Ranking of Things That Cause Irritation During the Rainy Season: Survey of 500 Men and Women

Mfro Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo; representative: Yosinori Kitawaki) conducted a nationwide survey of 500 men and women on their awareness of things that cause irritation during the rainy season, and compiled the data into a ranking.

The rainy season, characterized by continuous rain and overcast skies, is crucial for crop growth. However, many people likely feel irritated due to the persistent wet weather.

This time, Craudia Media Citation Support Service, operated by Mfro Co., Ltd. (https://craudia-citation.com/), conducted a survey asking 500 men and women nationwide about what irritates them during the rainy season, and summarized the results in a ranking format.

Comments on the survey results were provided by Shino Fujimoto, a certified psychologist and clinical psychologist.

[Request for Quoting or Reproducing Data]

When using the survey results or images from this press release, please include a link to the official website URL of "Craudia Media Citation Support Service" (https://craudia-citation.com/).

[Survey Overview]

Target: Men and women nationwide

Survey Period: May 20, 2026

Survey Organization: In-house survey

Method: Internet-based voluntary responses

Valid Responses: 500 people (365 women / 135 men)

Respondent Age Groups: Teens 0.6% / 20s 15.6% / 30s 35.8% / 40s 26.8% / 50s 15.8% / 60s and above 5.4%

[Survey Summary]

• The most difficult times of the year to get through are "summer" and "rainy season."

• The top irritation during the rainy season is "laundry doesn't dry easily."

• The most common expense people make to alleviate rainy-season irritations is "frequent dehumidification."

The most difficult times of the year are "summer" and "rainy season."

When asked about the "most difficult time of the year to get through," the highest number of respondents (42.4%) selected "summer," followed closely by "rainy season" (40.4%).

Together, "summer" and "rainy season" account for over 80% of responses, indicating that the humid rainy season transitioning into intense heat is widely perceived as a difficult period.

In recent years, summer heat has become extreme, with risks such as heatstroke, making it clearly an uncomfortable season for everyone.

Additionally, the rainy season is also perceived as uncomfortable due to factors like increasing heat and humidity exacerbating the discomfort.

The top irritation during the rainy season is "laundry doesn't dry easily."

The top irritation during the rainy season is "laundry doesn't dry easily" (52.0%), with over half of respondents selecting this. The second most common response, "hair becomes frizzy" (30.2%), also exceeded 30%.

This shows the significant impact that rain and humidity have on household chores like laundry and cleaning, as well as on daily personal grooming. Since these tasks are performed daily, many people likely experience stress on a daily basis.

<1st: Laundry doesn't dry easily>

• Unable to hang laundry outside; when hung indoors, damp clothes emit a musty odor throughout the room (male, 30s)

• Can't hang laundry outside due to rain, and indoor drying doesn't work well either, increasing indoor humidity. While using the washing machine's dryer or bathroom drying works, they produce a distinct "dryer smell," which I dislike the most (male, 40s)

• Unable to hang laundry outside, so I dry it indoors, but it doesn't dry properly. With children, we have a lot of laundry, which increases my irritation (female, 50s)

During the rainy season, high humidity makes it difficult for laundry to dry. Rain prevents outdoor drying, and indoor drying is ineffective due to lack of airflow. When clothes remain damp, bacteria multiply, causing a distinctive "musty odor" that spreads through the room, creating discomfort for many.

While using a dryer is a possible solution, multiple respondents reported disliking the "distinct smell from dryers" or preferring to dry clothes outdoors. Particularly for families with children, where laundry volume is high, this becomes a significant source of stress.

<2nd: Hair becomes frizzy>

• Even after styling my hair, humidity quickly makes it frizzy and messy, which irritates me (female, 20s)

• High humidity causes my hair to become frizzy and unmanageable (female, 30s)

• I have naturally curly hair, so I spend a lot of time styling it every morning (male, 40s)

High humidity during the rainy season causes hair to absorb moisture from the air, leading to frizz. People with naturally curly hair are especially prone to this, resulting in complaints like "hair won't stay in place" or "quickly becomes messy."

