I tried cedar panels a couple years ago after painting didn't fully fix our mold issue. Gotta say, the scent was nice at first, but it faded pretty quickly. I noticed a slight improvement in mustiness, but honestly, wasn't a miracle solution or anything. Maybe helped keep moths away, but humidity-wise...meh.
The real difference came when we added a small vent fan in the closet ceiling—just a quiet bathroom-style one. Ran it on a timer a few hours each day, and that finally got things under control. Have you thought about something like that? Cedar might help a bit, but airflow seems to be the big thing with mold and humidity. Curious if anyone else had better luck with cedar, though—it does look nice, I'll give it that.
Totally agree about airflow being key. Cedar panels are nice to look at, but they're kinda like fancy air fresheners—smell great for a bit, then fade into the background. I had a similar issue in our old place and ended up installing one of those tiny vent fans too. Worked wonders. Plus, bonus points for finally taming my frizzy hair... humidity is no joke, lol. Glad you found something that worked!
Haha, cedar panels as fancy air fresheners... that's spot on. I mean, they look great and all, but honestly, I've found they're more decorative than functional. I've flipped a few houses where closets were basically mold factories (gross, I know), and airflow really is the unsung hero. Tiny vent fans are awesome, but I've also had good luck with those moisture-absorbing buckets—cheap and surprisingly effective.
Funny you mention frizzy hair though... my wife swears our bathroom vent fan changed her life. She jokes it's the best upgrade I've ever done to the house, forget the fancy kitchen backsplash or new flooring. Humidity really is sneaky; you don't realize how much it's messing things up until you finally get it under control.
Glad you got it sorted out—nothing beats finally winning the battle against mold and frizz, lol.
I feel this so much, haha. When we bought our first fixer-upper, the closets were basically mini rainforests—no joke. I tried cedar panels too, thinking they'd magically fix everything... nope. Ended up installing a small vent fan and those moisture buckets you mentioned. My hair still rebels on humid days, but at least the mold surrendered. Honestly, it's the little victories that count, right?
Vent fans are definitely the way to go—cedar panels look nice but they're more preventative than corrective, in my experience. Had a similar issue in our historic home (built in 1912), and here's what worked for us:
- Installed a humidity sensor switch for the fan. It kicks on automatically when moisture levels spike, so no more guessing.
- Upgraded weatherstripping around closet doors. Seems minor, but it made a noticeable difference.
- Switched to wire shelving instead of solid wood shelves. Better airflow = less mold.
Still haven't solved the frizzy hair issue though... humidity always wins that battle, unfortunately.
Curious if anyone's tried using silica gel packs or charcoal bags in closets long-term? I've heard mixed reviews and haven't tested them myself yet.
