Defeat the Stubborn Musty Odor! 'Wide Haiter PRO Liquid Heyaboshi' with 6x*1 Musty Smell Deodorizing Ingredients to Achieve Outdoor-Level Freshness! Newly Released on May 16, 2026
Kao Corporation's laundry bleach brand 'Wide Haiter' will launch 'Wide Haiter PRO Liquid Heyaboshi', specializing in the musty smell of indoor-dried clothes, from its 'Wide Haiter PRO' series on May 16, 2026. Responding to the increasing trend of indoor drying and consumer concerns about odors, this new product contains six times the musty smell deodorizing ingredients to achieve a level of freshness comparable to drying clothes outdoors.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 14, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 14, 2026 at 11:32
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 15, 2026 at 08:00 (20h 27m after Collected)
From Kao Corporation's laundry bleach brand 'Wide Haiter', a new product specializing in the musty odor of indoor drying, 'Wide Haiter PRO Liquid Heyaboshi', will be newly released from the 'Wide Haiter PRO' series on May 16, 2026.
*1 Compared to Wide Haiter EX Power
■ Wide Haiter Brand Site
https://www.kao.co.jp/widehaiter/?cid=widehaiter_prtimes260514
According to a survey conducted by Kao, the percentage of people who answered 'I always dry my clothes indoors' for 'indoor drying on days other than rainy days' increased from 12.9% in 2006 to 33.3% in 2025*2. This result suggests that the lifestyle of regularly drying clothes indoors regardless of the weather is spreading.
On the other hand, in a survey regarding clothing odors, 51.7% of all respondents answered that they 'sometimes worry about odors', which is about half. Among them, while 44.2% of those who do not dry clothes indoors were concerned, the figure was higher at 54.7% for those who do*3. This indicates that consumers who practice indoor drying tend to have a higher awareness of and concern about clothing odors.
Furthermore, the most frequently mentioned type of odor was 'musty odor'*4. It is presumed that indoor drying is an environment where musty odors are more likely to occur because it is more humid and clothes take longer to dry compared to outdoor drying or using a clothes dryer.
Therefore, we are now launching 'Wide Haiter PRO Liquid Heyaboshi' from the 'Wide Haiter PRO' series, specializing in musty odors. It thoroughly cleans the food source for bacteria, which is one of the causes of musty odors. Furthermore, its antibacterial effect inhibits the growth of bacteria*5. In addition, a new 'Musty Odor Specialization Formula' has been adopted. With 6 times*1 the musty smell deodorizing ingredients, it thoroughly eliminates even stubborn musty odors. Just by 'adding a little' to your usual laundry, you can remove musty odors that cannot be removed with detergent alone, finishing with a clean and refreshing scent.
The 'Wide Haiter PRO' series is an oxygen-based bleach that addresses deeper laundry concerns. It is specifically designed to tackle stubborn stains and odors, and its feature is the powerful removal of troublesome dirt and odors that cannot be completely removed with detergent alone. Since it is not chlorine-based, it can be used safely on colored and patterned items.
With the addition of this new indoor-drying type, the series now has a total of 4 items.
*2 Survey conducted approximately every 5 years from 2006 to 2025, Kao research, women aged 15-79, N=2,909
*3 June 2025, Kao research, women aged 15-79, N=2,459. 'Sometimes worry about odors': Total of those who answered 'often' and 'sometimes'. 'Those who do not dry clothes indoors': Total of those who answered 'hardly ever' or 'never' dry indoors on non-rainy days. 'Those who do dry clothes indoors': Total of those who answered 'always' or 'sometimes' dry indoors on non-rainy days.
*4 June 2025, Kao research, women aged 15-79, N=2,459
*5 Does not inhibit the growth of all bacteria
【Product Overview】
◇Product Name / Content Volume
Product Name: Wide Haiter PRO Liquid Heyaboshi
Main Bottle: 560ml
Refill: 450ml
*Manufacturer's suggested retail price is not set.
