Protecting Your Home from Humidity and Mold During Japan's Summer
When you think of Japanese summers, you may think of festivals, people wearing traditional yukatas, and spectacular fireworks shows. But with the summer fun comes extreme humidity that can cause big, long-term problems for your home.
Protecting your home from humidity and mold is a constant process from the onset of the rainy season until the fall, but it can be managed as long as you are prepared. So let's look at why humidity and mold are such a problem in Japan, and learn about all the ways you can deal with them.
Japan's Humid Summers
Every year almost every part of Japan experiences a rainy season, known in Japanese as "tsuyu (梅雨)" or "baiyu (黴雨)." It usually starts as early as May in Okinawa, reaches Tokyo and the surrounding areas in June, and hits Hokkaido around late June or early July. This season brings heavy rainfall for days and days and is when temperatures and humidity in Japan begin to skyrocket. By the end of the rainy season, full-blown summer will have begun and you can expect to experience high temperatures and high humidity for the next three to four months.
If you come from a country that doesn't have high humidity, the summers can be challenging. Even if the temperature is around 30 degrees, it can feel closer to 40 because of the humidity. The air feels hot and heavy, and spending time outside even for just a little time can be a challenge. And while the humidity might be felt the most outdoors, it also affects everything inside the home and fosters the growth of mold.
Lots and lots of mold.
This mold loves to develop in places that are already often damp, such as the bathroom or kitchen sink. But mold can also impact enclosed spaces, such as closets where you keep clothes and shoes. Luckily, there are a myriad of products and techniques you can use to fight back against the mold and humidity in your home.
Protecting Your Home from Mold
Here are a few ways to protect your home from humidity and mold. Some methods are more expensive than others, so choose methods that best fit your budget and home.
・Use a dehumidifier
One of the best ways to keep rooms in your house humidity-free is to use a dehumidifier. While the up-front cost of buying one can be quite high, and having it running all day long will contribute to a higher monthly electricity bill, using one will keep the humidity in your home at a much more manageable level.
・Air out your closets and store your winter clothes before the rainy season begins
Clothes that aren't frequently washed over the winter and spring, such as coats and heavy sweaters, are more prone to getting affected by mold over the summer. Leather clothes or shoes, suits, winter coats, and so on are more likely to be damaged over the summer. To prevent this, try not to overcrowd your closets and pack away heavy clothes in suitcases or airtight storage boxes. Putting some moisture-absorbing packets (which we'll cover in more detail shortly) inside the boxes for extra protection is also a great idea. By doing these things, you can rest easy knowing that come next winter, your clothes will still be in great condition.
・Set your air conditioners to 'dry'（ドライ） or 'dehumidifying'（除湿）
Most Japanese air conditioner/heater units should have a dehumidifying setting which makes a big difference indoors. This setting can be more effective at cooling down a room and keeping the room less humid. If you have a unit that gives you the option of setting the temperature as well, about 24℃ or 25℃ is ideal.
・Keep bathroom fans running
Japanese bathrooms and shower rooms almost always have fans in them that are meant to be kept running at all times. While regular cleaning is also an important part of stopping mold from growing in these often-damp rooms, keeping the fans onーespecially after taking a bath or showerーwill help slow the growth of mold.
Using Japanese Moisture Absorbing Products
There are an impressive variety of products available for sale in Japan meant to help absorb moisture in your home to protect rooms and clothes from humidity and mold. These products can be found at any drug store in Japan for reasonable prices, but even cheaper versions can often be bought at 100 yen shops like Daiso. Shops like Daiso also usually write "dehumidifying" in English on these products, making it convenient for people who can't speak Japanese to find them.
・Humidity absorption Containers
These can be bought at 100 yen shops and often contain charcoal to help absorb odors as well as moisture, which makes these a great choice for shoe closets and other enclosed spaces. It can take up to 3 months for one of these containers to fill up and need replacing. If shopping for these at Daiso, look for containers with "dehumidifier" written on them (like the ones pictured below).
・Moisture absorption sheets and packets
As we mentioned before, clothes are also at risk of being damaged by mold from the high humidity in Japan. Using these sheets or packets will help remove moisture in closets, storage containers, and enclosed spaces and keep your clothes safe until you plan on wearing them again.
The sheets can be placed in drawers between your clothes, in futon bags that you've stowed away for the summer, or in airtight containers where you have winter clothes. Versatile and compact, you can place these almost anywhere! There are also types that you can hang in your wardrobe between clothes. At 100 yen stores or drug stores, look for "shikke tori 湿気取り" or "jyoshitsu sheet 除湿シート."
Prevent Mold Before it Starts Growing!
Once mold gains a foothold in your home it is extremely hard, if not impossible, to get rid of completely. That's why it is so important to start protecting your home from mold before the rainy season and Japanese summer start. But by following these tips and using some of the products listed, you should be well on your way to making sure your home is well-protected during the humid Japanese summer.
