I hear you on the humidity—sometimes it feels like nothing really works long-term. I tried the vent fan route too, but honestly, it just made a lot of noise and didn’t do much for the actual moisture. The dehumidifier seems like the only thing that actually makes a dent, but I’m always worried about forgetting to empty it and ending up with a puddle. Have you noticed any difference in your hair or clothes since you started using it? I’m tempted to try, but not sure if it’s worth the hassle.
The dehumidifier seems like the only thing that actually makes a dent, but I’m always worried about forgetting to empty it and ending up with a puddle.
That’s a legit concern. I’ve seen more than a few folks end up with water all over their floors because they forgot to empty the tank. If you’re thinking about going that route, have you looked into models with a built-in pump or a hose drain? You can run the hose right into a floor drain or even out a window if you’ve got the setup for it—saves you from having to remember to empty it every day.
As for hair and clothes, I’ll say this: my wife swears her hair’s less frizzy since we started running the dehumidifier in the bedroom. I don’t notice much myself, but I do know our closets don’t smell musty anymore, and I haven’t seen any new mold spots on shoes or jackets. It’s not a magic fix, but it definitely helps. The noise is about the same as a fan, maybe a bit lower if you get a decent one.
Curious—have you checked for any leaks or gaps around windows or doors? Sometimes humidity sneaks in from places you wouldn’t expect.
I hear you on the dehumidifier stress—my old house practically drinks humidity for breakfast, so I’ve had my fair share of accidental indoor puddles. Honestly, just remembering to empty it is half the battle. Don’t beat yourself up if you forget now and then; it happens to all of us. And hey, if your closets are less musty and your hair’s behaving, you’re already winning compared to my “vintage” basement.
Moldy closets and frizzy hair are basically the rites of passage for anyone living in an old house, I swear. I’ve tried every trick—baking soda, cedar blocks, you name it—but nothing beats a good dehumidifier (when I remember to empty it, anyway). Once, I left mine for a week and ended up with a mini swamp under the stairs. If your closets are just musty and not full-on science experiments, you’re ahead of the game. Don’t sweat it too much; these houses have their quirks, but they’re worth it.
