Tasukaji Research Institute Releases Rainy Season Housekeeping Survey: Bridging the 'Awareness Gap' Between General Public and Professionals. Launches 'Comfortable Rainy Season Declaration Campaign' with Professional Housekeeping Services.

Tasukaji Research Institute, the think tank of Tasukaji Inc. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Yuko Wada), which operates the housekeeping matching service 'Tasukaji,' conducted a survey in June 2026 on housekeeping stress during the rainy season and is releasing the results.

Rainy Season Housekeeping Stress Survey (2026)

In modern homes with high airtightness and high insulation, traditional housekeeping habits such as 'opening windows for ventilation' and 'wiping mold with water when found' can actually increase mold and bacteria. However, this fact remains unknown to many households.

In June 2026, Tasukaji Research Institute conducted a questionnaire survey on rainy-season housekeeping among Tasukaji users (clients) and professional housekeepers registered on the platform (Tasukaji-san). The survey revealed a gap in awareness between measures clients perform while feeling uncertain about their effectiveness, and actions professionals frequently observe that are actually counterproductive. This report presents the findings with data and shares recommended practices from professionals.

Survey Overview

1. Measures Clients 'Feel Uncertain About' vs. Actions Professionals 'Frequently Observe'

First, clients were asked where they feel the most stress during rainy-season housekeeping. The top response was 'bathroom mold and limescale' (64.1%), followed by 'kitchen hygiene' (60.6%) and 'indoor drying of laundry' (50.7%). All are areas frequently exposed to moisture and humidity, requiring concentrated maintenance during the rainy season.

[Figure 1] Locations where housekeeping stress is felt during the rainy season (Clients, multiple responses, n=142)

Next, clients were asked about rainy-season measures they feel 'unsure if effective' or 'don't know the correct method.' The most common response was 'whether to open windows for ventilation on rainy days' (57.0%). This indicates that over half of the clients lack confidence in the correctness of an action they repeat every year.

[Figure 2] Rainy-season measures clients feel 'unsure of effectiveness or correct method' (Clients, multiple responses, n=142)

Meanwhile, professional housekeepers (Tasukaji-san) were asked about actions they frequently observe at clients' homes that seem well-intentioned but are actually counterproductive. The most common was 'leaving windows fully open even on rainy days' (27.3%), followed by 'wiping mold with water (spreading bacteria)' (22.7%). It is clear that actions clients feel uncertain about align with those professionals observe on-site.

[Figure 3] Actions frequently observed by professionals at clients' homes (Tasukaji-san, multiple responses, n=44)

57.0% of clients continue opening windows for ventilation despite having doubts, and 27.3% of professionals observe this on-site. This suggests that ineffective habits persist in many households. 26.8% of clients feel uneasy about 'wiping with water' yet still perform it, and 22.7% of professionals observe this. The similarity in these figures indicates this action is both 'commonly done' and 'potentially counterproductive.'

2. Two Common Pitfalls: 'Ventilation' and 'Wiping Mold with Water'

'Open windows to ventilate on rainy days.' This once-correct advice may no longer apply to modern homes. In highly airtight modern homes, opening windows allows humid outdoor air to enter, potentially increasing indoor humidity. On high-humidity days, adjusting indoor humidity using a dehumidifier or air conditioner's dehumidifying mode is more effective.

Professional Insight: 'Leaving Windows Fully Open on Rainy Days'

- 'In homes where mold increases during the rainy season, windows are often left fully open for ventilation even on rainy days. The outdoor air during the rainy season is frequently more humid than indoor air, and bringing it in raises indoor humidity, making it easier for mold to grow.' (Tasukaji-san, Cleaning Specialist)

Another pitfall is the action of 'wiping mold with water as soon as it's found.' Wiping with water can physically spread mold and scatter spores into the surrounding area. Professionals recommend spraying alcohol directly to disinfect, then wiping with a dry paper towel.

Professional Insight: 'Wiping Mold with Water'

- 'Many people immediately wipe mold with a towel when they find it. This action spreads mold spores. We recommend spraying alcohol first, then wiping with a dry paper towel.' (Tasukaji-san, Cleaning Specialist)

3. Countermeasures That Ironically Increase 'Chores'

Many households use commercial dehumidifiers and anti-mold agents for rainy-season countermeasures. However, responses to the open-ended question 'dissatisfaction with commercial products' revealed that relying on these products can ironically create new household chores.

The most common complaint was the hassle of 'emptying water' from dehumidifiers and dehumidifying agents. Over 16 responses mentioned 'it's troublesome to empty the water from the dehumidifier,' with comments like 'I don't know when the water will fill up,' 'I'm afraid it might spill,' and 'I forget where I placed it.' Products placed for peace of mind end up creating new chores involving 'checking, disposal, and replenishment.'

Client Feedback

- 'It's difficult to keep the area where the dehumidifier's water collects clean. It fills up quickly and stops working.' (Female, 40s)

- 'I lose track of where I placed how many units and how many I need to collect.' (Female, 40s)

- 'It's hard to tell how long the anti-mold agent's effect lasts. I even doubt if it's working at all.' (Male, 50s)

- 'Managing multiple dehumidifying agents is stressful in itself. I don't know when to replace them.' (Female, 50s)

4. Professionals' Practice: 'Housekeeping Without Adding More Items'

So, what kind of ingenuity do professional housekeepers use? When we solicited 'cleaning tips recommended by professionals,' a mindset emerged that is the opposite of 'adding more products': 'reducing items to create airflow paths.'

'I believe it's more important to reduce items and increase airflow paths than to add more products. Regularly open storage doors and use a circulator to move air. Avoid overfilling storage. Completely empty and organize storage before and after the rainy season. Just doing this allows you to maintain cleanliness without overly relying on dehumidifying agents.'

— Tasukaji-san, Organization & Storage Specialist

'The most effective measure against bathroom mold is wiping down wall moisture with a towel after use. If you can maintain a dry state, anti-mold agents are almost unnecessary.'

— Tasukaji-san, Cleaning Specialist

When asked if they would like to hire a professional during the rainy season, 49.0% answered 'strongly agree' and 39.3% 'somewhat agree,' meaning approximately 90% expressed an intention to hire a professional.

[Figure 4] Would you like to hire a professional during the rainy season? (Clients, single response, n=142)

'When I see the kitchen and bathroom sparkling clean, I feel grateful and liberated from stress, and I truly think hiring them was the right decision.'

— Reason for feeling it was good to hire a professional during the rainy season (Female, 50s)

Summary

What was revealed by this survey