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It is often said that futons should be aired regularly. Some people regularly air their futons, while others might be surprised to hear this.
Indeed, airing futons regularly can be surprisingly difficult. Many people living in urban areas might not have space to hang their futons outside. Also, those with pollen allergies cannot air their futons outdoors during certain seasons.
However, the truth is, you can air your futons indoors without taking them outside!
This article will introduce the benefits of indoor drying and the correct methods for doing so. If you're struggling to air your futons, try indoor drying by following the advice in this article!
1. What happens when you air a futon?
The biggest benefit of airing a futon is removing moisture.
Futons are made of cotton, down, wool, synthetic fibers, etc. People sweat about one cup's worth of liquid during sleep, and this sweat is absorbed by the futon as moisture.
Cotton and synthetic fibers, in particular, absorb moisture easily, so futons become increasingly damp with use. If you've been feeling your futon is "damp and heavy lately," it's not your imagination. The futon actually absorbs moisture, becomes heavier, and its comfort deteriorates.
Airing your futon to release moisture makes it fluffy and more comfortable to sleep on, and the sterilizing effect of UV rays can also help eliminate odors.
In addition, airing futons also helps remove dust mite carcasses and other debris that breed inside them, so there are many benefits to airing them.
Futons are prone to dust mite infestations, but by airing your futon and gently beating it, you can remove dust mite carcasses. However, this won't kill live dust mites.
Furthermore, airing futons can extend their lifespan. If moisture accumulates in a futon, mold is likely to grow, and a moldy futon would be unusable. The biggest enemy of mold is dryness. By airing your futon to remove moisture, you can prevent mold!
2. Can futons even be dried indoors?
Many people vaguely know that airing futons is good for both the futon and the body. However, some may not have space to air their futons or wish to avoid drying them outside due to pollen allergies.
In such cases, we recommend trying indoor drying. Here, we will explain the effects and benefits of indoor drying.
2-1. Futons are effective even when dried indoors
One of the benefits of airing a futon is to dry it by releasing moisture.
While drying is often associated with outdoor exposure, it can also be done indoors.
If you spread out your futon in a sunlit room and let it dry, the moisture will evaporate and it will dry. Furthermore, even through a window, exposure to sunlight will make it fluffy and provide some deodorizing effect.
Indoor drying also has the advantage of allowing you to air futons regardless of the weather or pollen levels.
Lowering the room's humidity can remove moisture trapped in the futon. Using an air conditioner's dry mode or a fan can yield more effective indoor drying results.
In addition, indoor drying is recommended for down and wool. These animal-derived natural fibers are sensitive to direct sunlight, and excessive UV exposure can shorten their lifespan, so shade drying is generally recommended. If you want to extend the life of your down or wool futon, try indoor drying.
2-2. No detergent is used, so it dries quickly and has no odor.
When drying laundry indoors, it can sometimes develop an unpleasant smell and take a long time to dry. Many of you may have experienced this.
However, since futons are not machine-washed, they don't take long to dry. You can air them as soon as you think of it, and they won't emit that peculiar damp smell.
Provided you can secure a drying space, it can even be easier than drying them outdoors on a balcony or similar.
3. Easy! How to dry futons indoors
So, how should you air your futon indoors? Here's how to effectively dry your futon indoors. With this method, you can expect results comparable to outdoor drying!
3-1. Use a futon drying rack to prevent futons from overlapping.
When drying futons indoors, some people try to expose them to sunlight while leaving them on the floor, but this is not recommended.
To air a futon, it must be completely lifted off the floor. Always use a futon drying rack or similar. This is because moisture will not dissipate unless there is good airflow both above and below the futon.
Compact indoor drying racks are now available. Since they can be purchased for around 3,000 yen, it would be a worthwhile investment. If you absolutely cannot use a drying rack, try hanging your futon over the back of a chair or a table instead.
Also, futons should not be stacked. The purpose is to release moisture, so it becomes meaningless if they are not dried separately.
If you don't have space to dry multiple futons, dry them over several days, for example, the shikibuton (bottom futon) today and the kakefuton (top futon) tomorrow. It's also a good idea to air your pillows at the same time.
And if possible, expose them to sunlight even through a window. If you can dry your futons in a south-facing or east-facing room, it's recommended to place a drying rack near the window.
3-2. You can also use deodorizing spray if you're concerned about odors.
If you're concerned about futon odors, spray them with a fabric deodorizer. This will help reduce unpleasant odors from sweat, drool, and so on.
