Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cocosheff]

Hello,

I've been told by people in Korea and who have been to Korea that due to the humidity their clothes often grew mould and eventually had to be thrown away.
Do any current residents have any advise on what to bring/do to avoid this happening to my lovely lovely clothes?

Super lame topic I know.

Thanks!!!!!!!!!!

[Globutron2]

hm, never happened to me =/

Just wash 'em and dry 'em as quick as poss. It's probably something cleanophiles worry about.

[northway]

Maybe if you leave your clothes in the washer.

[plato's republic]

You can probably buy one of those little tubs that you stick in your closet that eats up mould. They sell them in Japan, and I presume you'd be able to find them at the bigger stores here too. No idea what they're called or exactly what they look like however, since I've never had the need for any in Korea.

[ktkates87]

My clothes have gotten pretty spunky on occasion. I find that doing a load and having it hung up when theres still lots of daylight left helps, as well as having a fan going on the clothes to help them dry quicker. We have a dryer function on our machine but it takes something like 2 hours to finish. I miss my dryer from home!!!

It likely wont get so bad that you need to throw clothes out though. I do find that my clothes have been deteriorating in the Korean washing machine that we have though.....

[Abacus]

I've only really noticed this (in Taiwan) with stuff like thick bath towels and exercise clothes. Pretty much if you're clothes are wet (especially sweaty) you need to dry them out (not wash but that helps) that day. I also add a couple of tablespoons of white vinegar to my laundry (especially bedding, towels, and exercise clothes) occasionally. I don't know if it makes a difference or not but it's supposed to kill bacteria.

[Lazio]

Never had a problem with it. It mainly happens in places where the humidity is high all year round. The humidity in Korea is only high for about 3 months in a year.
Try to create a sufficient airflow by keeping your windows open as much as you can. Of course it doesn't work well if you got one window only.
You can get a dehumidifier or many A/C units also have a dehumidifier feature.
When you dry T-shirts or towels for example, place them on 2 rods on the drying rack so they can dry faster.
Using these tension closets/clothing racks will help too. That way there is air moving around your clothes while keeping them in a closet would prevent any airflow.

[West Coast Tatterdemalion]

Just put your clothes in front of your fan and it will dry them out pretty quickly.

[uklathemock]

[decolyon]

The key is not to do too big of a load at once. These washers in Korea aren't as big as back home. And a few pair of Western sized jeans is about all they can take at a time.

Also, on your drying rack, don't hang one thing on every rung and load the thing down. Even small items should two rungs. For towels and bigger shirts I spread them across 3 rungs. Jeans are best to lay flat on the floor. You can "hand iron" them this way by flattening them out and getting the wrinkles out while they're still damp. Spray a little spray starch on them and the next day they're nice and crisp.

Get a small room fan to blow on them. Don't point it directly on them. Let it oscillate back and forth. That way the air "moves" and isn't just blowing in one direction.

The method I use is to do a load at night just before bed. By morning they're all dry and you can hang or fold them. You can buy a pack of dryer sheets and put them in your closet to help keep them fresh and mold free. As they're drying, it doesn't hurt to spray a little F'breeze on them as well. If you do a load during the day, keep your window open a bit and the fan going.

The only time I worry about mold is in winter. With the windows closed and the floor heat on, the air can get kind of thick, so I usually keep a window open year round.

Don't forget to use high quality detergent as well. And fabric softener. Low quality detergent is like using dish soap on your clothes. Causes them to fade and be worn out easily. Fabric softener will also keep color longer. Don't over use them however. One scoop is all you need of detergent per load. Make sure you washer settings haven't been tampered with. If you still find you're getting mold, most washers will let you program an extra rinse cycle.

Iron your shirts before they dry all the way. I usually just let my hang for an hour and then iron them. If their still moist, the ironing is easier, and they get a much better press.

Don't hang too many things and cram your closet full. Your closet is supposed to breathe. If things aren't put away properly and there's not enough space, you're just begging for mold (and wrinkles.)

Clean your closet at least once every 2 months. That means pull out all your clothes and dust and wipe down the inside of the closet with bleach. Let it dry by airing out and restock your clothes.

If you have too many clothes, go through and take out everything you haven't worn in the last year. There are loads of clothes charity boxes around town that will put them to good use.

Don't stock extra shoes in your clothing closet. Sweat from your shoes can travel. Shoes should be hung on a shoe rack or at the very least, stored in another closet.

Dry clean seasonal ware. Your winter coat and heavy suits should be dry cleaned at the end of the season. Don't leave them in those dry cleaner bags though. Take them home, let them air out for the night and then hang them neatly in your closet.

Sweaters take longer to dry than you'd think. You should be laying them out on the floor and not on the rack. But even if they feel dry, give them another 6-12 hours. The internal fibers might still be moist.

I take my laundry very seriously.

[NSMatt]

There is a product you can use to soak up humidity in your closet. It's a rectangular tub, maybe 500ml or so, and it has moisture absorbing gel inside. It's called a 'Thirsty Hippo'

http://www.oxy.co.kr/eng/product/hama/ha_sub01.asp

[Vix]

I have recently moved to a new flat with an older washing machine and it seems to make my clothes smell. I am not sure if I should do smaller loads or just use a good smelling fabric softener. Damn old apt!

[downstack]

My fan works wonders, and if you leave the window open while they dry the humidity doesn't build up as badly inside the apartment.