I had a similar experience with moisture-absorbing paint, and honestly, it didn't impress me either. A few years back, I renovated an older home with closets that seemed to attract moisture like magnets. I tried the specialty paint thinking it'd be a quick fix, but after a month or two, I realized it wasn't doing much more than regular latex paint would have done. Maybe it helped slightly, but nothing significant enough to justify the extra cost.
What actually made a noticeable difference for me was installing small vent grilles at the top and bottom of the closet doors. It wasn't a complicated project—just a matter of cutting neat openings and fitting the vents, which you can get cheaply at any hardware store. The improvement in airflow was immediate, and within a couple of weeks, the musty smell started fading away. I also placed a couple of those calcium chloride moisture absorbers inside, and they filled up surprisingly fast at first, but eventually slowed down as humidity stabilized.
One thing to keep in mind: if your closet shares a wall with a bathroom or laundry area, double-check for hidden leaks or condensation issues behind the drywall. I once had a closet that stayed stubbornly damp no matter what I did, and it turned out there was a slow leak from the shower plumbing behind the wall. Once I fixed that, the humidity dropped significantly.
As for frizzy hair...well, I'm afraid that's beyond my DIY expertise. But getting humidity under control definitely helps!
Did you notice a big difference with the calcium chloride absorbers? I've been debating trying those but wasn't sure if they'd actually do much. And yeah, frizzy hair is a whole other beast...humidity hates us curly-haired folks, lol.
"Did you notice a big difference with the calcium chloride absorbers? I've been debating trying those but wasn't sure if they'd actually do much."
I've tried those calcium chloride absorbers in my basement closet, and honestly...results were mixed. They definitely pulled moisture out—I could see the water collecting—but it didn't completely solve the mold issue. Maybe my humidity was just too intense? Have you checked if there's enough airflow in your closet? Sometimes that's the real culprit. And yeah, curly hair vs humidity is a never-ending battle...I feel your pain, lol.
Sometimes that's the real culprit. And yeah, curly hair vs humidity is a never-ending battle...I feel your pain, lol.
I've had similar experiences with those calcium chloride absorbers. They helped a bit—definitely saw water collecting—but it wasn't enough to totally fix the mold issue in my old house. Eventually, I realized airflow was key. Adding a small fan and leaving the closet door cracked open made a noticeable difference. And yeah, humidity plus curly hair...story of my life, haha.
I've had similar luck with those calcium chloride things—good for minor dampness but not a real fix for mold. Airflow definitely helps, but sometimes it's just the house itself. My old place was built in the 40s, and no matter what I did, humidity was always lurking around. Eventually had to bite the bullet and install a small dehumidifier in the worst closet. It wasn't ideal (bit noisy and took up space), but it finally stopped that musty smell from coming back.
As for curly hair...I swear mine can predict rain better than any weather app, lol. I've tried every anti-frizz serum out there, but nothing beats just accepting the chaos some days.
Have you noticed if certain closet materials or shelving types seem to make mold worse? I've wondered if wood shelves vs wire racks make a difference...
