my battle with moldy closets and frizzy hair

- Used cedar oil a couple times - noticed some light marks on a white shirt, but nothing major. I just let the wood dry out longer before rehanging stuff.
- Sanding is a pain, totally agree. I just do a quick swipe with sandpaper every few months instead of tackling the whole thing at once.
- Small fan trick is underrated. I rigged up a USB fan on a cheap timer and it actually helped with that stale smell. Not a miracle, but for under $15, worth it.
- For drafts, I used weatherstripping and those foam outlet sealers. Not perfect, but my closet’s way less musty now and my clothes don’t feel damp anymore.
- Hair’s still frizzy some days, but at least my sweaters aren’t growing science experiments...

- That USB fan idea is solid - I've seen tenants try those mini dehumidifiers too, but honestly, the fan seems more effective for the price.
- Weatherstripping definitely helps, but sometimes I find that older closets just need a vent cut in. Not always possible if you’re renting, though.
- About cedar oil:

“noticed some light marks on a white shirt, but nothing major.”

Cutting a vent in an old closet is one of those things I always *think* about doing, but then I remember the landlord would probably have a fit. I’ve had better luck just propping the door open with a shoe when I’m home, which isn’t pretty but it helps. That USB fan trick is underrated - picked up a cheap one last year and it’s been running almost nonstop. My electric bill barely noticed, but my closet definitely did.

Cedar blocks are a mixed bag for me too. They smell great, but I’ve had a couple shirts come out with weird marks that took a few washes to fade. As for those silica gel packs, I toss a handful in a mesh bag and hang them up. They do get kind of soggy after a while, so I guess they’re pulling *some* moisture, but I wouldn’t call it a miracle. Still, for a few bucks, it’s worth a shot. At least they don’t stain anything...

I hear you on the landlord thing - mine would probably freak if I even mentioned a vent. Propping the door open with whatever’s handy is pretty much my go-to too. Those USB fans are lifesavers, honestly. I’ve got one wedged on a shelf and it’s made a bigger difference than I expected. Cedar’s always been hit-or-miss for me, too... sometimes it’s great, sometimes my clothes end up smelling like a hamster cage. The silica packs are better than nothing, but yeah, not exactly miracle workers. Still, every little bit helps against that musty closet funk.

I swear, old houses are basically mold’s favorite playground. I tried those cedar blocks too - my sweaters just ended up smelling like I’d stored them in a guinea pig cage. One thing that’s helped me (besides a rotating cast of fans and cracked windows) is tossing a bowl of baking soda in the closet. It doesn’t solve everything, but it seems to suck up some of the funk. As for frizzy hair... humidity’s got me looking like I stuck my finger in a socket most days.

I hear you on the guinea pig cage smell - cedar’s supposed to help, but it just made my closet smell like a pet store. I ended up using those little moisture absorber tubs from the dollar store, and they actually sucked up a scary amount of water. Ever tried one of those dehumidifier bags? I’m half convinced my house is just a giant sponge some days...

Cedar’s one of those things that sounds great in theory, but yeah, it can totally backfire with the smell. I’ve seen a lot of folks try those moisture absorber tubs and honestly, they do pull a surprising amount of water out of the air. It’s kind of wild how much moisture can build up in a closet, especially if your house tends to run humid.

Dehumidifier bags are a decent step up, but if you’re still fighting that musty smell and the frizzy hair (been there - humidity is relentless), you might want to check for any sneaky leaks or gaps around windows or baseboards. Sometimes it’s not just the air, but a little water intrusion making things worse. Even just running a small fan in the closet for a few hours a day can help keep things drier.

Don’t get discouraged - humidity’s a pain, but you’re definitely not alone. It’s a process, but every little thing you do helps chip away at the problem. And hey, at least you’re not ignoring it like half the people I know...

