Preventing mildew on leather

[Steve Lansdowne]

The leathers on my oars, which are stored in my garage here in Texas (where it does get humid) have developed what seems to be mildew (a whitish growth). I'm unsure of how to prevent this other than storing the oars inside, which would be OK except that the leather in the mast thwart will likely also have the same problem. I'm also wondering about how to best remove it. I suspect this may be an ongoing battle. Any suggestions?

[Steve Lansdowne]

The leathers on my oars, which are stored in my garage here in Texas (where it does get humid) have developed what seems to be mildew (a whitish growth). I'm unsure of how to prevent this other than storing the oars inside, which would be OK except that the leather in the mast thwart will likely also have the same problem. I'm also wondering about how to best remove it. I suspect this may be an ongoing battle. Any suggestions?

[Steve Lansdowne]

The leathers on my oars, which are stored in my garage here in Texas (where it does get humid) have developed what seems to be mildew (a whitish growth). I'm unsure of how to prevent this other than storing the oars inside, which would be OK except that the leather in the mast thwart will likely also have the same problem. I'm also wondering about how to best remove it. I suspect this may be an ongoing battle. Any suggestions?

[ken mcclure]

Steve, I don't know that there is a way to prevent it.

Mildew and mold grow where there is 1)darkness, 2)stale unmoving air, 3)moisture, 4)a temperature in which you or I would be comfortable and 5)a food source (in this case, the leather).

If you can eliminate one or more of the above conditions you can control the problem to some extent.

There may be a treatment that you can put on the leather to make it mildew-resistant, but none of the ones I'm aware of are made for leather and I don't know what they'd do to it.

For instance, a copper-based product could help. Or a disinfectant/fungistat that claims residual protection.

[ken mcclure]

Steve, I don't know that there is a way to prevent it.

Mildew and mold grow where there is 1)darkness, 2)stale unmoving air, 3)moisture, 4)a temperature in which you or I would be comfortable and 5)a food source (in this case, the leather).

If you can eliminate one or more of the above conditions you can control the problem to some extent.

There may be a treatment that you can put on the leather to make it mildew-resistant, but none of the ones I'm aware of are made for leather and I don't know what they'd do to it.

For instance, a copper-based product could help. Or a disinfectant/fungistat that claims residual protection.

[ken mcclure]

Steve, I don't know that there is a way to prevent it.

Mildew and mold grow where there is 1)darkness, 2)stale unmoving air, 3)moisture, 4)a temperature in which you or I would be comfortable and 5)a food source (in this case, the leather).

If you can eliminate one or more of the above conditions you can control the problem to some extent.

There may be a treatment that you can put on the leather to make it mildew-resistant, but none of the ones I'm aware of are made for leather and I don't know what they'd do to it.

For instance, a copper-based product could help. Or a disinfectant/fungistat that claims residual protection.

[Pelican]

Wipe down occassionally with neatsfoot oil. smile.gif

[Pelican]

Wipe down occassionally with neatsfoot oil. smile.gif

[Pelican]

Wipe down occassionally with neatsfoot oil. smile.gif

[Pelican]

Oh yea, hardest part of this is finding a neats and getting it to stand still long enough so you can squeeze some oil out of it's foot.
Pel :D

[Pelican]

Oh yea, hardest part of this is finding a neats and getting it to stand still long enough so you can squeeze some oil out of it's foot.
Pel :D

[Pelican]

Oh yea, hardest part of this is finding a neats and getting it to stand still long enough so you can squeeze some oil out of it's foot.
Pel :D

[Paul Scheuer]

Row more often . ;)

[Paul Scheuer]

Row more often . ;)

[Paul Scheuer]

Row more often . ;)

[paladin]

If you are in an area with a military base...probably Army/Marines/Navy where folks are deployed on a moments notice to anywhere worldwide...there is a polish/preservative for shoes/boots availaible that prevents mildew when used more or less every six months. It comes in Black..Brown..and clear to the best of my knowledge...and the product nome escapes me now...it's been a long time since I used it..they started making shoes/boots outta plastic during Vietnam......except for dress shoes and stateside boots.

[paladin]

If you are in an area with a military base...probably Army/Marines/Navy where folks are deployed on a moments notice to anywhere worldwide...there is a polish/preservative for shoes/boots availaible that prevents mildew when used more or less every six months. It comes in Black..Brown..and clear to the best of my knowledge...and the product nome escapes me now...it's been a long time since I used it..they started making shoes/boots outta plastic during Vietnam......except for dress shoes and stateside boots.

[paladin]

If you are in an area with a military base...probably Army/Marines/Navy where folks are deployed on a moments notice to anywhere worldwide...there is a polish/preservative for shoes/boots availaible that prevents mildew when used more or less every six months. It comes in Black..Brown..and clear to the best of my knowledge...and the product nome escapes me now...it's been a long time since I used it..they started making shoes/boots outta plastic during Vietnam......except for dress shoes and stateside boots.