Even after spending time styling hair in the morning, it may already be ruined by the time of commuting or going to school. This sense of effort being wasted can easily lead to irritation and lowered mood.

People who pay close attention to their appearance and grooming are likely to feel this stress more intensely.

<3rd: Feeling unwell>

• I suffer from migraines, which get worse on rainy days (male, 20s)

• I'm sensitive to changes in air pressure, so I feel unwell when pressure drops. Symptoms like "headaches," "shoulder stiffness," "nausea," and "dizziness" make it hard to work efficiently, leading to irritability and emotional instability (female, 20s)

• I have mild asthma, so my health often fluctuates during the rainy season (female, 50s)

On rainy or overcast days, air pressure is generally low. Lower air pressure can cause headaches and dizziness, making many people feel unwell. The survey also revealed that the rainy season affects pre-existing conditions such as "migraines," "asthma," and "rhinitis."

Feeling unwell can also impact work efficiency and other areas.

<4th: Going out becomes troublesome>

• It rains during my commute to school, so I have to walk instead of riding my bike as usual (male, 20s)

• I commute by motorcycle, so rain really irritates me (male, 30s)

• The place my child attends prohibits car drop-offs and pickups. I have to walk there wearing a raincoat, which is really tough (female, 40s)

On rainy days, usual modes of transportation may become unusable or inconvenient. For example, "biking becomes difficult" or "motorcycling requires extra effort."

Switching to walking or public transportation like buses can take extra time, cause stress from crowded vehicles, and incur additional costs.

Additionally, preparing rain gear or helping children prepare theirs is also time-consuming. This indicates that daily commutes, outings, and drop-offs/pickups become burdensome.

<5th: Clothes get wet>

• I visit elementary schools for work, but the playground is muddy, so my shoes and clothes get dirty, which I dislike (female, 20s)

• Clothes getting wet when going out (male, 30s)

• During my commute, rain soaks my shoes and clothes (female, 50s)

Even with an umbrella, it's impossible to completely avoid rain, as it can blow in from the side or splash up from the ground.

On buses or trains, your own or others' umbrellas may touch your body, causing you to get wet. As a result, many people feel stressed about their clothes or shoes getting wet or dirty from rain and mud.

<6th: Muggy heat>

• High temperature and high humidity make me feel uncomfortable due to the sticky heat (male, 30s)

• Even if I lower the room temperature, it's still hot without dehumidification (female, 40s)

• Even when it's not raining, the rainy season is humid and muggy (female, 60s and above)

Some people feel stressed by the climate itself, as both temperature and humidity are high, leading to high perceived temperatures. High humidity makes it harder for sweat to evaporate, trapping heat in the body. In open-ended responses, some mentioned feeling "heat trapped in the body."

Even if the temperature isn't particularly high, the "muggy heat" causes discomfort.

<7th: Feeling down>

• The high humidity during the rainy season makes me feel down, which is stressful (female, 30s)

• The dull gray sky sometimes puts me in a similar mood. When I'm tired or something unpleasant happens, I become more irritable (male, 40s)

• Seeing the damp, rainy weather is bad for my mental health (male, 60s and above)

During the rainy season, sunshine hours decrease. Many people reported feeling down because "bright, sunny days are rare."

In fact, prolonged lack of sunlight is said to reduce serotonin (a hormone) secretion, making people more prone to low moods. Some reported feeling down and easily irritated by minor things.

<8th: Mold growth>

• I really hate mold. With constant dampness and rain, I worry about mold growing in hidden places (female, 30s)

• Mold grows easily, making cleaning difficult (male, 40s)

• Mold quickly appears in places like the bathroom if I'm not careful. Even bread quickly develops blue mold (male, 60s and above)

The rainy season creates an environment conducive to mold growth. Even if you try to dry moisture-prone areas like bathrooms, it's hard to keep them dry.

Depending on indoor conditions, mold can quickly spread, especially in poorly ventilated areas. Mold is unpleasant to look at.

Additionally, preventing or removing mold requires effort, so many people feel stressed about the increased cleaning burden.