I get what you’re saying about moisture absorbers and dehumidifier bags, but honestly, I haven’t had much luck with those long-term. They fill up fast, and then it’s just another thing to remember to replace. I actually went with a rechargeable mini dehumidifier - one of those silica gel ones with the color-changing beads. It’s not perfect, but I feel like it’s less hassle than constantly tossing out those little tubs.

Also, have you tried just leaving the closet door open more often? Sounds simple, but it made a bigger difference for me than I expected. I still use cedar blocks, but I sand them down every once in a while so they don’t get that stale smell. Not a cure-all, but it helps.

I actually went with a rechargeable mini dehumidifier - one of those silica gel ones with the color-changing beads.

Leaving the closet door open does help, but in my experience, it’s more of a band-aid than a fix. I’ve seen a lot of folks try those silica gel dehumidifiers - like you mentioned, they’re less hassle, but if your closet’s on an exterior wall or near a bathroom, you might be fighting a losing battle. I once had a client who finally just drilled some vent holes up high and low on the closet wall (covered with grilles), and that made a world of difference. Not the prettiest solution, but it actually worked. Sometimes you gotta get a little more hands-on if you want to stop mold for good.

Drilling vent holes is definitely a bold move, but I get why it works - airflow really is everything with these stubborn closets. The silica gel dehumidifiers are a nice low-impact option, though, especially if you’re trying to avoid more invasive fixes. Sometimes it’s about finding that balance between practicality and aesthetics, right? I’ve seen folks line the closet wall with cedar planks too... not a cure-all, but it does help with both moisture and musty smells.

I get the appeal of cedar planks, but honestly, the cost adds up fast if you’re covering a whole closet. I’m more inclined to stick with silica gel or even just a small fan on a timer - less hassle, less money.

“Sometimes it’s about finding that balance between practicality and aesthetics, right?”

RE: My Battle With Moldy Closets And Frizzy Hair

I’m right there with you on the cedar planks. The price tag for enough to line a whole closet made me do a double take. I ended up going with a combo - some silica gel packs (cheap and easy to swap out) and one of those rechargeable mini dehumidifiers you mentioned. Honestly, I was skeptical at first. The one I got has those orange beads that turn green when they’re full of moisture, then you just plug it in to dry them out again.

It’s not magic, but it does seem to help, especially in the corners where air doesn’t circulate much. I’d say it’s better than nothing, but if your closet is huge or super damp, you might need more than one. They’re not silent when recharging (little fan noise), but otherwise pretty low maintenance. I still run a small fan on a timer for a few hours a day - makes a bigger difference than I expected.

Haven’t noticed much difference for my hair, though. Still frizzy on rainy days... guess that’s just life in a humid climate.

Totally agree - the fan on a timer is underrated. I’ve seen people overlook airflow, but it really does make a difference, especially in older homes. I’ve also had clients use those moisture-absorbing tubs (the kind you toss when they’re full), which are cheap but need replacing often. For hair, I wish there was a closet fix, but humidity’s just relentless. Maybe a small essential oil diffuser could help with musty smells, though?

Honestly, I’m not a fan of those disposable moisture tubs - they’re just more plastic waste in the landfill every month. Have you tried using charcoal bags or even a bowl of baking soda in the closet? They’re reusable and way less wasteful. And about the diffuser, it’ll mask smells but won’t tackle the root issue. I’d focus on sustainable fixes first, even if they take a bit more effort upfront.

I’d focus on sustainable fixes first, even if they take a bit more effort upfront.

Totally get where you’re coming from about the waste. I’ve always wondered, with the charcoal bags - how often do you “recharge” them in sunlight? I tried baking soda once but it got clumpy pretty fast in my closet. Maybe I used too much? I’m also curious if anyone’s tried those little USB dehumidifiers. They’re pricier up front but might cut down on waste and work long-term. Sometimes the low-tech stuff works best, but I like knowing all the options.

