White mold on cases

[Conn 2J CC]

Some advice, please - I own three old two piston G bugles (1 Baritone, 2 Euphoniums) that I don't play very often. I'm hanging on to them for sentimental reasons, since I marched in drum corps back in the 1980s (so, they're not for sale). Once again this evening I had to deal with a re-occurring problem with their cases - white mold on the outside, creeping into their interiors. It only appears to be on the vinyl of the cases, and not in the plush lining or padding (though I may be wrong). Wiping the cases down with vinegar appears to keep the mold from returning for a couple of months, but eventually it comes back. Is there some other treatment I could use to end this problem, or am I fighting a hopeless battle and the cases just need to be tossed out? Replacement cases that would fit these horns properly could be quite difficult to come by.

Thanks -

[bort]

Direct sunlight will help. I'm not sure if it'll get rid of it forever, but eliminating ALL moisture is the way to get rid of the mold. If vinegar alone doesn't work, try it with baking soda as well. Or, try bleach. Different mold needs different treatment.

Also, how are you storing the cases? In a dry or damp place?

[smitwill1]

I had trouble with some furniture that was previously exposed to a great deal of cigarette smoke. It only improved after stripping the offending "veneer". Don't know if that's what's going on there, but you may want to clean the surface using something like Microban (http://www.baneclene.com/catalog/microban.html" target="_blank" target="_blank), which is a disinfectant detergent used in laboratories and hospitals.

[Conn 2J CC]

The horns have been stored in a spare bedroom of our basement on boards to keep them up off the floor, and I just found more of this mold or mildew on some table legs in there. We'll thoroughly clean all that out first. The room is not damp (at least not noticeably), so I hope it's not inside the walls. My wife is not keen on trying to get rid of this with bleach. If it's really a mold, she's read that won't be very effective.

I wish I would have thought of the direct sunlight idea this summer. We had plenty of days the cases could have set out on our back deck baking in the sun. Microban sounds interesting, though. Has anyone seen that for sale in stores (names, please), especially if they offer it in half gallon sizes?

Thanks for the suggestions, guys.

[Donn]

Don't worry about the cases, you need to find out why that room is not dry.

[smitwill1]

I've found microban on line from Fisher Scientific (by the gallon). There are other similar products--you're looking for "quaternary ammonium" or "benzalkonium" salts. They're biocides that aren't bleaches. There are numerous cleaning products (Clorox wipes) that have these active ingredients.

But, I think that Don is right: find the source of the water. Check the flooring. Water will wick through concrete, but can be controlled somewhat using a painted-on sealant. Easy in an unfinished basement--hard if it's already finished with interior walls and flooring! If it's really bad (you see liquid water seeping in from cracks near the floor) you may want to look at installing a sump pump. If it's that bad, chances are one of your neighbors has one. See if they're having mold problems,too.

[ppalan]

What's the ventilation situation in the basement. If laundry is done there that could be a source of moisture from washer and dryer(even if vented to the outside). If the heating plant is there that also could be a source. Moisture can also seep up through the foundation/floor in amounts that may not leave visible signs of water because of evaporation. You could buy/borrow a dehumidifier and let it run for several hours to see how much moisture is extracted from the air. If the floor is exposed concrete, you can tape a smallish sheet of plastic to the floor and let it remain in place for a day or so to see if moisture is collecting underneath. Here is an article that may support your wife's contention about bleach and mold:
http://www.spore-tech.com/viewCategory. ... ategory=78
Hope some of this helpful.
Pete

[Donn]

well, on second reading - stuff stored on boards in a basement room, to keep it off the floor - I guess there's no real mystery here. But my point is that this kind of thing can have more serious consequences. House damage, people get sick because of mold spores, stuff like that. I don't know much about this, just enough to be a little concerned. The cure might be as easy as better ventilation.

[Conn 2J CC]

Wow - thanks for all the suggestions and concern, people. We'll start looking for any sign of moisture in that room. Ventilation in the basement is only via the air ducts - the windows of this old house are terrible down there. We'll move our dehumidifier in there when we clean in there to see if that will help, and we've already got a sump pump. Fortunately, that almost never runs - even in heavy rain storms, we rarely see water coming in anywhere. And yes, the laundry, heater and water heater are down there.

In the meantime, the horns are moving upstairs to another spare bedroom, where they will be closely monitored for any signs of this problem returning. I'm also going to have my wife read this thread soon too. Thanks again, guys.