Generally small spaces with no window, fan, or any way for air to circulate or moisture to evaporate, when a storage closet becomes damp or humid, it will rarely naturally dry out completely on its own. Anything damp you put into a closet, even just slightly damp clothing, shoes, outer ware, sporting goods or anything else you’re storing. . . moisture can end up creating a problem.  

The whole point of a storage closet is that it’s supposed to be a good place to store your things, but that won’t be so if there’s a humidity problem.  Whether you’re putting books, photos, mementos, out-of-season clothing or valuable possessions in there, if it’s damp, you risk damaging or destroying your stuff.  

At the very least, you’ll end up with that musty odor that reminds you of your grandmother’s attic in summer – and that dank, damp smell is not easy to get out of once it’s gotten in. At the worst, your things will be totally ruined.

So here are some tips for moisture control to prevent a damp closet:

• Louvered doors encourage air movement and will keep the air and everything else drier. 
• When practical, open solid doors to air out the space.
• Do not hang or store anything until it is completely dry
• Never leave anything damp on the floor, like wet towels, or wet shoes
• Open shelving (plastic-coated wire) allows air circulation better than solid shelving
• KEEP THE RELATIVE HUMIDITY IN THE CLOSET BELOW 50% TO HELP PREVENT MUSTY ODORS FROM DEVELOPING.

A Natural De-humidifier For Your Storage Closet

DampRid is a special dehumidifier that removes excess dampness from the air in closed-in spaces. It’s easy to use; you simply hang a DampRid Hanging Moisture Absorber right on the closet bar and it will do the work from there.  DampRid’s special crystals automatically begin absorbing the excess humidity from the air.  These DampRid products that naturally remove dampness from the air are economical, compact and unbelievably easy to use. Depending on specific preference, choose Fresh Scent, No Scent or Cedar Scent Hanging Moisture Absorbers or the DampRid Easy Fill System.   

Caution: Be careful not to let DampRid touch or get too close to any leather items in your storage area, as it can stain and/or over dry the leather, making it stiff and brittle.  You can put leather items in a storage closet with DampRid, but make sure it doesn’t get too near.