Mold on holsters

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Brian P. Kenny

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Has anyone ever had thier holsters get over run by mold????
I had about 8 or 9 used holsters in an old wooden chest for safe keeping. The holsters were from an 1918 GI .45 holster to some nice 1980s police off duty type holsters that were covered with a fine dust type mold.

The mold is sort of a greenish gray mold that will come off of the leather without any damage to the leather...it just looks like hell.
I put the holsters in a large plastic bag and wet everything with alcohol to kill off the mold.

I'm cleaning the holsterds with alcohol while working outside to keep the mold outside of the house. Any idea why this mold likes the taste of holster leather???
And what can I put on these holsters to keep the mold from coming back??


Thanks,
Brian Kenny
SWCA # 908
 
Mold on old gunleather can be pretty stubborn and if left unchecked will spread like the plague in ideal conditions. There's a few remedies, depending on how bad it is. You have to kill the mold spores and in the process, not damage the leather, that is the problem usually.

At first indication of mold, we quarantine the holster or holsters from our holster reference collection, which consists of plastic containers. We empty these and thoroughly scrub them down with full strength bleach, let them sit awhile and wash with warm soapy water, rinse. Do this twice.

The holsters surface is easy to clean in a solution of diluted bleach, about 50% bleach, 50 % water. Do not soak them. Wipe liberally with a soft cloth and allow to dry under a fan or use a hair dryer on cool, not hot setting. Repeat at least once more or as necessary.

The interior surfaces should also be cleaned as above, but you may need to be a bit more creative to reach inside, a fine mist spray bottle is helpful in such cases. Do not over saturate the leather. Allow to dry thoroughly under a fan within a few minutes of applying the fine mist. You can also use a portable hair dryer on the cool setting, not hot or warm. Repeat at least once.

We then allow the holsters to remain out on a table for a couple days to examine them for any signs of the mold returning. If not, we coat with resolene (a water based acrylic) which seals the exterior surface, allow that to dry and return them to the storage containers. I have found this to work pretty well, but mold can be stubborn and may despite all efforts, return if the holsters are stored improperly. Cool dry conditions, room temperature is key. Avoiding storage in damp, humid conditions (like basements) or in areas subject to hot & cold cycles, seem to promote condensation, which is an ideal environment for mold.

If you have mold on the leather be sure to isolate from your "healthy" leather until you are convinced it's history.

Cheers;
Lefty
 
Last edited:
It hasn't been a problem yet with my holsters, but my Brooks leather bicycle seats are always being attacked in the garage.
 
I have found that after cleaning if you store them in a zip-lock bag with all the air mashed out,it keeps the mold from coming back. Works for me anyway.
 
Anyone have a zip lock bag large enough to hold a few western saddles? I got some nice ones that are getting covered with mold.

Or if anyone loves to clean saddles, I have some they can clean.

Leather is dififcult to get mildew off of. I keep trying different methods and none have worked yet.
 
Lefty's advice, as usual, is excellent. I use a solution of
1/2 rubbing alcohol & 1/2 water instead of bleach & I've used
a product called Miltrol in the past to inhibit future growth- it
was available at Walmart last time I bought it.
I maintain a large collection of leather items in South
Florida's heat & humidity & proper storage is the
best defense. Like Lefty I store my holsters in large plastic
tubs & I keep the room air conditioned at 78 year round.
Regular inspection & isolating any moldy items keeps the
problems from getting out of hand.
Regards,
turnerriver
 
oldman45 said:
Anyone have a zip lock bag large enough to hold a few western saddles? I got some nice ones that are getting covered with mold.

Or if anyone loves to clean saddles, I have some they can clean.

Leather is dififcult to get mildew off of. I keep trying different methods and none have worked yet.
Click to expand...

Use Murphys Oil Soap diluted with water and a good splash, about 4 ozs. of bleach, scrub with a soft brush. This will deglaze the surface and it will appear dull. Let it sit in a cool dry place a couple days, inspect it thoroughly to see if the mold has returned. If so, repeat.

