Inhibiting Mold and Mildew in Your Tackroom

[Guest guest]

Even though this is about tackrooms and not , it does

give some fairly good information concerning cleaning. There have

been a few people who have asked about cleaning of leather after it

gets moldy, so I thought this might help. The sad part about this

is it seems to be taken more seriously when it surrounds animals

(trainers, owners, vets, etc.) than when it affects human. Many

scientists say that it only affects animals, but in another paper

they will state that we are on the top of the " animal " list. Can

anyone say doubletalk?

KC

Inhibiting Mold and Mildew in Your Tackroom

EquiSearch.com - New York,NY

http://equisearch.com/horses_riding_training/tack_apparel/miscellaneo

us/eqmold913/

Mold and mildew can have a devastating effect on your tack. Here's

how to inhibit the growth of mold and mildew in your tackroom and

protect your tack investment.

By Carner Blangiforti

One consequence of the recent outbreak of hoof and mouth disease in

Europe is that leather prices are shooting sky high. With whole

herds slaughtered to contain the disease, worldwide hide supplies

have tightened and prices have risen. More than ever, it behooves us

all to take the best possible care of what leather tack we already

have. Mold and mildew are one of the most frustrating problems in

leather care.

Generically, mold and mildew are fungi, relatives of the mushrooms

you slice up for salads and sauces. Like mushrooms, they grow

rampantly under the right conditions. As the tiny " fruiting bodies "

at their tips mature, they bloom and burst to spew billions of

microscopic spores into the air. Rub a patch of mold or mildew and

you send those spores forth to multiply throughout everything in

your tack room.

Once mold and mildew spores get into leather fibers, it is almost

impossible to completely destroy them without destroying the

leather, too. Inhibiting their growth takes diligent care with the

right products. If mold and mildew invade your tack room, take these

steps to limit its damage:

LEATHER--Take moldy leather out of the tack room and clean it

outdoors. That way, you'll avoid filling the air in the tack room

with mold spores that will simply " infect " other items in the

confined space.

Have a supply of old rags that you're willing to throw out. Start

wiping away any surface mold with a wet rag. Wipe and capture as

much of the mold as you can then throw the rag away. Don't rinse and

reuse your rags. That only spreads the mold spores. Use an old

toothbrush to clean stitching lines and crevices.

You can find old cavalry manuals and books of n household

hints that recommend using vinegar, household bleach or alcohol to

remove mold and mildew from leather. While these may have fungicidal

properties, they can all damage the leather's fiber matrix,

especially in concentrations strong enough to actually kill mold and

mildew spores. Wiping with dilute solutions is a superficial effort

no more effective than the plain water you've already used.

Finish cleaning the leather using a water-based, pH neutral product

to float away any remaining organic surface dirt that could support

mold and mildew growth. Dry the tack in the sun to allow the water

to evaporate and to take advantage of the disinfectant properties of

the sun's ultraviolet light.

Some traditional leather cleaners, notably those translucent bars of

saddle soap that smell so good, are not good choices for moldy

leather. For starters, they contain glycerin. Glycerin acts as

a " humectant " which means it tends to attract and hold atmospheric

moisture. While that property may help the leather fibers remain

flexible, it also sets your tack up for future mold and mildew

growth. Second, because soap is alkaline, overuse can begin to

reverse the tanning process (vegetable-tanned leathers have an

acidic pH) and ultimately can weaken the leather.

Instead of using saddle soap, condition your leather with a

penetrating, pH-neutral product that will lubricate the leather

without introducing moisture and which will inhibit mold and mildew

growth. Leather Therapy Restorer and Conditioner is the only product

currently in the equine market whose claim to inhibit mold and

mildew has been tested and accepted by the Environmental Protection

Agency. The EPA declares Leather Therapy Restorer and Conditioner

a " stand alone product, " meaning that there is no other product in

its category. Products which contain a little vinegar or another

surface wiping additive in order to support a claim of mold and

mildew resistance are not much more useful than wiping with plain

water.

TEXTILES & OTHER WASHABLES--If mold and mildew have invaded saddle

pads, blankets or other washables, thoroughly clean these items in

hot, soapy water. Add household bleach to the wash water if the

items are colorfast. Adding 2 ounces of Leather Therapy Restorer and

Conditioner to the wash water will remove moldy odors and inhibit

future mold growth. Dry everything thoroughly before returning the

items to storage. Non-washable fabrics may need to be dry cleaned,

sponged with a disinfectant solution. Discard them if they are badly

mildewed.

Wipe down the insides of storage trunks or closets with a solution

of water, detergent and 10 percent household bleach to disinfect

them and allow them to dry completely before filling them back up

again. A light bulb left on in a closet (making sure no item is

close enough to heat up and burn) may provide just the right amount

of drying heat. Place bags of desiccant materials inside large

trunks and renew them periodically according to the manufacturer's

directions.

OVERALL ENVIRONMENT--Mold and mildew typically thrive where it is

dark, warm and damp (they flourish when the humidity ranges from 65

to 85 percent). If your tack room tends to be dark and damp,

consider installing a window to provide sunlight and ventilation.

Install a dehumidifier, leave a light bulb or two burning, or

install low wattage heating bars like those used by boat owners to

reduce dampness. Hang several large bags of desiccant and renew them

periodically.

PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE--Be proactive to keep mold and mildew at

bay. After each use, clean dirt and sweat off of tack and allow the

undersides of saddles and headstalls to dry thoroughly before they

go back into the tack room. Dry saddle pads and blankets, preferably

in the sun, before folding them and putting them away.