I’m moving into a new house (rental) that comes with a tatami room. The first apartment I stayed in Japan also had a tatami room, and we got a bed bug (dani) issue there and I still haven’t recovered from that trauma. This time I want to make sure to take all necessary measures to prevent that ever happening again. Could you please share any tips or insights you have on how to take care of a tatami room? Any recommendations for sprays or products that could help?
The 6-tatami room in the new house overlooks a small garden, which might increase the chances of pests.
//I chose this house despite previous negative experiences because beside the tatami room, everything else is perfect.
16 comments
Bed bugs aren’t attracted to tatami rooms, they are attracted by people. As long as you don’t invite them in, you won’t have any.
If your previous place had bed bugs there, it just means the tenants before you made their beds there.
When you move in, you can lift the mats and check corners for bugs, but if you dont find anything theres no reason to do more.
No shoes, no pets, no heavy furniture.
Caring for a tatami room is super easy, and they are really great.
1. People say you should use a broom, but a vacuum cleaner works fine. ALWAYS go with the grain of the tatami.
2. Also wipe them occasionally with a slightly damp cloth. Not wet, just slightly damp.
3. Anything heavy on it, or that gets dragged across will damage the reeds. No shoes, of course.
4. Tatami’s enemy is moisture. During the summer, get those moisture-absorption things at the home centre, and change them out when full.
They sell wipes for tatami and also spray cleaners.
Be sure to let it breath and don’t smother any area for too long.
Do you mean dust mite? Bed bugs and dust mites are very different issues.
Get a vacuum. Always follow the flow of the tatami and pull backwards rather than push. Less friction to cause possible damage.
Regularly open the windows and doors to let air flow through, or you may have a problem with mould, especially if you don’t use the room often.
Open the curtains (not window) and set the aircon to Dry with swing and fan power on auto while you’re at work during the day 3 times a month during the summer to prevent mold. Mold likes tatami. My expensive briefcase was the cost of learning this.
Never had any bug issues thankfully. I keep the AC in that room on 除湿 mode to prevent mold. Couldn’t stand the tatami smell though and ended up covering the entire room with tatami-covering “flooring”. At least for me, I’ll never live with tatami again.
You can buy Dani spray or other things to deter them
Another point here.. tatami isn’t meant to last forever even though the highend mats can last for 25+ years. Tatami should be flipped every few years along with proactively cleans as mentioned above.
I worked in an eikaiwa that was infested with Dani! It sucked. I found they hate tea tree oil. I put it in my shampoo conditioner body soap lotion. I spray my tatami and mattresses and blankets and sheets with it. My body was completely covered in their “bites”. Let’s just call them bites the tea tree oil helps relieve those as well.
If you don’t like it, get borax paper for bugs and cover it, then get a roll out rug or a wooden floor covering for it. But as others have said mold will always be an issue so you’ll be wise to get a dehumidifier for the room covered or not.
Tatami rooms are typically bedrooms right? Good for futons and sleeping in?
u/capaho can’t reply to your comment for some reason, but:
The core isn’t disposable but the outside is definitely refurbished when it gets old. Japanese people don’t have 80 year old tatami in their 80 year old houses.
In 36 years, have never lived in a Japanese home, apartment, or condo without tatami. Never have had a dani issue. I always sleep on futon on tatami.
Pick up futon every day. Vacuum frequently. Don’t eat much in tatami rooms. Fans are good for air circulation.
Theres hardwood and carpet you can buy to cover tatami, thats what my partner and i did