Smelly Holster

[Gunhohulk]

I just got a El Paso Saddlery holster from a member for a decent price. It showed up today and smelled like it was recovered from a moldy house and had some residue on it. The packaging wasn't perfect but didn't show any water signs.

I dunked it in some warm water in the sink with dawn in it but are there any better ways to get rid of the mold smell? Kind of a bummer and I might have to give the seller a little **** for the oversight.

 

[Richard Simmons]

Perhaps baking soda would help? Put the holster in a Zip-loc or other plastic bag with some baking soda and let sit for a time. How much baking soda depends on the size of the holster and the smell but I'd think a quarter to half cup would do.

For the actual residue some type of leather cleaner like saddle soap might do the trick than the baking soda.

 

[Narragansett]

Sounds like mildew from having been in say a garage or damp basement. It can take a long time for that to go away on its' own. I am not sure I would have used soap and water on it. I would make sure that that is is in a dry location. The night air may help to bring smell out and some sun. I would not let it get rained on.

As for saddle soap, I would not use that. Find a leather cleaner that will not seal the pores of the leather. It needs to breathe.

If you have a cobbler in your area, you might ask him for a recommendation. Beyond that, I would google " How to remove mildew smell from leather ".

Good luck

 

[Ruger 13]

Try some talcum powder!

 

[mikerjf]

Acquired a guitar case a cat had "used". (Not leather, some kinda fluffy fake fur fabric lining.) Shook lots of baking soda into it, left it out in the hot sun two days, and vacuumed the soda back out - worked great!

 

[serger]

Another old, old trick was after cleaning with baking soda
and alcohol (my grand father used whiskey) was to put the
leather in a mason jar filled with coffee. The coffee pulled the
moisture out and it's aroma helped kill the smell. He did this
with a leather belt and left the sealed jar outside so the sun
could heat the jar. It worked, took a while but worked. The jar
was outside for about a week.

 

[Gunhohulk]

Thank you for all the tips! I'm gonna get to work on it tonight.

 

[ACORN]

How about charcoal. Many boat owners put charcoal in their boats before they have them wrapped

 

[smoothshooter]

Wipe it down inside and out with vinegar diluted a little bit with water. Do not saturate the leather. Lay it out in bright sunlight for a couple of days. Turn it over a couple of times during the day.
Might have to repeat the vinegar treatment 2 or 3 times.

 

[wheelgun610]

I've used Fast Orange hand cleaner to clean a few older holsters, but none of them had any odd odors before I cleaned them. That stuff does a good job of cleaning them, and I bet the orange oil in it would take away any foul smell.

Mark

 

[Hair Trigger]

Murphy's Oil Soap will get the smell out. I've treated my leather holsters with it, my wife introduced me to it from using it on her leather tack and saddles. It softens hardened leather, too, and helps prevent cracking.

 

[Laketime]

If its leather you just made it worse. Baking soda poured into a sock the length of the holster and place a couple of silicone packs in with it will remedy it.

 

[BloodyThumb]

$4 charcoal jar available at Comrade Wally's World, one gallon sized zip lock bag, and time.

I spread the charcoal out in the bag which is laying flat. One paper towel on top, holster on the paper towel. After a couple days I would turn the holster over on the paper towel. I usually leave it about a week.

It has worked several times for me.

 

[chief38]

You should have contacted the seller and returned it before wetting it - smell is a terribly hard thing to get out 100% and permanently.

 

[Heinz]

My experience in this area is with antique holster. This is the recommended treatment from Jerry Burney on "pistole parabellum"

"First off you "need to determine IF it's mold and what type it is. Some molds are grey dried and not affected by heat. I don't know if this type is alive or dried & dead? An active living growing mold will be white and greasy feeling. This is the best for heat treatment. Heat will make it disappear inside and out. Even fairly mild heat.

I have a solar hotbox I use. Plexiglas top and achieves 150-220+ on a hot sunny Yuma day. Metal gets hot enough to make you drop it. It will erase most living mold flowers.

BUT! Will it kill the spores? Maybe not. I use the 350 F treatment to pretty much guarantee deep heat penetration for a killing dose. Heat your Wife's kitchen oven to 350. Place holster/or other leather on cookie sheet, place in oven, Sing Happy Birthday a couple of times and TURN OVEN OFF! You are then free to leave the area but NOT BEFORE YOU TURN THE OVEN OFF! After you YOU TURN THE OVEN OFF come back after an hour or two or even later. The oven will naturally lose heat and finally cool. Because you what? YOU TURNED THE OVEN OFF! Now if you forget to TURN THE OVEN OFF you will come back because the smoke detectors will be telling you to. Remember the old movie, Fahrenheit 451? Well, that's a neat reminder of when paper bursts into flame. Well, at 350 your holster won't burst into flame but at that sustained temperature, long term, it WILL toast, smoke and brown off eventually shriveling up into a twisted charred wreck.

OH! One other IMPORTANT tidbit! DO NOT cover the leather with ANYTHING! Leave it to the open air. Let it breathe and expel moisture. If you cover it, it will become a boiled shriveled twisted shrunken ...GOD! It's too horrible! Don't do it.

But it's possible lessor temperatures work about as well.


OK, Lets talk about acetone..Tandy sells it in a small bottle labled 'Leather cleaner" but it's acetone. Acetone CAN damage suede. The fuzzy stuff on the underneath. I've seen it eat it away and harden, stain the hell out of it. So I am careful when/where I use it. On surface leather it seems benign.

Rubbing/medical Alcohol is the best I know of. It will not damage leather that I know of. Remember the leather you might be heating up and slopping Ballistol/OIL, or other chemicals on is likely many decades older than you might be. THINK, investigate, research before you put it on cause once on it's there to stay."

Water is an invitation for mold and mildew to come and stay, the damp party is on.

The only proviso here is Luger holsters are supposed to be stiff, the are a "pistol case"

 

[gwpercle]

Mold needs moisture to survive .
Step #1 - is dry the leather .
Step #2 - cover the holster with baking soda , in a container and let the baking soda do its work . It might take a few weeks and you probably want to chance the baking soda .
That should get rid of the smell .... baking soda is cheap , use plenty and change but it will pull out smells without adding moisture . Place container in a well ventilated area .

If that doesn't work ...contact El Paso for advice .

Acetone ... Be Careful , it will remove the leather's finish ... or what is left of it .
After all this you might ask El Paso about refinishing ,,, they might do it or have leather finish advice as which product to use .
Gary

 

[jimmyj]

Murphy's Oil Soap will get the smell out. I've treated my leather holsters with it, my wife introduced me to it from using it on her leather tack and saddles. It softens hardened leather, too, and helps prevent cracking.

Is Murphy Oil Soap wood cleaner ? works on leather ?

Called the company and was told it is safe to use on leather

 

[Jessie]

I put holster and ground coffee (1/2 cup or so)in a heavy gallon zip lock bag and forget about for a while. Shake it up on occasion and change the coffee grounds if it's really moldy smelling.
That's worked for me with moderate smelling ones.

 

[MR.G]

Put it in the sun for a day.

 

[marlin58]

Wipe it down inside and out with vinegar diluted a little bit with water. Do not saturate the leather. Lay it out in bright sunlight for a couple of days. Turn it over a couple of times during the day.
Might have to repeat the vinegar treatment 2 or 3 times.

bleach is the only home remedy that will "kill" visible mold..may ruin the dye in leathers though so I would spot test. Once mold has taken root, it will keep coming back unless killed.