When your satisfied it's been eliminated, dress the leather. There are many, many products that work fine. I use a light coat of PURE NEATSFOOT OIL (not Neatsfoot Oil Compound, it contains petroleum distillates) over 2 days. Do not apply to a quilted suede or rough out seat.

Allow that to dry/soak in. You should be able to run your hand over the surface and not detect any oil. Finish with SADDLE LAC or BAG KOTE and buff with a shoe brush or soft cloth.

I have restored thousands of Western & English saddles, including Mc Clellan's and other military saddles which I once collected in large number. This process I've outlined for you works like a charm. Good luck!

Cheers;
Lefty
 
I'm gonna get together some day with Charlie Sherrill, CajunLawer and Shugart. We'll develop a system, but I fear it will involve us drinking the alcohol instead of rubbing it on the leather! :D

I've used Lysol brand wipes that come in a plastic dispenser. It sure takes the stuff off them. Of course if you don't get down inside the holster, it seems to come back from that location. I'm guessing that moisture and temperature are the problems. Once you let it go, its more difficult to get rid of. Check your leather treasures often. The ones out in the open where you can see them get caught right away. Usage also seems to just rub it off.
 
oldflatfoot said:
Mold on old gunleather can be pretty stubborn and if left unchecked will spread like the plague in ideal conditions. There's a few remedies, depending on how bad it is. You have to kill the mold spores and in the process, not damage the leather, that is the problem usually.

At first indication of mold, we quarantine the holster or holsters from our holster reference collection, which consists of plastic containers. We empty these and thoroughly scrub them down with full strength bleach, let them sit awhile and wash with warm soapy water, rinse. Do this twice.

The holsters surface is easy to clean in a solution of diluted bleach, about 50% bleach, 50 % water. Do not soak them. Wipe liberally with a soft cloth and allow to dry under a fan or use a hair dryer on cool, not hot setting. Repeat at least once more or as necessary.

The interior surfaces should also be cleaned as above, but you may need to be a bit more creative to reach inside, a fine mist spray bottle is helpful in such cases. Do not over saturate the leather. Allow to dry thoroughly under a fan within a few minutes of applying the fine mist. You can also use a portable hair dryer on the cool setting, not hot or warm. Repeat at least once.

We then allow the holsters to remain out on a table for a couple days to examine them for any signs of the mold returning. If not, we coat with resolene (a water based acrylic) which seals the exterior surface, allow that to dry and return them to the storage containers. I have found this to work pretty well, but mold can be stubborn and may despite all efforts, return if the holsters are stored improperly. Cool dry conditions, room temperature is key. Avoiding storage in damp, humid conditions (like basements) or in areas subject to hot & cold cycles, seem to promote condensation, which is an ideal environment for mold.

If you have mold on the leather be sure to isolate from your "healthy" leather until you are convinced it's history.

Cheers;
Lefty
Click to expand...

This technique also works very well on that two week old leftover meatloaf in the fridge.

I am loath to use alcohol for any purpose other than that for which it is intended. It is best used internally.
 
oldflatfoot said:
Use Murphys Oil Soap diluted with water and a good splash, about 4 ozs. of bleach, scrub with a soft brush. This will deglaze the surface and it will appear dull. Let it sit in a cool dry place a couple days, inspect it thoroughly to see if the mold has returned.

Allow that to dry/soak in. You should be able to run your Lefty
Click to expand...

Lefty, once leather has the dull look (or deglazed)... how do you put a shine back on it? I've got a couple of holsters that look great all over except for a small section that is dull. Is there anyway to fix the dullness?

Thanks!
 
digi-shots said:
Lefty, once leather has the dull look (or deglazed)... how do you put a shine back on it? I've got a couple of holsters that look great all over except for a small section that is dull. Is there anyway to fix the dullness?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Linda;

It depends on a couple things. If it's dull from wear or abraded on the finish surface, theres not much to do to restore it. If the finish wax or tallows have been washed away, products like SADDLE LAC and BAG KOTE can restore the lustre because they contain many of the same ingredients typically used in the tanning process. Fundamentally, your trying to put the finish back. Neutral shoe wax will work in a pinch sometimes. Colored shoe wax will stain clothing, use it only if the area in question will not contact clothing.

Cheers;
Lefty
 
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