Wash covers regularly. If you don't have a place to dry them, you can also go to a laundromat. Odors caused by moisture should largely disappear with this method.
If the odor is from a different substance, such as tobacco, use a deodorizing spray specifically for that. Tobacco, in particular, can leave an odor on your futon even if you don't smoke near it, provided you smoke indoors.
Pet urine is another substance whose odor can linger for a surprisingly long time. When airing a futon that has pet urine on it, in addition to deodorizing spray, it's effective to spray it with baking soda solution. If the odor still won't go away, you might need to have the futon professionally cleaned.
3-3. Drying time is about 3-5 hours.
When drying futons outdoors, 2-3 hours is usually sufficient, but for indoor drying, aim for 3-5 hours.
Use 3 hours as a guideline during summer and about 5 hours on cloudy days or during winter.
Moisture inside the futon will not dissipate sufficiently in just 1-2 hours. If you're going out for the day, it's enough to air it in the morning and take it in when you get back.
Also, if you're going out at night and won't be back until morning, airing it before you leave can save time. Even at night, indoor drying is perfectly fine.
The frequency of airing futons varies depending on the material.
For cotton and synthetic fibers, which absorb moisture easily, airing at least once a week is ideal.
Wool and down do not need to be aired as frequently as cotton or synthetic fibers; once every 2 to 3 weeks is ideal. However, down contains oil, so if moisture accumulates, it will develop a distinctive odor. If you are concerned about the smell of your down comforter, airing it for several consecutive days may help to reduce the odor.
When airing, it's recommended to use the dry function of an air conditioner or a fan to help moisture evaporate faster, especially on humid days.
4. Precautions for indoor futon drying
When drying futons indoors, what specific precautions should be taken compared to outdoor drying? There are also specific considerations for indoor drying, so please refer to them.
4-1. Do not beat, use a futon cleaner to vacuum
Many people beat their futons to remove dust when airing them.
However, beating a futon during indoor drying is counterproductive, as it will scatter airborne dust throughout the room and allow it to resettle on the futon.
If you're concerned about dirt on your futon or want to remove dust mite carcasses, use a futon cleaner or a vacuum cleaner with a special nozzle to suck them up. This way, you can remove dust and debris without scattering it.
4-2. Pay attention to humidity and ensure good ventilation.
When drying indoors on a clear day, open the windows to allow air to circulate. Good ventilation can achieve almost the same dehumidifying effect as outdoor drying. Opening multiple windows will be even more effective.
However, be careful during pollen season, as opening windows can let pollen in. As mentioned earlier, if you cannot open windows, you can achieve a similar effect by using the dry function of your air conditioner or a fan. Using a dehumidifier can also have some effect!
5. Even partially folding back the duvet can be effective.
If you absolutely don't have space to air your futon, or if you also want to dehumidify your mattress, try folding back your futon halfway to expose the top surface to the air.
When futons are stacked, moisture accumulates between them.
If a futon is left spread out, mold can grow where it touches the floor, which is due to trapped moisture.
Even if you can't air it out completely, simply exposing it to the outside air can help to some extent in dissipating moisture.
It's even better if you can create a gap between the shikibuton (bottom futon) and the kakefuton (top futon).
By placing a storage basket upside down on the shikibuton and then laying the kakefuton on top, a gap is created between the two futons, allowing air to circulate. This method can also be used to allow air to circulate underneath a mattress.
Summary: It's okay to dry futons indoors!
This time, we introduced the benefits and methods of drying futons indoors. You might be surprised to learn that indoor drying is quite effective.
Let's review the key points from this article:
- It's important to air futons regularly for dehumidification and to extend their lifespan.
- Indoor drying can provide sufficient dehumidification effects.
- For cotton and synthetic futons, airing once a week is ideal; for down and wool futons, once every two to three weeks is ideal.
- Pay attention to sunlight and ventilation, and air futons on a drying rack so they don't overlap.
- Drying time is approximately 3-5 hours.
- Using an air conditioner's dry function or a fan is effective for reducing humidity.
- Even just exposing the futon surface to outside air can have some dehumidifying effect.
If you thought indoor drying wasn't very effective, try it once. You'll realize that simply exposing your futon to sunlight through a window and dehumidifying it will make it fluffy again.
This method is recommended not only for those who lack space to air futons but also for those struggling with airing futons outdoors during pollen season.
