my battle with moldy closets and frizzy hair

That’s spot on about venting the fan outside -

make sure the fan vents outside and not just into the attic - learned that one the hard way.

Wire shelving really does help, even if it’s not the prettiest. I swapped out some solid wood shelves in my old house’s closet and noticed my clothes actually smelled fresher. It’s not always about spending a ton, either... sometimes just moving things around or leaving the door cracked can help too.

It’s a never-ending battle with these old places, but every little change adds up. You’re definitely not alone in fighting frizzy hair and musty closets. Hang in there - old houses have their quirks, but they’re worth it.

Wire shelving gets a lot of love for airflow, but I’ve always wondered if it’s the *best* solution long-term - especially in older houses where dust just seems to multiply. I get the “my clothes actually smelled fresher,” but for me, all those open wires mean more dust bunnies and a constant battle with lint. Anyone else notice that? I ended up switching back to some reclaimed wood planks (sealed with a natural oil), and just left more gaps between them. Didn’t look as “airy,” but somehow the closets felt less drafty and my sweaters stayed cleaner.

About venting:

make sure the fan vents outside and not just into the attic - learned that one the hard way.

And about leaving doors cracked - doesn’t that kind of defeat the purpose if you’re also running dehumidifiers or AC? Maybe it’s just me, but my energy bills went up when I wasn’t careful about keeping things closed off. There’s this weird balance between fresh air and keeping conditioned air where you want it.

I guess what I’m getting at is: sometimes small changes add up, but sometimes they just add *different* problems. Old houses are stubborn like that. Still, wouldn’t trade mine for anything... quirks and all.

Totally get where you’re coming from - the “fix one thing, create another” cycle is pretty much the story of old houses. I’ve had the same dust issue with wire shelving. Your wood plank approach sounds way more practical, honestly. And yeah, cracked doors plus AC or dehumidifiers just makes everything less efficient. It’s always a balancing act between airflow and energy bills… sometimes feels like you can’t win, but those little tweaks do add up over time.

I get the “balancing act” thing, but honestly, I think cracked doors are overrated for airflow.

“cracked doors plus AC or dehumidifiers just makes everything less efficient”

That’s a clever workaround. I’ve always hesitated to cut vents into the old doors, but maybe I’m being too precious about it. Have you noticed any difference in dust or noise since adding the louvered vent? I’m curious how it’s held up over time.

I get where you’re coming from - old doors have a certain charm, and it feels risky to mess with them. Honestly, I went the opposite route in one of my flips and just used those stick-on magnetic vent covers for a while. Didn’t want to commit to cutting. They helped a bit, but not as much as a proper vent, and they looked kind of goofy after a while. In terms of dust, I actually found the louvered vent didn’t make a huge difference, but noise did travel more. If you’re worried about the look, maybe try a decorative grille? Some of them blend in pretty well and don’t scream “DIY fix.”

I get the appeal of decorative grilles, but I’ve always wondered if they actually help with airflow or just look nicer than the standard louvered vents. I tried a fancier grille once and, honestly, didn’t notice much difference with the humidity in my closet. Have you thought about just upping the whole-room ventilation instead? Sometimes it’s not just the door, but the whole air circulation in those older houses that’s the culprit. Curious if anyone’s tried a small, energy-efficient dehumidifier in the closet itself - seems like it could tackle both mold and the frizz problem at the source.

I’ve actually gone down the rabbit hole with closet humidity - turns out, those pretty grilles don’t do much unless you’ve got a real airflow path. I tried a plug-in dehumidifier (the kind that’s about the size of a loaf of bread) and it made a huge difference. Less musty smell, and my sweaters stopped feeling damp. If you’re worried about energy use, some of the newer models barely sip power. It’s not the most glamorous fix, but it beats wiping down walls every month...

Title: My Battle With Moldy Closets And Frizzy Hair

“those pretty grilles don’t do much unless you’ve got a real airflow path.”

