Korean Job Discussion Forums

Betty Rubble · Joined: 29 Apr 2007

I got a skirt out of my closet that I haven't worn for a while and there was mold growing all over it! There is also mold all over my luggage and pretty much everything that I had stored in the laundry-drying room. How do Koreans deal with this problem? How do you reduce the humidity in the apartment? Every time I do laundry lately, it takes a few days for it to dry and by the time it does, the clothes all stink like mildew. (Sorry for the gross post by the way. I hadn't read about this problem before...)

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

I see people buying some of those boxes that have some sort of desicant in them.

I don't understand how there is such a problem though. In Thailand I never had any problem with mould growing on my clothes. Sometimes got the mildue smell if I didn't dry them properly in wet season but never mold.

Yet here I see lots of people buying those drying boxes to keep their wardrobes dry. Is it just a con?

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

I would like to know also. Its been raining constantly these past couple weeks and my clothes aren't drying properly.

mrsquirrel · Joined: 13 Dec 2006

Use a fan to dry them.

Need to increase the airflow. I used to run two fans in Thailand to get them dry before the mildue set in.

If it does get into the clothes a hot wash is the only way to get rid of the smell. Problem with it is that you don't know it's there when they are dry ut once the clothes get a little damp they stink. Smells like piss.

One of my friends used to use his a/c to help suck the moisture out of the air but he was an extravagent bugger.

All about the airflow.

Tiger Beer · Joined: 07 Feb 2003

It's real. Had a recent problem at my place as well.

Combination of heavy rains and high humidity. It'll soon pass.

Until then, I've taken up the habit of bringing my clothes to a local laudromat and drying them there.

(Fortunately the only coin-operated laudromat I've ever seen in Korea just happens to be in Shinchon! Whew!)

-------

I'm also trying to use fans to create a good airflow in and out of the apartment.

SuperFly · Joined: 09 Jul 2003 Location: In the doghouse

Every closet in our house that contains clothing has one or two of those little dehumidifier boxes. My wife changes the box once a month. You buy the little boxes at cosmetics stores like OLIVE YOUNG.

kat2 · Joined: 25 Oct 2005 Location: Busan, South Korea

The hippo boxes workd for me. They are white with a pink top and haev a picture of a hippo sucking water out of the air. I put them in every closet/cabinet I haev that has fabric in it. Alos, try to leave the doors/drawers to your closets open a little bit. Helps to keep the air moving around. use a fan like the other posters mentioned.
It might also be your apartment. If you are living in an older place, check behind your wardrobes/couch/cabinets. You might have moldy walls and not even know it. If this is the case, you have no hope of battling the mold. I had to practically blackmail an employer into getting me out of a mold invested apt once.

newteacher · Joined: 31 May 2007

Maybe Korea could join the civilized world and start selling dryers.

Not really complaining (don't get me wrong, I actually enjoy my time ironing), but it would make life so much easier.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

I had the same problem last year. When I came back after being away for a month mildew was groing on a lot of things. Just keep all your clothes in a room with A/C during the summer. Last summer was actually far worse for mildew.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Oh and PS - it's likely to be far worse in window-less room. A well ventilated room is much better for keeping clothes during summer.

Pak Yu Man · Joined: 02 Jun 2005 Location: The Ida galaxy

Go to Emart. You can buy little plastic boxes with pink tops that suck moisture out of the air.

Called 습기 제거제 (Sup gi Jae geo jae)

You buy them in packs of 8-12 (I think...it's been a while) then stick them all over your house. Closets, drawers...you name it.

twg · Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Location: Getting some fresh air...

Keep your drying clothes in sunlight if you can.

But I've found that once your clothes get that mold smell in them, you might as well just throw them out, because that stink is never going to leave no matter how many washes.

Fresh Prince · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: The glorious nation of Korea

If you can dry them outside then they won't get that mouldy smell. If you have a communal rooftop clothes-line then that would be the fastest and best way to go.

If you can't dry them outside and have a drying room that is separate from you living quarters then just make sure the windows are open instead of closed and the clothes line is hanging directly in front of the windows. That will do the job although they will dry a lot slower than they would if they were outside.

princess · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: soul of Asia

ucfvgirl · Joined: 28 Sep 2005 Location: Bundang

I keep all of my windows and the bathroom door closed and turn on the air conditioner. I was surprised at how much faster my clothes dried when there was no humidity coming in. In fact, they dried overnight compared to two or three days. If you have an air conditioner, you might want to give it a try.