Honestly, a cheap stick-on vent or even drilling a couple holes up high made more difference than any paint or vinegar.
Totally get where you’re coming from. I tried the “door open” trick too—just ended up with dust bunnies and my dog thinking the closet was his new den. The stick-on vent thing worked way better for me, especially after I realized my closet was basically a sauna for sweaters. Paint and vinegar felt like putting a bandaid on a leaky pipe. Sometimes you just gotta let the house breathe a little more, even if it means busting out the drill.
Funny you mention the “door open” trick—I did that for a while and just ended up with my cat nesting in my shoes. Never thought about how much air flow matters until I moved into this older house. Tried baking soda, tried vinegar, even tried those charcoal bags. Nothing really stuck until I put in a vent up top. It’s wild how much of a difference just a couple holes can make. Sometimes I wonder if all the fancy “mold-proof” paints are just marketing, honestly. Letting things breathe seems to be the real fix, at least for me.
Sometimes I wonder if all the fancy “mold-proof” paints are just marketing, honestly. Letting things breathe seems to be the real fix, at least for me.
- Totally get that. In older homes, airflow is usually the biggest game changer.
- I’ve seen “mold-proof” paint help only when the source issue’s already fixed… otherwise, it’s just covering up problems.
- Curious—how’s your humidity overall? Sometimes it’s not just airflow but what’s coming in from outside or below (crawlspaces, basements).
- Ever try a small fan or dehumidifier in there? Sometimes those work better than any paint or powder.
I’ve seen “mold-proof” paint help only when the source issue’s already fixed… otherwise, it’s just covering up problems.
Totally agree with this. I’ve worked on plenty of places where folks tried every “miracle” paint out there, and the mold just came right back because the closet was basically a sauna. Sometimes it’s as simple as a cracked window or a vent that needs cleaning. Have you noticed if it’s worse after rain or in certain seasons? That can be a clue, too. Mold’s stubborn, but you’re definitely not alone in this fight.
Moldy closets and frizzy hair—honestly, that’s the story of half my clients in humid climates. I’ve seen people shell out for every “anti-mold” paint on the shelf, but if the closet’s holding onto moisture, it’s like putting a band-aid on a leaky pipe. One time, I had a client who swore by these little moisture absorber tubs, but she kept forgetting to swap them out... so the closet just smelled like musty lavender.
I’ve found that sometimes it’s about airflow more than anything. Even just leaving the closet door cracked open a bit helps. And yeah, rain season? That’s when things get wild—closets, hair, everything. I do wonder if anyone’s ever invented a dehumidifier that also tames frizz, because I’d buy that in a heartbeat.
Anyway, I’m with you—miracle paints are great marketing, but they’re not magic. Sometimes it’s the boring stuff (like cleaning vents or fixing seals) that actually works.