That’s the truth. Whoever decided that a decorative vent was enough to keep a closet dry must’ve lived somewhere with zero humidity. In my place (built 1923, drafty as a haunted house but somehow still muggy), I tried everything short of drilling holes in the floorboards. The grilles look nice, but unless you’ve got air actually moving through, it’s like putting a screen door on a submarine.

I went through the “bowl of rice” phase, then silica gel packets, then finally caved and got one of those mini dehumidifiers you mentioned. It’s not exactly a design statement, but it’s been a game changer. I used to open the closet and get hit with that “old library” smell - now it’s just...clothes. And my wool coats don’t feel like they’ve been stored in a cave.

If anyone’s dealing with ancient plaster walls (like me), I’d add: check for sneaky leaks or cracks. I found a hairline crack behind some shelves that was letting in moisture from the brick exterior. A little caulk and some paint helped, but honestly, nothing beats that plug-in dehumidifier for day-to-day sanity.

As for frizzy hair - well, I’m convinced my house is conspiring against me. Humidity outside, humidity inside, and my hair looks like I stuck my finger in a socket. At least the sweaters are happy now.

Anyway, if you’re worried about power bills, I second what you said: the newer models barely register on my meter. Not glamorous, but neither is scrubbing mildew off your shoes every month...

I get the appeal of plug-in dehumidifiers - quick fix, relatively low hassle - but I’d argue they’re more of a band-aid than a cure, especially in older homes. In my experience, if you’re seeing persistent moisture or mold, it’s usually a sign there’s a bigger ventilation or building envelope issue at play. I’ve seen properties where folks just kept adding more gadgets, but the underlying problem was poor airflow or hidden leaks that never got addressed.

One thing that’s worked for me is actually investing in passive ventilation upgrades - think louvered doors or even a small, quiet exhaust fan on a timer. It’s not as “set and forget” as a dehumidifier, but over time, it can make a real difference in overall air quality and moisture levels. Plus, less reliance on appliances means one less thing to maintain or replace down the line.

And yeah, those hairline cracks are sneaky. I once found a closet with a gap behind the baseboard that was basically a highway for damp air from the crawlspace. Sealing that up did more than any gadget ever could. Sometimes it’s worth pulling things apart to see what’s really going on behind the scenes...

Plug-in dehumidifiers are fine for a quick fix, but I’m with you - long term, they’re just masking the real issue. Had a closet in my 70s ranch that was always musty, no matter how many DampRids or gadgets I threw at it. Turned out there was a gap under the sill plate letting crawlspace air right in. Didn’t spot it until I pulled up the old carpet and baseboards.

- Sealed it with foam and caulk, then added a vented louver to the closet door.
- Put a cheap humidity sensor in there - levels dropped by half within a week.
- Haven’t had mold or that “wet sock” smell since.

“Sometimes it’s worth pulling things apart to see what’s really going on behind the scenes...”

Couldn’t agree more. It’s not glamorous work, but chasing down those hidden leaks and airflow paths beats buying another appliance every time. Also, frizzy hair? That was my wife’s first clue something was off - humidity sneaks up on you in weird ways.

Funny how it’s always the little things - like a drafty sill plate - that end up causing the biggest headaches. I’ve seen people spend a fortune on air purifiers and dehumidifiers, but unless you get to the root, it’s just a band-aid. Curious if you noticed any difference in your energy bills after sealing things up? Sometimes fixing airflow issues helps with heating/cooling too...

You nailed it - those tiny gaps are sneaky. I used to chase humidity with gadgets too, but sealing up the sills and a couple weird spots in the attic made a bigger difference than any fancy filter. My heating bill dropped a bit, but honestly, the best part was not waking up to that musty smell. It’s wild how much more comfortable the house feels when you tackle the basics first.

Title: My Battle With Moldy Closets And Frizzy Hair

It’s wild how much more comfortable the house feels when you tackle the basics first.

