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Hey Friends,
I just got an old new tuba. The horn needs a bath, which I’m about to give it, and the case smells like mildew. Any help on how to clean the case and get rid of the mildew and and the smell?
Thanks!
ASG

I've had the same issue with tuba cases and bags and used various methods to clean them. The mold/mildew buildup usually festers in the summer, when it is hot and humid and my tubas and their cases/bags are down in the studio, which is really a full basement. I finally bought an A/C window unit last summer, and that really cut down on the mold/mildew during the warmer summer months -- it probably cut the mold/mildew issue by at least 75%. Now that we are in winter, there is much less concern.

As far as cleaning cases, I used the long attachment-snorkel-hose thing on my small vacuum to suck up the dry mold/mildew in the case. I sway it over the whole inside of the case, pressing it against the velvet lining. If I see the whitish-mold/mildew buildup on the outside of the case, I wipe it off with cloth or paper towels or whatever. If that is still not enough, I will use some of that oxygen-powered fabric/upholstery spray on a microfiber spong and wipe it off.

Thanks for the tip, maybe it will get rid of that Old Shanghai smell from mine!!

Because I need it to not stink and have no left-over mold, I have an ozone machine. Were it mine, I'd suspend it in a box beneath the machine (ozone is heavier than air) for about eight hours, with an air inlet at the top and an ozone outlet at the bottom. Most won't have to do that, but I do.

MaryAnn has hit the nail right on the head.While all the above suggestions are effective,they only serve to mask the problem.The smell will return once your cleaning agent smell evaporates.As a professional automotive detailer with well over 30 years of experience the only way to effectively kill mold and mildew is to scrub the inside of the case with whatever cleaning agent you have on hand, letting it dry,and then place an ozone machine inside in the case for a good length of time.Most ozone machines can be rented at your your local big box building center like home depot.Even this is a crap shoot.Once mold and midew has penetrated the foam underneath the velvet lining it becomes almost impossible to remove.Your only options at this point is to replace the foam or throw out the case.Mold and midew can be deadly and toxic to some people.Proper safety equipment should always be worn.As a tuba player in the great white north I have attempted to clean hundreds of distressed cases at my detail shop..Most turned out while some ended up being discarded.