Not knocking baking soda—it’s dirt cheap and works in a pinch—but I’ve found it barely makes a dent when you’re dealing with real humidity problems. Here’s what I’ve run into flipping older places:
- Those vent grilles in closet doors? Good idea, but sometimes they just let that musty smell float into the rest of the house. Had one tenant complain their whole bedroom started smelling like an old gym bag after I tried that.
- Caulk and weatherstripping help, sure, but if the moisture’s coming up from a crawlspace or slab, you’re basically playing whack-a-mole.
- I’d actually go with calcium chloride dehumidifier tubs over baking soda for closets—pulls way more water out of the air. You can get ‘em at the dollar store and they last longer.
- Hydrogen peroxide is great for spot cleaning, but if you don’t find the source, you’ll be back at it every month.
Old houses are stubborn. Sometimes you gotta throw a few tricks at it before you figure out what sticks... or just learn to live with a little bit of “character” in your closets.
- Caulk and weatherstripping help, sure, but if the moisture’s coming up from a crawlspace or slab, you’re basically playing whack-a-mole. - I’d actually go with calcium chloride dehumidifier...
Honestly, I’ve seen the same thing with vented closet doors—sometimes it just spreads the funk around. You’re right about calcium chloride tubs; they’re way more effective than baking soda for actual moisture. One thing I’d add: if you can, try running a small fan in the closet for a few hours a day. Air movement makes a surprising difference, especially in those old houses where airflow is basically nonexistent. And yeah, sometimes you just have to accept a little “character”... or invest in a serious dehumidifier if you’re really losing the battle.
sometimes you just have to accept a little “character”... or invest in a serious dehumidifier if you’re really losing the battle.
Man, “character” is one way to put it. I had a rental where the closet basically smelled like a swamp no matter what I tried—calcium chloride, fans, even those fancy cedar blocks. Ended up putting a cheap dehumidifier in there and it was like night and day. Only downside? Tenants complained about the noise, but hey, better than moldy shoes and frizzy hair, right?
Moldy closets are the bane of my existence, honestly. Had a duplex once where the tenants swore their sweaters were “growing things.” Tried everything short of tearing out the drywall. I get what you mean about the noise, though—one guy called it his “closet jet engine.” But yeah, between that and the alternative, I’ll take a little hum over mildew any day. Ever notice it’s always the closets with no airflow, too? Drives me nuts.
You’re totally right about airflow being the culprit. Here’s what I usually do: first, pop the closet door off for a day or two to let it really dry out. Then, I’ll drill a couple of vent holes up high and down low—just basic 2-inch round ones, nothing fancy. Slap on some vent covers so it doesn’t look weird. If you’re feeling ambitious, a tiny bathroom fan on a timer works wonders, but honestly, just getting some air moving usually does the trick. Mold hates a breeze.