Right? I used to think my 1920s place was just “charming” (aka drafty and slightly damp). Turns out, that musty closet smell wasn’t vintage - it was just air leaks behind the baseboards. Step one for me: stuff old socks in the gaps while I waited for caulk to dry. Step two: realize the socks were better at blocking drafts than half the gadgets I’d bought. Bonus, my hair stopped doing its haunted-mansion thing every morning... not sure if that’s science or just luck.

Totally get where you’re coming from - sometimes the “quick fixes” like socks or towels work better than fancy solutions. I had the same drafty closet issue and honestly, just sealing up the gaps made a bigger difference than I expected. It’s wild how much those little things help.

Totally get where you’re coming from - sometimes the “quick fixes” like socks or towels work better than fancy solutions. I had the same drafty closet issue and honestly, just sealing up the gaps made a bigger difference than I expected. It’s wild how much those little things help.

Funny how it’s always the low-tech stuff that ends up saving the day. I’ve spent way too much on “miracle” dehumidifiers and closet gadgets, but honestly, stuffing an old towel in a gap or taping up a seam has worked better than half of them. There’s something satisfying about solving it with what you’ve got on hand.

I hear you on the mold and frizz combo - humidity just wrecks everything. Once I started patching up those tiny cracks around my closet door (and even under the baseboards), it was like night and day. The air felt less damp, and my clothes didn’t smell like they’d been camping out in a swamp.

It’s easy to underestimate how much those little drafts add up. Sometimes I’ll walk into a room after sealing things up and just notice... it feels different. Not sure if it’s placebo or what, but hey, if it works, it works.

Don’t get discouraged if some fixes seem too simple at first glance. The basics are often underrated. And if you ever feel like you’re losing the battle with moisture, remember: every small improvement stacks up over time. Even if it’s just a rolled-up sock in the right spot.

Honestly, I get the appeal of quick fixes - sometimes you just want the problem gone. But I’ve seen a lot of cases where stuffing towels or socks in gaps just masks the bigger issue. If there’s enough moisture to cause mold, it usually means there’s a ventilation or insulation problem somewhere. Those little patches can help short-term, but they don’t always address the root cause.

I’ve had clients who kept battling musty closets for years, only to find out there was a leak behind the wall or a missing vapor barrier. Once we actually sealed things up properly and improved airflow, the difference was huge - no more recurring mold, and the air just felt cleaner.

Not saying the basics don’t help, but sometimes it’s worth pulling things apart and checking what’s really going on behind the scenes. Otherwise, you’re just fighting symptoms, not the source. Just my two cents from seeing a lot of these situations up close.

Yeah, I’ve seen folks try to “fix” moldy closets with scented sachets and those little moisture absorber tubs. It’s like putting a band-aid on a busted pipe. If you’re getting frizzy hair too, that’s a dead giveaway your humidity’s out of whack. Sometimes you gotta bite the bullet and rip out some drywall to see what’s really going on... not fun, but way better than living in a science experiment.

Ripping out drywall is intense, but sometimes it’s the only way. I tried just running a dehumidifier and scrubbing with vinegar for weeks… mold kept coming back. Ended up finding a slow leak behind the wall. If you go that route, wear a mask - mold spores are no joke.

Totally agree - sometimes you just have to get in there and do the dirty work. Mold’s stubborn, especially when there’s a hidden leak feeding it. A few things I’ve noticed from past projects:

- If you’re ripping drywall, plastic sheeting to seal off the area helps keep spores from drifting everywhere. Not perfect, but it cuts down on cleanup.
- Check for moisture with a meter before closing everything up again. Even a little dampness can start the cycle all over.
- For closets, I’ve seen people add passive vents or even tiny fans to keep air moving. It’s not a cure-all, but it helps keep humidity down.
- On the hair front... yeah, humidity from mold issues will definitely frizz things up. I’ve had clients swear by those little silica gel packs in their closets.

Honestly, vinegar’s great for surface stuff, but if the wall’s wet inside, it’s just a bandaid. Sometimes you gotta go full demo mode, as much as it stinks.