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Sep 8, 2020

Mildew everyday

I’m finding mildew is taking over lots and lots of my stuff (see pic). Usually I would use straight bleach in the bathroom and toilet but on material I’m at a loss as to what to use. The picture is of my camping chair.

8 Answers



  • ReishiiTravels

    on Sep 9

    I have this problem. I would still use bleach to stop the growth. It might stain the chair though. Try keeping a fan on in your house to make sure you have good air flow.

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  • genkidesu

    on Sep 9

    We had similar issues with stuff tucked away in closets until we used things like these: https://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesu/Md8vE-living and these: https://www.city-cost.com/blogs/genkidesu/wrVPR-living_shopping I had some fabric/seagrass baskets I loved that I had put in a closet a few years ago before we used things like this, and they got all feral...as did a suitcase that I ended up tossing. Biggest thing for us has been preventing any kind of damnpess/moisture (as much as humanly possible) in those kinds of confined spaces. We run our electric dehumidifiers as much as we can during this time of year where it's still so humid. Wishing you luck - it's a frustrating part of life in Japan!

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  • TonetoEdo

    on Sep 9

    @genkidesu The electric dehumidifier unit works wonders if you live in a mansion-type building. My neighbor gal placed hers in the senmenjo and it got emptied daily. I'm in a wood-frame apartment building, and I use my dehumidifier unit a lot in the rainy season, and on cooler days in the summer. It runs a bit hot. The dehumidifier cost about Y30,000, but it's held up well for 10 years. That and the dry function of the one air con unit.

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  • TonetoEdo

    on Sep 9

    It's a bit late for your camping chair, but you might want to use charcoal in confined spaces to control humidity, which reduces mildew. I wrote about the benefits of charcoal around the house - https://www.city-cost.com/blogs/TonetoEdo/wr3k6-living_shopping I avoid storing my things in plastic containers and store my clothes in a kiridansu, kiri wood chest. You can get kiri wood chests of drawers at second-hand shops, but they can be pricey. The wood protects your stuff from mildew, with a boost from charcoal or cedar chips/balls.

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  • ConeHead

    on Sep 9

    @TonetoEdo I just hate wasting money replacing these things every year. Damn Japan!! I’ll look into the charcoal solution ASAP.

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  • helloalissa

    on Sep 10

    I live in super rainy Kyushu and we don't even own a humidifier. Not sure how we have avoided mildew besides a bit in the bath area. We do keep our closet doors open (not our oshi-ire, but the closets where clothes are) so there is good airflow. The only think I can think of is a good air-out in the sun after wiping it down with a wet cloth. (Maybe use a little vinegar?) As should probably be done with any camping gear after every use.

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  • JapanRamen

    on Sep 10

    That is also one reason I have been using the dry function of the AC. I've had really bad experiences with mildew too. Learned the lesson the hard and tramatizing way...

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  • edthethe

    on Sep 15

    keeping the dehumidifier on the ac all the time has helped us prevent mold.I wash things in vinegar often as well as bleach things that can be bleached. vinegar in a spray bottle for things that can't be put in the washer machine or wiped down.

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