Wondering why some gun leathers collect mildew and other do not???
Got to find a treatment that works. Did a search and came up with a couple good answers but my question still remains. THANKS!!

I use a solution of water and alcohol, usually about 50/50.
Regards,
turnerriver

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turnerriver

Good Question !
I would like to know the answer myself.
I hope Red Nichols weighs in with a remove with and treat with answer.
One thing I can say is all the older Bianchi and the two new Bianchi holsters do not have any mildew problems .
Gary

Afraid they do, at least mine-- 70' era.

This Bianchi Shadow 8L had a tendency to mold up. I sprayed a micro fiber cloth with Lysol and scrubbed the holster in and out. I buffed it, then repeated the process with a fresh cloth. So far the mold has not returned.

Put the holster (or other leather product) out in direct sunlight for a day. The mold and smell will be gone.

Leather is hydroscopic. That is it's nature, it attracts and holds water. As noted above a one day daylight exposure will often do the trick. I suspect that the exact tanning procedure used for a particular piece of leather will greatly effect how quickly and easily it will mildew, but that is a feeling and not exactly scientific. I store my holsters in an open top cardboard box in a room with reasonable climate control and good air circulation.

This is something I know relatively little about, having encountered mildewed gunleather very, very rarely over the last half century. For Bianchi, though, the earliest plastic bags that were used for holster display were not ventilated and mould was a problem for dealers until a hole was added below the plastic seal.

But -- within the last week my wife taught me something about it because Queensland has lots of trouble with it: she presented me with a pair of her American cowboy boots that had moulded all over the same surfaces that dust would have collected on. She explained that it was because they were in a corner of her closet where there was no circulation (the rest of her footwear, stored elsewhere, was unaffected).

In light of some other comments in this thread, I find that plausible from a gal who has had to deal with the stuff all her life. So, someone in say, FL could have lots more trouble with this than someone in WY? My own, very small gunleather collection that sits in a plastic tub under a computer desk in my office, has collected zero mould or mildew.

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Red Nichols The Holstorian

I have also discovered that 'moth balls' will retard mildew in a air tight container. I have a abundance of such containers, as in 41/2 gallon and two gallon buckets. I am amazed at the holsters and gun belts I have acquired over the last 45 years. Good stuff mostly. Was in a local shop the other day and most, but not all was plastic. Not cheap either. Many of the guns are gone, but there were plenty of 4" "N" frames around at one time.
In my quest to clean up, remove mildew etc., I discovered, new to me, in my local 'Tractor Supply' some little gems called 'TACK SPONGES", coupled with my supply of 'dobbers' from Brownells, make things about as easy as it can get. I use a small spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of water and white vinegar. So far seems to be working great. The carved leather takes a bit more time.