As for vinegar, I’m convinced my closet just absorbs that smell and releases it at the worst times.
Totally get this—my old house seems to hold onto every scent, especially vinegar. I switched to baking soda boxes in the corners and it’s helped a bit. Citrus peels are nice, but they mold fast in humid closets. Maybe try cedar blocks? They’ve worked for me, plus no salad vibes.
Cedar blocks sound interesting, but I tried those little cedar sachets and honestly, the smell was almost as strong as the vinegar. Maybe I just used too many? I’ve been sticking with baking soda too, but it doesn’t seem to do much for the humidity. Anyone ever try those little moisture absorber tubs? I keep seeing them at the hardware store but not sure if they’re worth it...
Tried those moisture absorber tubs in a rental I had a while back—one of those older places where the closets just never seemed to air out, no matter what you did. I was skeptical at first, but honestly, they worked better than I expected. The closet didn’t smell as musty, and I noticed my dress shirts weren’t coming out with that weird dampness anymore.
They do fill up kind of fast if your place is really humid, so you might end up swapping them out more often than you’d think. Not the cheapest fix in the long run, but way less hassle than dealing with mold or having to deep clean all your clothes. I tried baking soda too, but like you said, it barely made a dent in the humidity. Good for odors, not so much for actually pulling moisture out of the air.
Cedar’s great in theory, but yeah—the scent can get overpowering if you go overboard. I learned that one the hard way. Had a tenant once who loaded up her walk-in with cedar blocks and sachets... she ended up moving half of them to her garage because she couldn’t stand the smell after a few weeks.
If you’re still fighting frizz, maybe try running a small dehumidifier in there? More of an upfront investment, but if you’ve got persistent issues it might save you some headaches (and hair products) down the line. Those little absorber tubs are a decent stopgap though. Definitely worth trying before going full-on appliance mode.
- Had a similar issue in my first place—closet always felt damp, and my sweaters got that weird musty smell.
- Tried those absorber tubs too.
Totally agree. I was surprised how quick they filled up, especially during rainy weeks.“They do fill up kind of fast if your place is really humid, so you might end up swapping them out more often than you’d think.”
- I actually tried leaving the closet door cracked open with a fan running for a while. Helped a bit, but not practical long-term.
- Dehumidifier sounds smart, but I keep wondering about the noise and energy use. Anyone notice a big jump in their bill?
- Cedar’s nice in theory, but yeah... after a week it was like living in a hamster cage.
I hear you on the cedar—tried that once and my whole closet smelled like a pet store. As for dehumidifiers, I’ve run one in my basement for years. The noise isn’t terrible, more like background hum, but yeah, it does bump up the electric bill a bit if you leave it running nonstop. Have you ever looked into venting the closet itself? Sometimes just cutting a vent at the top or bottom of the door helps airflow without needing to keep it wide open all the time. Curious if anyone’s tried that route and noticed a difference?