Charcoal bags are pretty solid for closets, but yeah, they need a bit of babysitting. I usually toss mine out in the sun every month or so - depends on how musty things get. If you forget, they just stop working as well, but no big deal.

Baking soda’s a classic, but it does clump up fast if there’s real humidity. I’ve had better luck putting it in a shallow, open container instead of dumping it straight onto a shelf or into a sock. Less mess, easier to swap out.

Those USB dehumidifiers are interesting. I tried one in a tiny bathroom - honestly, it pulled out more water than I expected, but you do have to empty the tank a lot. For a closet, it might be overkill unless you’ve got a real moisture problem. The upfront cost is a bit much, but at least you’re not tossing out bags or boxes every few weeks.

Low-tech is great, but sometimes you just want to set it and forget it, you know? If only there was a gadget that could fix frizzy hair and moldy closets at the same time...

Baking soda’s a classic, but it does clump up fast if there’s real humidity.

That bit about the USB dehumidifier made me laugh - been there. I tried one in a rental property’s closet and, yeah, it worked, but emptying that tiny tank got old fast. Here’s what’s worked for me: I use a combo approach. First, I stick with the charcoal bags (like you said, “they need a bit of babysitting”), but I also add a small fan on a timer to keep air moving. It’s not fancy, but it keeps things drier and helps with that musty smell. As for frizzy hair...if only closet solutions worked on that too. Maybe one day.

Charcoal bags and fans are clever, but I’ve gotta throw my two cents in for the old-school route: cracked open closet doors. I know, I know - everyone wants their closets shut tight, but in my 1920s house, those doors are basically decorative anyway. If I keep them closed, it’s like a spa day for mold.

“I use a combo approach. First, I stick with the charcoal bags (like you said, ‘they need a bit of babysitting’), but I also add a small fan on a timer to keep air moving.”

I tried the fan thing, but the hum drove me nuts at night. And the charcoal bags? My cat thinks they’re toys. I just prop the door open with a shoe, let the air do its thing, and honestly, it’s made a bigger difference than any gadget. Downside: you have to be okay with seeing your mess. Upside: less musty funk, and I haven’t had to empty a tank or replace a bag in months.

As for frizzy hair, if anyone figures out a way to ventilate that, I’m all ears.

Title: My Battle With Moldy Closets And Frizzy Hair

Cracked closet doors are totally underrated. I’ve spent way too much money on “miracle” closet gadgets - charcoal bags, moisture absorbers, even those little plug-in dehumidifiers that sound like a jet engine taking off. Half the time, I forget to empty them and then I’m just growing science experiments in the corner. But just leaving the door open? Low-tech genius.

I do get what you mean about the mess being on display. My “system” is basically a pile of shoes and a tangle of scarves that looks like a raccoon’s nest. But hey, at least it doesn’t smell like one anymore.

Funny thing - my house is from the 1940s and those closets are basically glorified cubby holes. I tried putting in louvered doors for “ventilation,” but all it did was let my dog stick his nose in and steal socks. At this point, I’m convinced old houses were designed by people who never owned more than two shirts.

The frizzy hair thing cracks me up because every time I try to fix the humidity for my clothes, my hair rebels. It’s like, pick your battles: smooth sweaters or smooth hair, but never both. Has anyone actually found a way to keep both under control? I’ve tried those little closet dehumidifier packs and a fancy ionic hairbrush (total scam), but nothing seems to work for both at once.

Curious if anyone’s tried running a small dehumidifier just during the day and then cracking the door at night? Or is that just doubling up on pointless effort? Sometimes I feel like my house is winning this war...

I’ve actually tried the day dehumidifier/night cracked door combo, and honestly, it helped a bit with the musty smell but didn’t do much for my hair. The only thing that really made a difference was getting a humidity monitor - turns out my closet was way more humid than the rest of the house. Ended up sealing some gaps and running a small fan in there for air movement. Not glamorous, but it works better than any gadget I bought. Hair’s still frizzy though... can’t win ‘em all.