SORABYCO | Life in Japan

Yes, leftover bathwater can be reused for some laundry in Japan, but it depends on your washing machine, detergent, and whether you used bath additives. It should not simply replace clean water for every part of the wash. When I first started living in Japan, reusing bathwater for laundry was one of those small household habits that surprised me. Some Japanese washing machines have a bathwater function, often labeled 「風呂水」, that uses a pump and hose to draw water directly from the bathtub. Seeing a whole tub of water after a bath, I could understand why people would want to use it again. I tried it myself for a while. But eventually I stopped. The method wasn't difficult; it just didn't fit the way I wanted to do laundry. These days, I no longer feel the need to reuse every tub of bathwater. If the bathroom needs a good clean, however, I sometimes use the leftover water there instead. Can Leftover Bathwater Really Be Used for Laundry? Using leftover bathwater for laundry is pos...

When someone in your household gets the flu, the practical questions start almost immediately. Can their clothes go into the same washing machine? Should you separate dishes and chopsticks? Do they need their own room? What about towels, door handles, and ventilation? Living in Japan, these are the kinds of everyday questions that can feel surprisingly unclear. Official advice exists, but when someone is sick at home, most of us simply want to know what needs to change right now. The short answer is this: Laundry can usually be washed as normal. Used dishes can also be washed as normal. Avoid sharing towels, cups, and utensils before they are washed. If possible, let the sick person rest in a separate room. Wash hands regularly, ventilate the home, and clean frequently touched surfaces. You do not have to turn your entire home upside down just because influenza is in the house. Can You Wash Flu Laundry With the Rest of the Family’s Clothes? In many Japanese households, everyone’s cloth...

How Often Should You Replace a Kitchen Sponge? What I Do at Home in Japan A kitchen sponge is one of those things I use every day without thinking much about it. After washing the dishes, I usually rinse the sponge thoroughly, squeeze out the water, and leave it somewhere it can dry. That has been my normal routine at home in Japan for years. Then one day I started wondering: How often should you replace a kitchen sponge? And is rinsing and drying enough, or should you disinfect it too? The short answer is that there is no single number of days that works for every household. A kitchen sponge can wear out faster or slower depending on how often you use it, what you wash with it, the material, and how well it dries between uses. For me, the most practical rule is to check the condition of the sponge rather than follow a strict calendar. If it has become flat, torn, badly discolored, difficult to rinse clean, or still smells after washing, it is probably time to replace it. For everyday ...

My husband and I both use soft-bristled toothbrushes, and in our home in Japan, we usually replace them about once a month. It has become one of those small routines we barely think about. A new month starts, we open new toothbrushes, and the old ones go out. For a long time, I assumed that replacing a toothbrush every month was a fairly normal rule everywhere. Then I checked. The recommendation in Japan is actually shorter than the guidance commonly used in the United States and the UK. In Japan, the 8020 Promotion Foundation recommends replacing a toothbrush about once a month. The American Dental Association recommends changing one every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles become worn or frayed. In the UK, guidance commonly suggests around two to three months, with some advice using three months as a simple rule of thumb. So if you have been wondering how often you should replace your toothbrush in Japan, one month is a commonly recommended Japanese guideline—but it is n...

When I was a child, laundry detergent meant one thing: a large box of powder with a measuring scoop inside. Later, I started using liquid detergent. These days, as I get closer to 50, I mostly use laundry pods. It made me realize that even something as ordinary as laundry detergent has changed quite a lot during my lifetime. After living in Japan for many years, I have also watched the laundry aisle change. Japanese drugstores and home centers now sell powder detergent, liquid detergent, refill packs, concentrated formulas, and colorful laundry pods. In Japan, laundry pods are usually called “gel balls,” or ジェルボール. I did not move from one type to another because I believed one detergent was perfect. My choice changed gradually, depending on what felt easier in everyday life. Here is what I learned from using powder detergent, liquid detergent, and gel balls in Japan. Why I Stopped Using Powder Detergent Powder detergent is the type I remember most clearly from my childhood. There was a...