I feel you on the sneaky humidity—it's like a ninja, gets into places you'd never expect. Had a similar problem in a house I flipped last summer. The owners couldn't figure out why their bedroom closet always smelled musty, even though it was nowhere near a bathroom or laundry room. Turns out, the AC ductwork in the attic above wasn't sealed properly, so cool air was leaking and causing condensation inside the walls. Took forever to pinpoint that one...
Once we sealed up the ducts and added some extra insulation, the difference was night and day. Closet smelled fresh again, and the lady joked her hair finally stopped looking like she'd stuck her finger in an outlet every morning. So yeah, moisture issues can definitely pop up where you'd least expect them, but at least they're usually fixable. Glad you got yours sorted out too!
Had a similar issue with a rental property a while back—tenants kept complaining about musty smells in a hallway closet. Turns out the dryer vent hose had a tiny tear, pushing moist air right into the wall cavity. Quick hose replacement and some mold treatment... problem solved.
Funny how often a tiny leak or tear can turn into a big headache, huh? I’ve run into this kind of thing more than once—sometimes it’s the vent hose, other times it’s just poor airflow in those old closets. Did you check if there’s actually any insulation missing around that vent area? I’ve seen cold spots where condensation just collects behind the drywall, especially if the vent isn’t sealed up tight.
For what it’s worth, I’ve had some luck with those moisture-absorbing tubs (like DampRid) tucked in problem closets. Not a total fix, but it helps keep things under control while you track down the main issue. Mold can be sneaky and come back if there’s even a hint of dampness left behind.
On the frizzy hair front—kinda weird how much humidity inside a house can mess with your hair, right? My daughter used to complain about her hair every time our basement dehumidifier died. Once we sorted out the moisture problem, her hair calmed down too… go figure.
Curious if you had to rip out any drywall or insulation when you did your mold treatment, or was it all surface-level? Sometimes folks go overboard and start demo’ing before they really need to. I’m always half-worried I’ll miss something hidden in the wall cavity though.
Honestly, I think people jump to tearing out drywall way too fast. Unless you see visible mold or smell that musty odor coming from inside the wall, it’s usually overkill. I did a surface clean with vinegar and a HEPA vacuum, then ran a box fan for a few days—worked fine and saved a ton of money. But yeah, those moisture tubs are a life-saver in old houses. I swear, the humidity here wrecks both closets and hair... it’s wild how connected it all is.
Totally get where you’re coming from—people do tend to go nuclear on drywall at the first sign of trouble. I’ve had tenants freak out over a little mildew and want the whole wall gone. Nine times out of ten, it’s just surface stuff from poor airflow or a leaky window. I’ve found that a cheap hygrometer in each closet helps me catch humidity spikes before they turn into a science experiment. Those moisture tubs are clutch, but I’ll admit, I’ve also resorted to leaving the closet doors cracked open... not ideal for aesthetics, but it beats replacing sheetrock.
