Surviving The Rainy Season in Japan: Battling Mildew at Home

Every year in Japan from late May to mid-July, (depending on location), a warm, moist air front flows upward from Southeast Asia and graces the Japanese archipelago from Okinawa to northern Honshu, bringing rains that make frogs sing, hydrangeas bloom and plums ripen (hence the name tsuyu, or “plum rains”). As romantic as this sounds, the humidity of tsuyu also brings with it unsightly mildew that, if left unchecked, can damage your clothes, your home, even your health.

A typical Japanese home with paper-thin walls, single-paned windows and tatami flooring can be a breeding ground for molds and mildew. Most apartments in Japan do not come with drying machines, so most people choose to either line-dry or go to their nearest laundromat. But week after week of rain means drying your clothes indoors, which takes more time and adds moisture to your living space. In these conditions, mildew can quickly consume anything made of cloth -especially if wadded up and forgotten in a closet (I lost an expensive coat this way). But you can slow down the growth of this nuissance by following a few important steps:

STEP 1: PREVENTIVE CLEANING: In May, while the air is still dry, though it’s not the tradition in Japan, do your Spring Cleaning at this time. Wash and wipe down ALL your windows, door frames and blinds. Clean and thoroughly dry all curtains (these especially are prone to mildew). Treat your bathroom tiles with a water-bleach solution (you can use the spray version in Japan called Kabi-kira). For self-cleaning bathroom surfaces, you can spray with Magic Clean or use a simple sponge with water. Give all your floors a good, thorough scrub and wipe down your tatami with a slightly damp cloth. Keep in the habit of cleaning these areas once every week if possible and of course, spot-clean whenever you notice mildew anywhere.

STEP 2: REDUCE/RECYCLE: Mildew thrives in dark places with no airflow. Give mildew fewer places to hide by thinning down your clothing collection. Separate and recycle anything you don’t use, freeing up space in your closets and allowing your clothes to “breathe.” Also, recycle any paper products, as paper is prone to mildew and is a natural fodder for dust-mites when the temperatures rise in July.

STEP 3: DEHUMIDIFY: Dehumidifying products are always useful in the rainy season. Here are a couple tried-and-true favorites:

Shikke-tori ("dehumidifier"): Sold in packs of three, these white or blue plastic containers filled with salt and silica compounds draw the moisture out of the air and store it away as water. Just peel off the foil on top and place it wherever you need. A few weeks later when it's filled up with water, poke a hole in the paper top, pour the contents out, throw away the container and start all over again with a new one. You can also buy small silica packets to toss into your clothes drawers for extra protection. (Some of them even double as moth repellent!) Dorai-petto is the most popular brand name of shikke-tori, available along with lesser-known and generic brands at your local drug store or supermarket. (Do NOT put these in your refrigerator or near food! See the next section for refrigerator odor removal).

Takesumi ("bamboo charcoal"): Traditionally, the Japanese used to cut down their own bamboo and burn it down into charcoal to remove moisture from the air. Nowadays it’s cheaper to use imported Chinese charcoal, either in its natural form for its aesthetic qualities, or in a concentrated gelatin. Used in the same way as a plastic shikke-tori, a bundle of charcoal tied up with string or put in a mesh bag, placed anywhere, can greatly reduce moisture in enclosed areas. (There’s also a special type of charcoal product designed specifically for refrigerator/freezer use). Inexpensive Chinese takesumi can be found at 100-yen shops, drug stores and supermarkets. Japanese bamboo charcoal can be found in many gift shops and upscale home centers. If you care about protecting panda habitat, stick to buying locally.

Places to put your shikke-tori or takesumi include:

*under framed beds

*in closets and cabinets

*anywhere near your clothes

*under sinks

*under toilets

*near any exposed pipes

STEP 4: PROTECT YOUR LAUNDRY: Doing laundry continuously indoors is a major cause of unwanted mildew during the rainy season. Fortunately there are a few things you can do to nip mildew in the bud:

Heya-boshi senzai ("indoor-drying laundry detergent"): Though it can be used year-round, it is designed for times when you can’t line-dry your clothes outside. It leaves a coating on your clothes, cutting down on bacteria growth and the bad odors that come with it.

Kansouki (drying machine): Though they suck up your yen faster than a vacuum, these do take care of the laundry problem pretty quickly. If you’re in Japan for longer than a year or have a family, drying machines are indispensable time-savers.

Even more tips to fight mildew:

*Set your air conditioner to the joshitsu ("dehumidify") setting.

*Get in the habit of wiping condensation off your windows whenever you notice it.

*Make use of any nearby coin-laundry in your area and clean your blankets, bathmats, towels and curtains there.

*Never use the same towels twice. Always use fresh towels (this cuts down on athlete’s foot and ringworm).

*Store your clean towels out in the open on a shelf (never under the sink!).

*If you’re currently using a futon, consider investing in a bed with frame, as it’s much less maintenance. (The idea of sleeping in a futon may seem exotic but if you don’t want to spend time hoisting, airing and batting them out every other day, beds might be the better option for you).

*If you must use a futon, invest in a fold-up frame to keep it off the floor in the daytime. Keeping a futon on the floor 24/7 is simply asking for trouble.

*Keep doors and windows closed during rain showers. Open them when the air is dry.