The top expense people make to alleviate rainy-season irritations is "frequent dehumidification."

When asked about expenses made to alleviate rainy-season irritations, the overwhelming top response was "frequent dehumidification" (32.4%). The gap was significant, with second place "mold prevention" (8.4%), third "straight perms" (7.2%), and fourth "taking medication" (5.8%).

More people spend money to eliminate the causes of stress rather than using it for mood improvement. Many responses focused on measures to keep indoor environments comfortable and reduce household stress, such as "dehumidification," "mold prevention," and "using bathroom dryers."

Additionally, expenses on personal care, such as "managing frizzy hair" and "taking medication," also ranked highly.

<1st: Frequent dehumidification>

• I use dehumidifiers or air conditioner dehumidifying functions, and purchase detergents or dehumidifiers for indoor drying (male, 30s)

• Even using air conditioner dehumidifying or dry modes felt insufficient, so I bought a dehumidifier. The muggy air disappeared, and nighttime discomfort while sleeping drastically decreased (female, 30s)

• I use a dehumidifier to dry clothes (female, 60s and above)

Top-ranking irritations like "laundry doesn't dry easily," "muggy heat," and "mold growth" are all caused by high humidity. Dehumidification directly addresses the root cause of rainy-season irritations.

Methods for dehumidification include dehumidifiers, air conditioner dehumidifying functions, and dehumidifying agents.

<2nd: Mold prevention>

• I purchase mold-prevention sprays and fumigants for bathrooms (female, 40s)

• I buy cleaning agents to remove mold (female, 50s)

• I place anti-mold agents in areas prone to moisture buildup to reduce discomfort as much as possible (female, 50s)

Once mold appears, removal is difficult, and health impacts are a concern. Therefore, some people purchase products not only for "removal" but also for "prevention" and "protection."

While mold-prevention sprays and fumigants don't completely prevent mold, they are expected to reduce cleaning intensity. Additionally, buying mold-removal cleaners may reduce cleaning effort.

<3rd: Straight perms>

• My bangs get messy, so I get straight perms (female, 30s)

• For the rainy season, I only get keratin treatments on parts of my hair that tend to get frizzy, preventing curls (female, 40s)

• I use keratin treatments as a countermeasure. Every year before the rainy season, I definitely get a keratin treatment at a salon, and now I'm completely free from irritation (male, 50s)

Straight perms or keratin treatments reduce frizz and curling. This reduces the time and effort spent on daily hairstyling and decreases worries about styles falling apart, thereby reducing stress.

Multiple respondents mentioned getting treatments "every year before the rainy season."

<4th: Taking medication>

• I always have headaches during the rainy season, so I buy and take effective headache medication, even if it's expensive (female, 20s)

• When I occasionally feel down, I buy traditional Chinese medicine. I take Chinese medicine that helps reduce body fatigue during the rainy season (male, 40s)

• I purchase Chinese medicine said to make me less prone to illness and buy headache medication (female, 50s)

This is a measure addressing the irritation of "feeling unwell." Many people keep Chinese medicine or headache medication on hand to prevent or alleviate symptoms like headaches and fatigue caused by air pressure changes.

Headache medications vary in active ingredient concentration and compatibility with body types, so some people carefully select ones that work best for them.

Chinese medicine is often taken continuously to improve body constitution. Some people also receive prescription headache medication from hospitals.

<5th: Using bathroom dryers>

• Laundry tends to remain damp when drying, so I use the bathroom dryer despite the electricity cost to improve efficiency (female, 20s)

• I use the bathroom dryer. It's expensive electricity-wise, but it works (male, 40s)

• Electricity is costly, but I fully utilize the bathroom dryer (female, 40s)

This is a measure against the irritation of "laundry not drying easily." During the rainy season, outdoor drying is difficult, and indoor drying leads to damp clothes and increased indoor humidity. Therefore, many people dry laundry in bathrooms using bathroom dryers.

Bathroom dryers are often standard equipment in modern homes. However, they consume electricity, so daily long-term use increases costs.

