Are you new in Japan? That’s great! Setting yourself up and having your own place to stay in a new country must be exhilarating but you might not know that you will have to deal with this in your new home… molds!
Yes, they are common here in Japan especially if you live in humid areas and if you live in dry places ,it can be surprising and troublesome for you.
How Do Japanese Deal with Molds
Kabi is Japanese for mold or mildews and they show up in Japan commonly in any season. You will notice it showing up in closets, bathrooms, corners in the house, tatami mats and in the kitchens. And If left unattended or unnoticed, the early spores could make removing it difficult resulting in asking help from the experts to do it for you. So how do we deal with it?
1. Ventilation
One of the first things you can do to prevent molds is to properly ventilate your home. Open your windows from time to time even if it’s quite cold outside. And you don’t need to open your windows all day. Just remember to do it at least once a day.
2. Preventive Measure: Keep things dry
If you are not used to wiping your bathroom dry then if you’re here in Japan, you might start doing so to prevent molds from growing. After taking a bath or shower, wipe your bathroom and keep it dry. Also, in summer months, turn the cold water on and splash it around then wipe the water afterwards. What this does is that it lowers the humidity in the bathroom.
Another thing you can do is to keep the fan on all the time and check your closets to make sure molds are not starting to appear.
3. Anti-mold Products
There is a product in Japan called Kabi Cleaner that you can effectively remove molds just by spraying on the affected area. It is a great product overall however, we don’t recommend using it in all types of surfaces like concrete walls. The safest route is to use home remedies such as vinegar or baking soda. Another product is the Shikketori (on the pricey side)which is a humidity pack that absorbs moisture, preventing mold formation. Also, shoes does have a tendency to be prone to molds so make sure to keep it dry. If molds are already showing, get a mold cleaner spray that you can buy on shoe shops.
4. Dehumidifiers and Air Conditioners
Dehumidifiers can be costly but if in no means you can spend it, why not? And before you run to the nearest shop or buy online, there are 3 types of humidifiers in Japan; one is for the winter season to give your home heat, the other one you can have for summertime to keep the temperature normal and the third one that do both which is sometimes called “hybrid”. The great thing about dehumidifiers is that it also has the option to dry your clothes, especially in winter. Air Conditioners have dehumidifiers as well but it may not work depending on your location. It is a great option if you don’t want to worry about mold growing all the time.
Conclusion
I hope this article helps as you enjoy life in Japan and make your home as clean and “moldless” as possible. Do you have experiences with molds at home? Let us know in the comments how you deal with molds.
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