Powerful mildew cleaner

Kyoryoku Kabi Haida refill

Brand: Kao

Price: 350 yen

Place of purchase: Sugi Drugstore

Rating:

A recent visitor to Japan was shocked by the black mildew she noticed in some of the bathrooms at her accommodation. I told her that we Japanese residents wage a never-ending battle with "kabi", the black mildew that thrives in Japan's humid climate. Kao’s Kyoryoku Kabi Haida is a chlorine-based spray. The liquid and the spray nozzle create a fine foam that clings to surfaces. The product label says that the foam can penetrate the roots of the mildew. I used it in the shower and on window frames.

Kyoryoku Kabi Haida worked pretty well on all the surfaces I tried it on. Note that there are limits to what this chlorine^based spray can do. If you leave kabi too long, it's really hard to fully remove it. Note that this spray requires care in handling. You spray it on, wait from five to 30 minutes while it does its job, and then rinse a lot. Always ventilate the space in which you're using it. Chlorine is toxic stuff. My friend thought the munge she saw was black mold. Mildew and mold are both fungus, but the latter is distinctly slimy. It's usually black or green. Mildew is gray.