<6th: Using taxis>

• I have three children, so I use taxis more often (female, 30s)

• I use taxis. During the rainy season, I mostly rely on taxis (male, 40s)

• On rainy days, I don't push myself and use taxis, which I normally avoid, to make life more comfortable (female, 50s)

This is a measure against irritations like "going out becomes troublesome" and "clothes getting wet."

Rain makes travel inconvenient, but taxis take you close to your destination, making them convenient. Since daily use increases costs, some respondents mentioned being selective, saying things like "I save on other things when using taxis" or "I normally don't use them much."

This is particularly beneficial in situations like "with children," "carrying heavy items," or "wearing important clothes."

<7th: Using coin laundries>

• On weekends, I can't keep up with my children's gym clothes and lab coats, so I use coin laundries just for drying (female, 30s)

• I use the dryer at a coin laundry to make my laundry fluffy (female, 40s)

• For large items, I use coin laundries (female, 50s)

This is a measure against the irritation of "laundry not drying easily," particularly useful on days with "large laundry items" or "high laundry volume." Commercial dryers at coin laundries can fluff clothes quickly.

This is worth considering when home dryers or bathroom dryers take too long.

Summary

The rainy season, with its high humidity, is a difficult time for many people.

With fewer sunny days, it significantly impacts household chores like laundry. It also affects various aspects such as beauty, health, and mental well-being.

Due to increased irritability, many people spend money on countermeasures like "buying dehumidifiers," "getting straight perms," and "keeping medication on hand."

Irritation and low mood can affect health and work. To comfortably get through the unpleasant rainy season, why not try finding effective ways to reduce the burden?

Comment from Shino Fujimoto

Rainy-season irritability is not merely a mood issue; it's also influenced by changes in humidity, air pressure, and daylight hours, which affect sleep, autonomic nervous system balance, and physical sensations. Additionally, the accumulation of minor daily inconveniences like laundry and going out easily leads to psychological stress.

What's important is not "pushing through with willpower," but specifically reducing sources of discomfort. Environmental adjustments like using dehumidifiers and dryers, allowing buffer time in schedules, and simplifying household chores are scientifically proven effective stress management strategies.

▽ Expert Introduction

Shino Fujimoto

Certified Psychologist, Clinical Psychologist.

Graduated from the Faculty of Human Sciences, Health and Welfare Department, Waseda University, and the Graduate School of Human Sciences, Waseda University. Worked as a psychologist at Arakawa Ward Education Center and the Department of Nephrology and Endocrinology, The University of Tokyo Hospital. After serving as a psychological assessor in the Department of Nephrology, Japanese Red Cross Medical Center, founded Le:self (Leself) in 2020, an online mental health service.

Actively involved in corporate mental health training, lectures on preventive mental care, and content creation.

Publications: "How to Handle an Overflowing 'Feeling Overwhelmed': Accepting Your Emotional Teacup" (https://amzn.asia/d/8MdANaQ)

Official Website: https://leself.jp/

[Request for Quoting or Reproducing Data]

When using the survey results or images from this press release, please include a link to the official website URL of "Craudia Media Citation Support Service" (https://craudia-citation.com/).

About Craudia

A comprehensive crowdsourcing service operated by Mfro Co., Ltd.

In an era where individual work styles and lifestyles are diversifying, it provides services tailored to freelancers, side jobs, and multiple careers.

Official URL: https://www.craudia.com/

About Mfro Co., Ltd.

Mfro Co., Ltd. is a company whose core business is media operations, aiming to deliver attractive information and valuable services to users.

Leveraging data, expertise, and development outcomes accumulated through its main media business, the company offers marketing consulting services that propose effective customer acquisition methods.

Official URL: https://www.mfro.net/

Company Overview

Company Name: Mfro Co., Ltd.

Representative: President and CEO, Yosinori Kitawaki

Address: 4F, A-PLACE Ebisu Higashi, 3-13-11 Higashi, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0011

Established: September 2004

Capital: 50,000,000 JPY

URL: http://www.mfro.net/