Have you ever woken up to find your windows covered in moisture or black spots appearing on your wallpaper? During Korea’s cold winter, the warmer you keep your room, the easier it becomes for mold to grow. EnkoStay shares professional management tips to protect your health and maintain a dry, comfortable living space throughout the winter.
Understanding Korea’s Unique Wallpaper Culture, Dobae
While many houses in Western countries use paint on walls, it is common in Korea to use paper or silk wallpaper, a practice known as Dobae. Wallpaper provides a warmer and cozier feel than paint, but because it absorbs moisture, mold can easily spread behind the paper if condensation is not dried properly. Managing your walls so they do not become damp is the core of Korean home maintenance.
3 Healthy Habits for a Pleasant Room
Follow these action steps daily to enjoy a healthy winter without worrying about mold.
Ventilate for 10 minutes, twice a day
This is the fastest and most effective method. Open your windows wide in the morning and evening to replace humid indoor air with fresh outdoor air. It is especially important to ventilate (Hwan-gi) immediately after showering or cooking, as these activities generate a lot of steam.
Create air paths between furniture and walls
If furniture is pushed tightly against a wall, air cannot flow, causing moisture to settle. Try placing your bed or wardrobe at least 5 to 10cm away from the wall. Simply allowing air to circulate can prevent mold from forming on the wallpaper.
Maintain appropriate indoor temperature and humidity
Excessively high indoor temperatures increase the difference between inside and outside air, causing condensation. It is best to keep the indoor temperature between 20 and 22°C and humidity between 40 and 50%. If the humidity is high, placing moisture absorbers in corners of the room can be very helpful.
Precautions for Moving Out
If the wallpaper becomes severely contaminated or mold spreads due to a lack of proper care, such as poor ventilation(Hwan-gi), the host may charge a professional cleaning fee or a compensation fee for restoration upon your move-out. Maintaining a pleasant indoor environment is not only essential for your health but also the wisest way to stay on good terms with your host and prevent any unexpected expenses.
Quick Korean Dictionary
결로 (Gyulro): Condensation
곰팡이 (Gompangi): Mold / Mildew
도배 (Dobae): Wallpapering
벽지 (Byeokji): Wallpaper
환기 (Hwan-gi): Ventilation
Try these small daily habits to keep your home healthy and dry this winter. Enkostay will always support you so that every moment of your stay in Korea remains a pleasant and happy memory. 🏠