Summer gratitude: plug-free dehumidifiers

One of the things I've come to appreciate about living in Japan is how many small, everyday products make life significantly easier. A perfect example of this during summer is the little powder-style room humidifiers you see stacked in supermarkets and 100 yen shops.

I was swapping out some of these closet dehumidifiers today, and it still amazes me how they turn from that powdery stuff into a pool of water! 

Back home, I never really thought about excess moisture in the air, since the part of Australia I'm from is much more of a dry climate than a humid one. Quickly though, Japan's humid summers and even the dampness of the rainy season taught me otherwise. Humidity is everywhere at this time of year (maybe not if you're in Hokkaido!) and with it comes the risk of mold. At first I stressed about it, trying to air things out constantly, but then I discovered these simple plastic tubs that magically soak up the moisture.

I always find them kinda magical, since they're filled with that powdery substance but you check back weeks later and it's transformed into a pool of water, serving as a bit of proof that it's been working away the whole time.