Cleaning mouldy tack and stopping the mould coming back

H

happihorse

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 November 2006
Messages
1,563
Visit site
I've got a couple of really nice bridles which have unfortunately gone a bit mouldy because they have been left at the back of my tackroom for ages. Does anyone know what the best way of getting rid of the mould and keeping it away is?
 
i would wash them in a solution of milton(the stuff for sterilizing baby bottles),then feed the leather with a conditioner with lanolin in a couple of times a few days apart,then do the smooth side with saddle-soap to water proof it.

if you are wanting to store leather then use cho-a-lo-ine and wrap it in newspaper.
grin.gif
 
Before you wash, wipe the mould off with a dry cloth otherwise you will possibly push it into the leather; do it outside too, you don't want the spores getting in your throat. Then wash as normal, when dry use either Flexalan or Kocholine and rub well in then finish off with saddle soap. If you store it again, wash all soap off and coat with Kochiline including the buckles which will stop them rusting.
 
Thanks Cahill.

Where do you get cho-a-lo-ine from?

What does the newspaer do? Will this stop it going mouldy again?
 
Same stuff, I knew it had an A in it somewhere! Think it's Ko-ach-oline, pronounced coacholeene; in a small tin and will last for ages but one of the best things for tack out. Will also soften up boots, any leather in fact and if you rub it well in, is great for your hands as it repels water. Don't ever put it on the seat of a saddle though unless it's not going to be used for a few months!
 
little tin with coach horses on,you get it in the tack shop.
by wrapping it in newspaper,the paper gets greasy too and the tack doesn`t dry out.
 
Koachaline is brill for this - I had some leatherwork that had got to looking really manky - and I just rubbed in a little koachaline (or however you spell it!!) and it looks like new again the next day!
smile.gif
 
You need to wash the bridles with a cloth rinsed out in hot soapy water (washing up liquid is fine) Dry off as best as possible, don't leave near a heat source though, try a rough towel.Tthen, as said, coat in Ko-cha-line and wrap in newspaper. Don't use Ko-cha-line other than for stroing tack though.
 
First thing to do is clean off as much of the mould as possible with a dry cloth. Do this outside away from your tackroom, as otherwise all you are doing is contaminating the rest of your tack by sending mold spores into the air.

Then take a damp cloth & carry on the mould removal. Chuck away the cloths you are using afterwards as otherwise you risk contaminating your other tack.

Once the tack is mould free to the eye you need to treat it with something to help kill the mould spores that are inside the leather as well as preventing it coming back. Using a lanolin based soap is NOT a good idea, the lanolin is yummy for mold & fungi to grow on.

Tea tree oil has an antibacterial effect but the only tack cleaning product on the market that I know of that has been scientifically tested to prove it's efficacy in mold & mildew prevention (by the American Environmental Protection Agency) is Leather Therapy, which contains phenols. It will also be much kinder on your tack than vinegar or milton which some people may suggest.

There's more info here http://www.leathertherapy.co.uk/acatalog/Articles.html
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top