◇Release Date
May 16, 2026
◇Product Features
Defeats the tough musty odor! To outdoor-level freshness.
New Design [Musty Odor Specialization Formula]
Removes musty odors when added with detergent!
Clean and refreshing scent.
Bleaching, deodorizing, antibacterial*5, and sanitizing soak*6.
Also prevents mold*7 and odors in the washing machine tub.
*5 Does not inhibit the growth of all bacteria
*6 Does not sanitize all bacteria
*7 Does not inhibit the growth of all mold
*1 Compared to Wide Haiter EX Power
■ Wide Haiter Brand Site
https://www.kao.co.jp/widehaiter/?cid=widehaiter_prtimes260514
According to a survey conducted by Kao, the percentage of people who answered 'I always dry my clothes indoors' for 'indoor drying on days other than rainy days' increased from 12.9% in 2006 to 33.3% in 2025*2. This result suggests that the lifestyle of regularly drying clothes indoors regardless of the weather is spreading.
On the other hand, in a survey regarding clothing odors, 51.7% of all respondents answered that they 'sometimes worry about odors', which is about half. Among them, while 44.2% of those who do not dry clothes indoors were concerned, the figure was higher at 54.7% for those who do*3. This indicates that consumers who practice indoor drying tend to have a higher awareness of and concern about clothing odors.
Furthermore, the most frequently mentioned type of odor was 'musty odor'*4. It is presumed that indoor drying is an environment where musty odors are more likely to occur because it is more humid and clothes take longer to dry compared to outdoor drying or using a clothes dryer.
Therefore, we are now launching 'Wide Haiter PRO Liquid Heyaboshi' from the 'Wide Haiter PRO' series, specializing in musty odors. It thoroughly cleans the food source for bacteria, which is one of the causes of musty odors. Furthermore, its antibacterial effect inhibits the growth of bacteria*5. In addition, a new 'Musty Odor Specialization Formula' has been adopted. With 6 times*1 the musty smell deodorizing ingredients, it thoroughly eliminates even stubborn musty odors. Just by 'adding a little' to your usual laundry, you can remove musty odors that cannot be removed with detergent alone, finishing with a clean and refreshing scent.
The 'Wide Haiter PRO' series is an oxygen-based bleach that addresses deeper laundry concerns. It is specifically designed to tackle stubborn stains and odors, and its feature is the powerful removal of troublesome dirt and odors that cannot be completely removed with detergent alone. Since it is not chlorine-based, it can be used safely on colored and patterned items.
With the addition of this new indoor-drying type, the series now has a total of 4 items.
*2 Survey conducted approximately every 5 years from 2006 to 2025, Kao research, women aged 15-79, N=2,909
*3 June 2025, Kao research, women aged 15-79, N=2,459. 'Sometimes worry about odors': Total of those who answered 'often' and 'sometimes'. 'Those who do not dry clothes indoors': Total of those who answered 'hardly ever' or 'never' dry indoors on non-rainy days. 'Those who do dry clothes indoors': Total of those who answered 'always' or 'sometimes' dry indoors on non-rainy days.
*4 June 2025, Kao research, women aged 15-79, N=2,459
*5 Does not inhibit the growth of all bacteria
【Product Overview】
◇Product Name / Content Volume
Product Name: Wide Haiter PRO Liquid Heyaboshi
Main Bottle: 560ml
Refill: 450ml
*Manufacturer's suggested retail price is not set.
◇Release Date
May 16, 2026
◇Product Features
Defeats the tough musty odor! To outdoor-level freshness.
New Design [Musty Odor Specialization Formula]
Removes musty odors when added with detergent!
Clean and refreshing scent.
Bleaching, deodorizing, antibacterial*5, and sanitizing soak*6.
Also prevents mold*7 and odors in the washing machine tub.
*5 Does not inhibit the growth of all bacteria
*6 Does not sanitize all bacteria
*7 Does not inhibit the growth of all mold