Week of January 1, 2011

Just because you’re putting your life on hold in Hong Kong to gallivant across Japan, doesn’t mean that you need to pay an arm and a leg. Stow your valuables at The Store House...

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Published: 4:00pm, 6 Jan 2011Updated: 2:37pm, 19 Oct 2016

Dear Mr. Know-It-All,
I’m on a short contract out in different cities in Japan and want to put my belongings in storage. Any suggestion on where to go?
—Tokyo Traveler

Just because you’re putting your life on hold in Hong Kong to gallivant across Japan, doesn’t mean that you need to pay an arm and a leg. Stow your valuables at The Store House (various locations including 9/F, Hong Kong Industrial Building, 444-452 Des Voeux Rd. West, 2548-4049, www.thestorehouse.com.hk) where you can rent different-sized storage units that are clean and come complete with a dehumidifier. Unlike other storage facilities that charge you every time you enter, The Store House lets you walk in and out as you please—just in case you come back from Japan with even more stuff. They have affordable monthly rates and even have a center for extra-secure storage.

Dear Mr. Know-It-All,
Since coming to Hong Kong, I find that my clothes get really smelly and moldy from the moisture in the air. I’m finding unsightly black stains on my suits, which is quite unpleasant. And the dry cleaning bills are adding up. Do you know how to prevent this problem from occurring? Is this a common problem?
—Mildew Man

This musty sub-tropic air can be dreadful. Not only does it put your wardrobe at stake, but it’s also bad for your health. For a cost-effective solution that is also space efficient, you can purchase disposable dehumidifiers with special moisture-sucking pellets inside. Pop one into your closet, and it’ll suck out every last bead of moisture from the air—and hopefully, your clothes too. Just throw it out when it’s completely filled with water. You’ll be amazed at how much water one little packet can suck up. Changed regularly, they can be as effective as a those bulky dehumidifiers. Pick them up at any Japan Home Centre (various locations including Shop 23-27, G/F, Midland Centre, 328 Queen’s Rd. Central, 2805-2756).