Swapping out louvered doors for solid ones with a vent is a move I wish I’d thought of sooner—those slats are basically dust magnets, right? Did you notice any difference in the smell situation after insulating? I always worry about trapping musty odors in, but maybe that’s just me being paranoid. Also, did you seal up the foam board edges or just wedge them in? I tried the “good enough” method once and ended up with a squirrel-sized draft.
Funny you mention the “good enough” method—I once tried just wedging foam board in my laundry closet and ended up with a weird whistling noise every time the dryer ran. I did notice the musty smell faded a bit after sealing the edges with foil tape, though. Did you ever try running a small fan or dehumidifier in there? Sometimes it’s less about insulation and more about air flow, at least in my experience.
Did you ever try running a small fan or dehumidifier in there? Sometimes it’s less about insulation and more about air flow, at least in my experience.
I went down the dehumidifier route after trying (and failing) with just sealing gaps. Here’s what worked for me, step by step:
1. Pulled everything out of the closet—seriously, even the random socks that fall behind the dryer.
2. Cleaned all surfaces with a vinegar solution to kill any lingering mold.
3. Set up a small, plug-in dehumidifier in the corner. I got one of those compact ones that fits on a shelf.
4. Left the door cracked open whenever possible, especially after running the dryer.
5. Checked and emptied the dehumidifier tray every couple days.
I noticed a big difference in both the smell and how my clothes felt—less damp, less frizzy hair after laundry day too. Insulation helped a bit, but honestly, airflow made more of an impact than anything else. The whistling noise thing is real though... I had to reposition my foam board after it started making weird sounds every time the washer spun up. Sometimes “good enough” turns into “good enough for now,” right?
Funny, I had almost the same experience with airflow making a bigger difference than insulation. I tried weatherstripping and even some fancy closet liners, but nothing beat just cracking the door and letting a fan run for a bit. The dehumidifier definitely helped with that musty smell too. Did you ever try one of those moisture absorber tubs? I tossed a couple in the corners and they seemed to help, but maybe that was just wishful thinking... Also, curious if you noticed any difference in your energy bill after running the dehumidifier more often?
Yeah, airflow really is the unsung hero in these situations. I used to obsess over insulation and fancy liners too, but honestly, just propping the door open and letting a fan do its thing made the biggest difference for me.
- Tried those moisture absorber tubs—mixed results. They seemed to help a bit with dampness, but I wouldn’t call them a game changer. Maybe more of a psychological boost than anything else.
- Dehumidifier definitely helped with the musty smell, but yeah, it did nudge my energy bill up a little. Not crazy high, but noticeable if you’re running it 24/7. I started using it on a timer or just during the most humid parts of the day to balance things out.
You’re not imagining things—sometimes simple fixes like airflow and targeted dehumidifying work better than all the “miracle” products out there. It’s kind of satisfying when something low-tech actually does the trick.
