Removing Mould and Mildew from Leather

• Can a Leather Cleaner Remove Mould and Mildew?
• How to Clean Mouldy Mildewed Leather
• How to Stop Mould and Mildew Attacking Leather
• Please Contact Us With Any Questions
• Our Products

Can a Leather Cleaner Remove Mould and Mildew?

Yes, leather cleaners can remove mould and mildew—the photos at left are testamount to that—but it is very important to choose cleaners that don’t ruin your leather in the process or set the scene for future mould and mildew invasions.

Leather is made of a tangled mass of fine root-like fibres, and once microscopic mould and mildew spores lodge deeply in this tangle they are very difficult to shift. Anything strong enough to penetrate the fibre tangle and destroy every spore could damage the leather fibres as well, compromising the leather’s structure and stength.

Don’t use oldtime remedies like vinegar, household bleach or alcohol—the concentrations needed to kill mould and mildew spores are also strong enough to damage the internal leather fibres. Also avoid traditional cleaners like saddle soap on already mouldy leather—these contain glycerin, which attracts and holds the very atmospheric moisture mould and mildew thrive on.

Rather, use penetrating, pH-neutral products like Leather Therapy, which lubricate leather deep to the core without introducing moisture, and which inhibit future mould and mildew growth. Leather Therapy Restorer and Conditioner is the only United States Environmental Protection Agency tested and approved product that contains ingredients that inhibit growth of mould and mildew

The story of the above Before and After photos of a mouldy mildewed saddle showing Leather Therapy in action can be read in this testimonial.

How to Clean Mouldy Mildewed Leather

1. Take the mouldy or mildewed item outside to clean if at all possible—simply touching a mould or mildew patch will release countless numbers of spores into the air and you do not want to spread these inside where they can colonise other leather items. Failing that, remove any small leather items that are nearby and try to work in as well ventilated an area with as much natural lighting or direct sunlight as possible to minimise cross-contamination by mould and mildew spores
2. Have a supply of old rags you are prepared to throw away. Wipe as much surface contamination as you can with a wet rag, then discard. Repeat with a clean wet rag. Be sure to discard rags in a way that won’t allow spores to spread further. Don’t rinse and reuse the rags as you will never remove all spores on the rags. Use an old toothbrush to clean stitching lines and crevices
3. Next, with all visible surface mould or mildew removed, use a water-based, pH neutral product like Leather Therapy Wash to give a safe, deep clean that removes the embedded dirt and organic residue that aids future mould and mildew growth
4. Allow the leather to dry fully in the sun—not only will evaporating excess moisture from the leather prevent new spores taking hold, but the UV rays of the sunlight will kill any remaining spores
5. Once dry, condition the leather with a pH-neutral product such as Leather Therapy Restorer/Conditioner. Apply the conditioner with a sponge, VERY sparingly as leather will only absorb what it needs. The Restorer/Conditioner will soak in and disappear, so there’s no need to wipe off. It will not stay wet or greasy unless you apply too much at once. The conditioner will not alter the colour or the gloss of your leather. But it will penetrate deep into the centre of the leather, nourishing and lubricating the fibres without introducing the moisture that allows mould and mildew to take hold. And being pH neutral means it won’t interfere with the natural acidic environment of leather but will increase its life. Leather Therapy Restorer and Conditioner is the only United States Environmental Protection Agency tested and approved product that contains ingredients that inhibit growth of mould and mildew
6. We suggest you repeat this process with Wash and Restorer/Conditioner every three months to add years of life to your leather. Wash keeps the leather clean on the outside while Restorer/Conditioner nourishes and protects the leather from mould and mildew from the inside
7. Wash and Restorer/Conditioner are all you need for basic ongoing leather care and protection. However, you may wish to go a little further and use Leather Therapy Finish to give your precious leather a beautiful new shine while providing a protective shield from the elements. (Not recommended for leather intended to have a non-shiny appearance)
8. A final treatment with Leather Therapy Water Repellant will give even more protection from water, wine, tea, coffee, dirt, mud and salt. Unlike Finish, the repellant will not make the leather look shiny. If anything it tends to give the leather a more matt finish so is best not used on anything you want to look glossy

Other products available are the Leather Therapy Sampler and the Leather Therapy Touchup Dye. The Sampler is ideal as a gift, or as an economical way to sample each product on your own items. The Sampler contains a 2oz / 59mL bottle each of Wash, Restorer, Finish and Repellant and a handy applicator sponge.

The Touchup Dye is only available in black, but is perfect for touching up nicks, scratches and dings on saddles, car and motorcycle seats, jackets, pants, racing suits, gloves, boots, belts, saddlebags, luggage, lounges, and any other black leather items you may own. Touchup is a genuine leather dye and very permanent. It will not add any stiffness to the leather and dries to a matt-semi gloss finish.

How to Stop Mould and Mildew Attacking Leather

Mould and mildew like warm, damp and dark places where the humidity is between 55% and 85%. Minimise your precious leather’s exposure to these and you minimise the chances of mould and mildew colonising your leather. Prevention is always better than cure!

• Keep your leather regularly cleaned with pH-neutral products designed to preserve leather’s internal structure
• Keep your leather regularly conditioned with pH-neutral products that carry conditioning agents deep into the heart of your leather, without leaving greasy residues that encourage mould and mildew to grow
• Choose leather products containing ingredients that inhibit growth of mould and mildew. The only United States Environmental Protection Agency tested and approved product that meets these criteria is Leather Therapy Restorer and Conditioner
• Store leather in a dry location that is not subject to temperature extremes of high heat or freezing cold
• If using outdoor leather items such as motorcycle jackets or suits, saddles, boots or gloves, always clean dirt and sweat off thoroughly after each use. Use products that lift dirt without clogging leather’s pores or building up in stitching lines or crevices. Allow the items to dry completely before storage, preferably in the sun
• Always ensure all leather items, whether they be car seats, lounges, luggage or bags, equestrian equipment, boots, belts, jackets, gloves or other garments are completely dry before storage
• Have large items such as lounges and saddles in well ventilated, well lit rooms. Make full use of windows to allow as much light in as possible. Store cars and motorcycles with leather seats in well sealed, dry garages as much as possible—and preferably in garages that are well ventilated and lit
• Smaller items such as leather luggage, motorcycle jackets or suits, gloves, boots, belts or other leather garments do well stored with bags of desiccant materials such as silica gel, clay or volcanic rock lying or hanging close by to absorb excess moisture. Look for these in hardware and home centres, and be sure to refresh or replace them regularly
• Seal damp concrete floors to minimise moisture transfer
• Depending on your climate, requirements and budget, air dehumidifiers or low wattage heating bars like those used by boat owners may prove worthwhile investments in keeping air dry. Similarly an electronic air purifier rated for mould to minimise air-borne spores may be worth purchasing if your environment warrants this. Please attend to all fire safety precautions if running such equipment. This includes ensuring your wiring is modern and properly grounded, and using equipment with automatic shut-off safety devices built in. Make sure all such equipment has good clearance all around, and that people do not block them by carelessly tossing items on or near them

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