Louvered doors, huh? That’s actually a solid move. I’ve swapped out more than a few closet doors for folks who were desperate to get rid of that musty funk. It’s wild how much difference a little airflow can make. I mean, you can throw all the fancy dehumidifiers and odor-eating gadgets at the problem, but if the air’s just sitting there, it’s like you’re fighting a losing battle.
I remember this one job—older house, tiny closets, and the owner was obsessed with keeping her vintage coats in good shape. She’d tried every trick in the book: cedar blocks, baking soda, even those little silica gel packs you find in shoe boxes. Nothing really worked until we cut in some vents and swapped the solid doors for slatted ones. She swore her wool coats stopped smelling like a wet dog after that.
I do get why people try the charcoal bags, though. They’re cheap, and you don’t have to break out the power tools. But honestly, unless you’ve got a serious airflow problem, they’re just not enough. Sometimes I wonder if people underestimate how much humidity and air circulation play into all this. You get a closet packed tight with sweaters and coats, no room for air to move, and it’s like a little greenhouse in there.
Funny thing is, I’ve seen folks go the opposite direction too—sealing everything up tight thinking it’ll keep the moisture out, but it just traps it all in. It’s kind of counterintuitive, but sometimes less “protection” is actually better for your stuff.
And don’t even get me started on frizzy hair. My wife’s got curls and she swears the closet air messes with her hair products. Maybe there’s something to that... or maybe it’s just the humidity in general. Either way, I’m convinced airflow is half the battle, whether you’re fighting mold or bad hair days.
I’ll admit, I used to think the answer was just to throw more “stuff” at the problem—more sachets, more moisture traps, more whatever the hardware store was pushing. But you’re right, if there’s no air moving, it’s like storing your clothes in a swamp. My house is from the 1920s, and those closets were basically little sealed tombs for anything made of wool. I tried everything short of a séance before giving up and drilling vent holes. Louvered doors made way more difference than I expected.
Funny thing about humidity—mine’s so bad in summer that even my hairbrush gets frizzy, and I don’t have nearly as much to deal with as my partner does. She swears the closet makes her leave-in conditioner work overtime. I still say it’s the weather, but who knows? Either way, letting the air move has helped with both the mold and the hair drama. Just don’t pack your closets so tight you need a crowbar to get a shirt out... learned that one the hard way.
Louvered doors really are a game changer, aren’t they? I had the exact same experience—my 1918 place came with those coffin-like closets, and for years I thought cedar blocks and silica gel were enough. Turns out, “little sealed tombs” is spot on. Once I swapped to louvered doors and added a small fan on a timer, it was like night and day.
“if there’s no air moving, it’s like storing your clothes in a swamp.”
That’s exactly how it felt here too. Did you notice any difference in how your clothes actually smell? Mine went from that weird musty undertone to almost nothing at all. I’m still not sure if it’s the weather or the closet that makes the hair situation worse—maybe both? My partner blames the old plaster walls for holding onto moisture, but I think it’s just our climate being dramatic.
Ever try running a dehumidifier nearby? I found that helped during the worst weeks, though it’s kind of a pain to empty. And yeah, overstuffed closets are basically an invitation for mold... plus, who wants to iron everything again after prying it out?
I’ve always wondered if the old plaster is part of the problem too—mine seems to “sweat” in the summer. I did try a dehumidifier, but honestly, it was more hassle than help unless I ran it constantly. Louvered doors plus a fan made the biggest difference for me. As for the hair, I swear it’s worse when the closet’s musty, but maybe that’s just in my head...
I’ve always wondered if the old plaster is part of the problem too—mine seems to “sweat” in the summer. I did try a dehumidifier, but honestly, it was more hassle than help unless I ran it ...
I totally get what you mean about the plaster “sweating”—mine does the same, and I’m convinced it’s half the battle with these old houses. I actually think you’re onto something with the musty air making hair frizzier. Maybe it’s not just in your head after all. I’ve found that running a small fan in the closet (even just a few hours a day) helps more than any dehumidifier ever did. The louvered doors are a game changer too. Sometimes I wonder if these quirks are just part of the charm… or a test of patience.
