My hair’s still frizzy (thanks, humidity), but at least my clothes don’t smell like they’ve been marinating in an old basement.
That “band-aid on a leaky boat” feeling with DampRid is all too familiar. In my experience, those old houses hide moisture in the oddest places—sometimes it’s not just gaps but also cold wall surfaces that let condensation build up behind furniture. I’ve found that leaving closet doors slightly ajar helps a bit, though it’s hardly a perfect solution. Venting definitely makes a difference, but I’m always surprised at how persistent that musty smell can be, even after sealing things up. It’s almost like these homes have their own stubborn personalities…
Those old houses really do have a mind of their own when it comes to moisture. I’ve spent more weekends than I care to admit chasing down that musty smell—sometimes it’s like playing hide and seek with a ghost. I totally get what you mean about cold wall surfaces. I once pulled a dresser away from an exterior wall and found the back was practically sweating. Ended up putting those little felt pads on the corners just to keep it off the wall a bit, which helped more than I expected.
Leaving closet doors open does help, but I’ve also had some luck with those small, rechargeable dehumidifiers. They’re not a cure-all, but they’re less messy than DampRid and you can tuck them behind shoes or on a shelf. Still, nothing beats a good cross-breeze—if you can get one going. Sometimes I wonder if these houses just like to keep us on our toes...
I hear you on the cross-breeze—sometimes I feel like I’m just moving the musty air from one room to another. Have you tried putting a fan in the closet for a few hours? I did that last summer and it actually made a difference, at least for a bit. Those rechargeable dehumidifiers sound interesting, though. Are they pricey to keep running, or do they last a while before needing a recharge? I’m always looking for something that won’t break the bank.
sometimes I feel like I’m just moving the musty air from one room to another
That’s exactly how it feels, right? I’ve tried the fan trick too, and it helped a bit, but only temporarily. About those rechargeable dehumidifiers—honestly, they’re not too bad on cost if you get the silica gel ones. They last a few weeks before you need to plug them in for a recharge, so you’re not running up your electric bill. Have you noticed if certain closets are worse than others? Sometimes it’s just one spot that’s the real culprit.
Moldy closets and frizzy hair—story of my life, honestly. Here’s how it goes down in my house:
- I’ve got one closet that’s basically a humidity magnet. The others are fine, but this one? It’s like it’s trying to grow its own ecosystem.
- Tried the fan thing too. All it did was make my socks smell like “musty air on high speed.”
- Those silica gel dehumidifiers are decent, but I swear mine fills up faster than my coffee mug on Monday mornings. Maybe it’s just that one closet being cursed?
- I once tried putting a bowl of baking soda in there (Pinterest hack). It worked for about a week, then the musty smell came back with a vengeance.
- My electric bill is already high enough from the kids leaving lights on everywhere, so I’m not about to run a full-size dehumidifier 24/7. The rechargeable ones are a decent compromise, but I wish they lasted longer between charges.
Funny thing—my hair gets frizzier the closer I get to that closet. Coincidence? I think not.
If anyone ever invents a closet that cleans itself and keeps everything dry, I’ll be first in line... until then, it’s just me, my silica gel packs, and a prayer that my sweaters don’t start sprouting mushrooms.
