Environmental question

[arumanokokoro]

Hello All!
I have a question regarding cleaning in Japan. My son is in Tokyo and is having problems keeping the mold in his apartment under control. He does not want to use bleach as it will remove color from some of the places the mold is growing. I have already told him to invest in a de-humdifier. Does anyone have any suggestion for cleaning or removing mold that I could possibly pass on to him? Does he have any viable alternatives to cleaning mold other than bleach?


Aruma

[Harisenbon]

Where is the mold growing?
For most things you can use a mold killer (カビキラー Kabi-Kira-) to get rid of it, especially on tile or other hard surfaces.

For Tatami, I believe there are special tatami-cleaning sprays, but I've never gotten moldy tatami so I don't know much about them.

[arumanokokoro]

Where is the mold growing?

He didn't say but I'm sure it is mostly in the bathroom, since his lifestyle is quite spartan (The only items he has currently are a borrowed desk and futon. He has been waiting for his scholarship monies to be released, and then he has to get a refrigerator). Its been a long time since I have had mold issues. I moved away from the gulf coast years ago, and it rarely poses a problem here in the desert.
Domo Arigatou ! I will most certainly pass this along to him! I wish there was a smiley that had a bowing happy face!
*bows*


Aruma

[coco]

The rainy season began here in Tokyo.
We need to do something for keeping from a mold.

Does he read Japanese?
http://kabikiller.johnson.co.jp/
This page has detail about various かびきらー(カビキラー), which Hari-san mentioned.

[arumanokokoro]

The rainy season began here in Tokyo.
We need to do something for keeping from a mold.

Does he read Japanese?

Yes! He is fluent and has been teaching himself ... for a long time! Anything you would like to pass on I can always copy and paste in an email to him. Like myself, it takes a lot for him to speak publicly( he hardly ever updates his blog) but I know he is engrossed in his current studies. This is why I ask for him. He would be too shy to ask anyone at school.

[arumanokokoro]

Does he read Japanese?
http://kabikiller.johnson.co.jp/
This page has detail about various かびきらー(カビキラー), which Hari-san mentioned.

Domo Arigatou Coco! I'm going to send this to him right away!
^_^

[coco]

The rainy season began here in Tokyo.
We need to do something for keeping from a mold.

Does he read Japanese?

Yes! He is fluent and has been teaching himself ... for a long time! Anything you would like to pass on I can always copy and paste in an email to him. Like myself, it takes a lot for him to speak publicly( he hardly ever updates his blog) but I know he is engrossed in his current studies. This is why I ask for him. He would be too shy to ask anyone at school.

Ok, please send this also.
---
漂白剤の中にも色落ちしないものがありますので、表示をよく確認なさった上で試してみるといいと思います。
また湿気取りも便利です。押し入れや下駄箱で↓ こういうものを使うといいかもしれません。
http://www.okamoto-inc.jp/homecare/3p.html
ドンキホーテ（量販店名）などでは梅雨のカビ対策商品が安売りされていると思いますので
商品説明を比較して試してみるといいでしょう。　換気には充分注意なさってください。

[becki_kanou]

Looks like coco beat me to it, but I went and found a picture and everything, so I'll post it anyway:

Another good thing in the rainy season/ humid Japanese summer is the 「ドライペット」dry-pet. It's a little pot filled with moisture sucking beads that help to dehumidify the house. It's also called 「湿気取り」shikketori or 「水取りぞうさん」mizu-tori zou-san.

[coco]

If a mold isn't so heavy, you can use vinegar to clean up it by using a spray bottle which you can buy a drug store.

Vinegar 1: water 4 (depend on the condition)

[arumanokokoro]

Looks like coco beat me to it, but I went and found a picture and everything, so I'll post it anyway:

*bows*
Domo arigatou gozaimasu, Coco, becki_kanou, and Harisenbon!
I truly appreciate your helping alleviate my fears and assisting my bachelor son!

Aruma
^__^

[coco]

You are welcome.
(To find a nice girl might be another measure for him. )

[Wakannai]

(To find a nice girl might be another measure for him. )

Absolutely right! I think I'll go get a girl or three, maybe I can get a bulk discount. Vinegar and water you say?

Shopping list:

Girl (Shop around and maybe I can get a three for one deal)
Spray Bottle
Vinegar
Paper towels

I hope the instruction manual for the girl isn't too complicated, I hate reading those things. I guess the next issue is storage, the bottle and vinegar can go under the sink, but where to put the girl? まぁ、いいっか

[monkeykoder]

(To find a nice girl might be another measure for him. )

Absolutely right! I think I'll go get a girl or three, maybe I can get a bulk discount. Vinegar and water you say?

Shopping list:

Girl (Shop around and maybe I can get a three for one deal)
Spray Bottle
Vinegar
Paper towels

I hope the instruction manual for the girl isn't too complicated, I hate reading those things. I guess the next issue is storage, the bottle and vinegar can go under the sink, but where to put the girl? まぁ、いいっか

Good luck if you find that 3 for one deal... Most of the time I can't even handle one even if somehow I lured her to me...

[coco]

Wakannai-san,
I'm sure that you'll find some problems with the girls.
As YOU know, it is much harder to solve than cleaning up the mold.

[Yudan Taiteki]

I remember the tori zou san. I could never tell if they did any good, even though they were always full of water within a fairly short time. The humidity in Japan is unreal, though, at least compared to what I'm used to in midwest US.