Where should I keep and store my May doll?

Where should I keep and store my May doll?

The May dolls are kept put away for most of the year.

Where should I store this? This is a question we are often asked by our customers.

Once you have decided on a storage location, you won't have to move it every year, so choose the place in your home where you feel most comfortable storing it.

How to choose a storage location

• Where should I keep and store my May doll?
  
  
• It's a bit heavy, and I won't be displaying it until next year, so what should I do?
  
  
• It seems there isn't anywhere to store it in my house...

I thought it would be okay even in a humid place, but when I took it out the following year, it was covered in mold! The metal parts had rusted.

To prevent this from happening, we recommend that you consider the size before purchasing your May doll.

In recent years, fewer people are purchasing large Hina dolls or May dolls, so I don't think the size will be a problem.

May dolls and Hina dolls hate humidity very much.

Humidity Control

We will decide on a storage location based on the likelihood of mold or rust occurring due to humidity.

The most humid season is the rainy season.

It tends to be humid every day, and the moist air gradually seeps into the main body through the cardboard box.

This will be the case for a few days during the rainy season.

And then the rainy season will end all at once.

Here comes the rise in temperature.

The contents of the humid air box become like a sauna as the air temperature rises.

This condition creates a high probability of mold and rust growing.

Humidity + high temperature = the perfect conditions for mold and rust.

The reason we ask you not to store it in a hot, sunny place is to avoid this situation.

Specific measures

Temperature: Mold is most likely to grow at temperatures between 20 and 30°C.

It is particularly active at around 25°C.

However, at temperatures above 30°C, the occurrence begins to decline and at temperatures above 36°C, occurrence almost stops.

Humidity: The more moisture there is in the air, the more mold there will be.

This type of mold grows when the relative humidity (RH) in the air is around 80%.

The season when these conditions are most likely to be met every day is from the latter half of the rainy season through the middle of July.

In autumn, the humidity disappears and the air becomes dry, so the period from the rainy season to autumn is a time to be careful.

When you think about it this way, moisture is clearly the biggest enemy.

summary

• Clean up on a sunny, dry day.
  
  
• If possible, store the May dolls on the second floor rather than the first floor.
  
  
• Store it above the bottom of the closet.

However, in homes built within the last 20 years or so, the airtightness is very good, so even if you store your belongings in a closet on the first floor, it is usually fine.

Outdoor storage sheds allow outside air to freely flow in and out, making them completely unsuitable as storage locations.

And more...

Some people don't even have space to store it.

Your child has more baggage. You have a younger child. Your family has grown.

If this is you, please consider the following two storage methods:

1: If your parents live nearby, have them look after your child at their home.

2: It will cost money, but there are places that offer doll storage services, so you can entrust the storage to them. (If you choose this option, please choose a storage company that takes measures against humidity.)

I think they will take care of even large Hina dolls or May dolls for a year for around 20,000 yen.

Since these are your precious May dolls and Hina dolls, we would appreciate it if you would take good care of them and maintain them in good condition for many years to come.