Korean Job Discussion Forums

[krats1976]

I'm gearing up for a nice long trip back home this summer. I've never left my apartment for more than a few days in the summer and I'm paranoid that I'm going to come back to find everything a nice fuzzy green.

Any suggestions for keeping down the spores?

[the eye]

leave all the windows open a bit. keep the air circulating.
if you're worried about a break-in, you can put some wooden sticks in the window pain to keep the window from sliding open.

[Hollywoodaction]

Buy lots of those plastic tubs that capture humidity and put them in your drawers with your clothes. They'll be filled up with water when you come back.

[JongnoGuru]

Hire a maid to clean the place once a week or once every 2 weeks? Just opening the door, veranda & windows for a few hours will help. Got friends who could do that?

I think most Korean apartment windows are still the kind you can either open all the way (unlock) or close completely (lock). So there's no way to open them just a crack. With some you can get metal dowels to fit in the track to stop the window from being opened beyond a certain point, or holes drilled & pins inserted at various points that do the same.

Look at the ceiling of your bathroom and see if there isn't a removable hatch. Sometimes attached by screws or a hinge & latch, sometimes free so you can just press upwards and lift it from its frame. If you take this hatch or panel down, you'll probably feel a breeze (maybe even a huge gust) of air pouring into the bathroom. Prop the bathroom door open with something to prevent the wind & suction from slamming it shut. This is what we did (for two weeks straight) to air out and de-toxify a brand-new officetel we used.

Other than that, I don't know what you can do to prevent mould with a one-time, pre-departure fix. Daub surfaces with a highly diluted bleach solution? Maybe.

Of course, as has been mentioned, those small chemical dehumidifiers/deodourisers are good for VERY small spaces like wardrobes. For entire rooms, you'd need to fill the place from floor to ceiling and it still wouldn't be enough to make a difference (beyond making it smell nice). We all know what summers are like here, and you'll be gone for a long time. Those Hama boxes ... dead after a couple days.

[Homer]

Give your key to a friend and ask them to vent the place once a week.

Hire a maid to clean up once per week.

Turn off the water (including the toilet).

Dry off your bathroom and laudry room (if any).

Buy some humidity absorbing spunges and leave them out while you are gone.