I've tried both setups in my old Victorian—venting directly outside definitely made a noticeable difference. Venting into another room just shifted the humidity problem around. If you can manage it, I'd recommend going straight outdoors... your closets (and hair!) will thank you.
Interesting point on venting outside—I get why that made a difference for you. But you know, in my experience, sometimes going straight outdoors isn't always the best or easiest solution, especially if you're dealing with tricky house layouts or historical preservation rules.
We had a similar situation in our old farmhouse—built around 1910, lots of charm but also lots of quirks. Direct outdoor venting was ideal in theory, but the way our rooms were arranged and the material of the walls made it a huge headache. We tried it briefly, and while it did help humidity-wise, we ended up dealing with drafts and insulation issues (not fun during winter). Plus, drilling through original woodwork felt almost sacrilegious!
Instead, we ended up installing a good-quality dehumidifier and carefully planned interior ventilation to circulate air better. I was skeptical at first—like you said, I worried we'd just be shifting moisture around—but with some strategic placement and regular monitoring, it actually worked out pretty well. Mold issues cleared up noticeably after about a month or two.
Now I'm wondering if maybe it's not just about indoor vs outdoor venting but also how effectively air circulates indoors overall? Maybe your room-to-room setup wasn't optimized enough? Could've been worth experimenting with different fan placements or adding a small dehumidifier before giving up on interior venting altogether.
Anyway, every home has its quirks...and hair battles are real! I've definitely had my share of frizzy mornings no matter what I tried. Glad you found something that works for your Victorian though—it's always satisfying when you finally crack the code on these old houses.
We had a similar mold battle in our 1920s bungalow—super cute but ventilation was a nightmare. Outdoor venting wasn't an option (brick walls, weird layout), so we ended up using charcoal bags in closets and a small fan to keep air moving. Surprisingly, it made a huge difference. Still fighting the frizz though...humidity always wins somehow, doesn't it? Maybe I need a dehumidifier for my hair too, lol.
Charcoal bags are surprisingly effective, right? Had a similar issue in an old cottage flip—ended up sticking a mini dehumidifier in the closet. Worked wonders for mold...hair still looked like I'd stuck my finger in a socket though, lol.
Charcoal bags can help, but honestly, they're more of a temporary fix than a long-term solution. I've dealt with mold in older homes quite a bit, and while mini dehumidifiers do reduce moisture, they don't always address the root cause. Usually, mold issues point to poor ventilation or hidden leaks—especially in older cottages. I'd suggest checking behind walls or under flooring if the problem persists. Had a similar situation once where mold kept returning despite using charcoal and dehumidifiers. Turned out there was a tiny leak behind the drywall that we hadn't noticed. Once we fixed that and improved airflow with some discreet venting, the mold never came back.
As for the frizzy hair...well, humidity control helps, but sometimes you just have to embrace the chaos.