[Donn]

Any good shoe oil...neatsfoot, mink, etc..I use mink oil on everything leather, and I live beside saltwater. Rub it in, let it dry overnight, and wipe off any excess. Works just fine on belts, shoes, knife sheaths, etc..

[Donn]

Any good shoe oil...neatsfoot, mink, etc..I use mink oil on everything leather, and I live beside saltwater. Rub it in, let it dry overnight, and wipe off any excess. Works just fine on belts, shoes, knife sheaths, etc..

[Donn]

Any good shoe oil...neatsfoot, mink, etc..I use mink oil on everything leather, and I live beside saltwater. Rub it in, let it dry overnight, and wipe off any excess. Works just fine on belts, shoes, knife sheaths, etc..

[Bill Dodson]

Looks like your hailing port is in Texas...so, find out what the cowboys are using on their saddles, etc. Up here in Maryland, my horse-riding wife & daughter spend a lot of time going over their gear with saddle-soap and some sort of oil to keep the mildew off.

just a thought...
Bill

[Bill Dodson]

Looks like your hailing port is in Texas...so, find out what the cowboys are using on their saddles, etc. Up here in Maryland, my horse-riding wife & daughter spend a lot of time going over their gear with saddle-soap and some sort of oil to keep the mildew off.

just a thought...
Bill

[Bill Dodson]

Looks like your hailing port is in Texas...so, find out what the cowboys are using on their saddles, etc. Up here in Maryland, my horse-riding wife & daughter spend a lot of time going over their gear with saddle-soap and some sort of oil to keep the mildew off.

just a thought...
Bill

[ahp]

Neatsfoot oil is good but get the mildew off first. Wipe it down with Lysol, which is a fungicide.

[ahp]

Neatsfoot oil is good but get the mildew off first. Wipe it down with Lysol, which is a fungicide.

[ahp]

Neatsfoot oil is good but get the mildew off first. Wipe it down with Lysol, which is a fungicide.

[Venchka]

My nickle's worth:

Clean the mildew off. Then treat with Biwell. The stuff works great on my hiking boots. Neutral shoepolish over a good coating of Biwell. Sheds water like a ducks back.

A Google search using the word Biwell will turn up sources.

Wayne

[Venchka]

My nickle's worth:

Clean the mildew off. Then treat with Biwell. The stuff works great on my hiking boots. Neutral shoepolish over a good coating of Biwell. Sheds water like a ducks back.

A Google search using the word Biwell will turn up sources.

Wayne

[Venchka]

My nickle's worth:

Clean the mildew off. Then treat with Biwell. The stuff works great on my hiking boots. Neutral shoepolish over a good coating of Biwell. Sheds water like a ducks back.

A Google search using the word Biwell will turn up sources.

Wayne

[PilotArt]

A few drops of the 'Di-Al' anti-mildew paint additive (that has been mentioned here to enhance anti-foul paint) will dissolve into a paste wax that could be used to protect that leather.

[PilotArt]

A few drops of the 'Di-Al' anti-mildew paint additive (that has been mentioned here to enhance anti-foul paint) will dissolve into a paste wax that could be used to protect that leather.

[PilotArt]

A few drops of the 'Di-Al' anti-mildew paint additive (that has been mentioned here to enhance anti-foul paint) will dissolve into a paste wax that could be used to protect that leather.

[thechemist]

Originally posted by PilotArt:
A few drops of the 'Di-Al' anti-mildew paint additive (that has been mentioned here to enhance anti-foul paint) will dissolve into a paste wax that could be used to protect that leather.That should be okay, but don't do it on shoes or any leather that your bare skin touches........

[thechemist]

Originally posted by PilotArt:
A few drops of the 'Di-Al' anti-mildew paint additive (that has been mentioned here to enhance anti-foul paint) will dissolve into a paste wax that could be used to protect that leather.That should be okay, but don't do it on shoes or any leather that your bare skin touches........

[thechemist]

Originally posted by PilotArt:
A few drops of the 'Di-Al' anti-mildew paint additive (that has been mentioned here to enhance anti-foul paint) will dissolve into a paste wax that could be used to protect that leather.That should be okay, but don't do it on shoes or any leather that your bare skin touches........

[RGM]

Try wiping down with vinegar, then treat with a leather/saddle conditioner (found at your local tack shop) as Bill Dodson suggests.

[RGM]

Try wiping down with vinegar, then treat with a leather/saddle conditioner (found at your local tack shop) as Bill Dodson suggests.

[RGM]

Try wiping down with vinegar, then treat with a leather/saddle conditioner (found at your local tack shop) as Bill Dodson suggests.