"Wire shelving instead of solid shelves reduces moisture buildup."
Yeah, wire shelves are definitely a good call. I swapped out all my solid shelves last year after noticing some mustiness on clothes that sat too long. Another thing that helped me was tossing in a couple of moisture absorbers—those little containers filled with silica gel or activated charcoal. They're cheap, easy to find, and they really cut down the dampness.
Also, if you haven't already, check your closet walls for insulation issues or hidden leaks. I know it sounds obvious, but I once battled mold for months before realizing there was a slow drip behind the drywall from a leaky pipe upstairs. Talk about frustrating...
As for frizzy hair, can't help much there—humidity and my curls have been lifelong enemies. But if you ever find a magic solution for that one, I'm all ears.
I've been thinking about switching to wire shelves too, but does anyone find that smaller items keep slipping through the gaps? I mean, socks and scarves seem like they'd be tricky. Also, has anyone tried wooden slatted shelves instead—wouldn't they offer airflow without stuff falling through? Curious if that's a good middle ground or if wood still traps too much moisture...
"Also, has anyone tried wooden slatted shelves instead—wouldn't they offer airflow without stuff falling through?"
Yeah, wooden slats can be a decent middle ground, but from my experience, they can still trap moisture if your closet doesn't have good ventilation overall. I've worked on a few remodels where clients switched from solid wood shelves to slatted ones, and while it helped a bit, it didn't completely solve the humidity issue. Wire shelves do have their quirks though—you're totally right about small items slipping through. One client jokingly called them "sock-eaters," and honestly, I can't disagree.
A quick fix I've seen work pretty well is using shelf liners or even baskets for smaller items. Keeps things organized and prevents the dreaded sock disappearance. Another thing to consider is improving the airflow itself—maybe adding a small vent or even a low-powered fan if possible. That way, you can pick shelves based more on style and convenience rather than just moisture control.
Wooden slats definitely help a bit, but yeah, they're not a magic fix. I switched to them last year thinking they'd solve my moldy closet drama, and while things improved slightly, I still had to deal with occasional dampness. What really made a difference for me was adding some moisture-absorbing plants nearby—peace lilies and snake plants are awesome for this. They look great, freshen up the air, and actually help reduce humidity levels naturally.
Also, totally agree about wire shelves being sock-eaters, haha. I ended up using those fabric storage cubes on mine, and they've been a lifesaver. Keeps everything tidy and no more missing socks (well...mostly). If you're into DIY, you could even make your own liners from old fabric scraps—eco-friendly and budget-friendly too.
Plants are a neat idea, hadn't thought about that. I've mostly relied on those moisture absorber packs you can buy at hardware stores—they're not pretty, but they do the job pretty well. I did try fabric cubes too, but somehow they ended up being black holes for random stuff instead of socks...go figure. Might give the DIY liners a shot though, got plenty of old sheets lying around anyway.
