Good catch on the attic vents. Had a similar battle myself—kept noticing a musty smell in the closets, thought it was just humidity or old carpets. Turns out, insulation around the attic hatch was pretty much nonexistent, causing condensation to drip down inside the walls. Added some weatherstripping and insulation foam around the hatch, and it made a huge difference. Makes you wonder how many little things like this we overlook, thinking they're minor annoyances... until they're not.
"Makes you wonder how many little things like this we overlook, thinking they're minor annoyances... until they're not."
Exactly my thought. I had a similar issue but mine turned out to be bathroom exhaust fans venting straight into the attic instead of outside. Who even thinks to check that? Took me forever to figure out why the humidity never seemed to drop after showers. Fixed the venting and added some cheap humidity sensors around the house—best $20 I've spent in a while. Makes me curious what other hidden issues might be lurking around...
I get the appeal of humidity sensors, but honestly, sometimes simple observation works just as well. I had a similar attic venting issue—noticed condensation on the attic hatch one winter morning and realized something was off. Didn't need sensors to tell me that. A quick reroute of the exhaust fan ducting solved it. Sometimes gadgets are helpful, sure, but keeping an eye out for weird signs around the house can save you that $20... just sayin'.
Haha, true enough. Reminds me of the time I found mold behind a closet shelf... didn't need sensors to tell me something was wrong when my sweaters started smelling like a damp basement. Sometimes our noses are the best gadgets we've got.
Yeah, I totally agree—sometimes the nose knows best. Mold behind shelves or closets can be sneaky, especially if it's tucked away in corners with poor airflow. One thing I've found helpful is checking the humidity levels inside closets every couple months. If it stays above 55-60%, mold has a perfect breeding ground.
A quick trick I've used is placing small moisture absorbers (those inexpensive silica gel packs or charcoal bags) on shelves or in corners. They don't solve major issues, but they're great for preventing minor moisture buildup before it becomes noticeable. Also, don't underestimate the power of air circulation; just cracking open the closet door more often can help keep things fresh.
And about your sweaters smelling musty... a vinegar rinse when washing can really help neutralize odors without leaving a vinegar-y smell afterward. Learned that one from my grandma—she swore by it, and honestly, she was onto something there.
