matter what, especially in older houses.
Have you ever tried using a small dehumidifier in the closet? I’ve found that sometimes it’s less about airflow and more about moisture sneaking in from somewhere—like a sneaky leak or just humidity buildup. Curious if you’ve noticed any difference with the weather or seasons? Sometimes my closets only smell weird after a string of rainy days, which makes me wonder if there’s something going on with insulation or sealing.
Honestly, I’m not totally convinced dehumidifiers are the magic fix for everyone—mine just filled up constantly and felt like a hassle. I do think you’re onto something with the insulation, though. In my place, the musty smell gets way worse after a rainy week, but if I leave the closet door cracked and run a fan, it’s not nearly as bad. Ever poke around for hidden leaks or damp spots? Sometimes it’s the tiniest crack letting in moisture you’d never expect...
Title: My Battle With Moldy Closets And Frizzy Hair
Sometimes it’s the tiniest crack letting in moisture you’d never expect...
Totally agree—those little cracks are sneaky. I’ve seen closets with a musty smell that turned out to be from a hairline gap behind the baseboard. Here’s what’s worked for me over a few remodels:
- Dehumidifiers are a mixed bag. They help, but like you said, emptying them is a pain. If you can, try a model with a hose that drains straight into a floor drain or sink. Makes life easier.
- Insulation is huge. I once pulled off drywall in a closet and found zero insulation on the exterior wall. After adding some, the damp smell dropped off fast.
- Fans help, but if you can add a louvered vent or even a small passive vent up high, it keeps air moving without running a fan 24/7.
- Check for leaks above and below. I found a closet ceiling stain once that was from a slow drip in the bathroom above—barely noticeable, but enough to keep things damp.
- If you’re up for it, peel back a bit of carpet or baseboard and check for dark spots or soft wood. Sometimes the problem’s hiding out of sight.
Funny thing—my partner always complains about frizzy hair when the closet’s musty. I swear, the humidity in there is like a weather system of its own. Once I sealed up a window frame and added a bit of foam insulation, both the smell and the hair situation improved. Not a miracle, but noticeable.
One last thing: I’ve had some luck with those moisture absorber tubs (the calcium chloride kind). They’re not a fix, but they buy you time while you hunt down the real issue.
It’s wild how much difference a tiny crack or missing bit of insulation can make. Sometimes it feels like you’re chasing ghosts, but every little fix adds up.
You nailed it with the insulation tip. I used to think my closet was just cursed until I found a cold spot behind the shelving—turns out, no insulation there either. After patching that up, the musty smell faded and my sweaters stopped feeling damp. I’m not totally sold on those moisture tubs though... they work for a bit, but I always forget to swap them out. For frizzy hair, I started hanging a small bag of rice in the closet as a DIY dehumidifier—sounds weird, but it actually helped a bit. Sometimes it’s just about stacking up the little fixes until things finally feel dry again.
they work for a bit, but I always forget to swap them out. For frizzy hair, I started hanging a small bag of rice in the closet as a DIY dehumidifier—sounds weird, but it actually helped a bit.
I get what you mean about the moisture tubs—they’re easy to forget about. But honestly, I’ve had better luck just running a small plug-in dehumidifier in the closet. The rice bag trick is clever, but for me, it never seemed to keep up with humidity in older houses. Sometimes those little fixes just aren’t enough if your place is super prone to dampness.
