MOULD ON TACK!!!!

[Acchiappanuvole]

Hello everybody,
general question: how do you manage with unheated tack rooms?

I went away for a week, and since I got back all I've done is clean mould off tack. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING is going mouldy in our small private yard unheated tack room. The fog hasn't lifted for days so it is humid, it is cold, but spending an hour every day cleaning anything leathery in the tack room is starting to test the stamina. Even tack that is in regular use gets mouldy spots if wiped off carelessly.

It's the saddles that worry me the most, for obvious reasons. Any handy tips, anyone?

 

[poiuytrewq]

I think you need to have a heater or take it home sadly.
I used to wonder why tack at two work places went mouldy and had a sticky feel.
I started taking the one lot home to clean In the evenings (work from home, horsey style!)
It was amazing how quickly it improved, by the following day it was better.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Mine lives at home. I take it to and fro for safety (theft and keeping it in good safe condition)
Even the spares box in the horsebox comes home in deepest winter.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I have a tack locker in an unheated tack room and mine is always fine ?

 

[AmyMay]

Just take it home with you.

 

[GreyDot]

One of those wardrobe dehumidifiers in my tack locker does the job in the winter.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Nyxi-Hangi...tchen-appliances&sr=1-5&ts_id=3593780031&th=1

 

[PurBee]

Do you have electric for a dehumidifier?

You can get those non-electric dehumidifier tubs to draw dampness out of the air.

Unfortunately theres mould spores everywhere in the air, and all they need is a surface+ moisture to germinate and become visual mould.

I’d be inclined to cover saddles with a breathable cloth - and same over bridles - cotton cloth - that way, after use they’ll be warm, then become cold in the tackroom which creates condensation, which will germinate spores that land while stored - so cover needs to be breathable to allow the cover to draw moisture off the covered tack, helping it dry, and also stops mould spores landing on tack.
The cotton cover will become mouldy, on the outside, so use the same clean side of the cover going onto tack, and wash cloth periodically.

I’d also wipe over all tack with a dry cloth before hanging-up and covering. Keep dry clothes stored in there in a plastic bag - to keep them dry.

I live in a place thats rarely drier than 80% moisture all year round so have had perfect opportunity to devise ways to store stuff in barns without them getting wrecked.

 

[Carlosmum]

I have an electric oil radiator in my tack room, which is an old chilled lorry body. It keeps quite warm if I close the door properly! Radiator is on its lowest setting.

 

[sbloom]

You need to increase heat and/or reduce humidity so taking it home, or having a small heated space at the yard, is always the easiest. Having a cover on helps, but you now have mould spores everywhere in that tack room and in the crevices of your tack so it's now somewhat about management. @cremedemonthe has a great sheet on mould on tack, removing it, preventing it.

I had to refuse to reflock a saddle a couple of weeks ago, the lady had only left it for a week in their tack room, but no way was I allowing mould spores to drift into my van and stock.

 

[Birker2020]

Removes dirt, grease and sweat from leather and synthetic tack.
The new anti-fungal formula can prevent the growth of mould and mildew.

Have no idea if it works but its on e-bay for £6.00.

 

[cremedemonthe]

I'll send you my article on dealing with mould, it works well

 

[Ouch05]

I'll send you my article on dealing with mould, it works well

May I have it to please

 

[Peglo]

My tack room hasn’t been finished yet so my tack just sits in the open barn/shed. Fortunately I have a synthetic saddle but I just avoid eye contact with the mouldy stirrup leathers.

 

[Cortez]

I'll send you my article on dealing with mould, it works well

Me too please, thank you.

 

[Patterdale]

Keep them in zipped padded bags or in feed bins.
My tack is out in the damp all year and never goes mouldy zipped up in a bag.

 

[humblepie]

Not really practical in tack room but fit stored tack I found wrapping in newspaper and then an old pillow case worked.

 

[SantaVera]

mines gone mouldy too its the damp weathrer

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

I’ve never had that issue ? Farans tack has sat for half the year and all I had to remove was dust and spiders ?

 

[Reacher]

Can I have it too please

I'll send you my article on dealing with mould, it works well

Even though I keep my tack in the house in the boot room with a small radiator it still gets mouldy ?

 

[SantaVera]

can you just post the info on here rather than p,m?

 

[littledonkey]

I'll send you my article on dealing with mould, it works well

If possible please could i also have it.

 

[cremedemonthe]

Can I have it too please


Even though I keep my tack in the house in the boot room with a small radiator it still gets mouldy ?

What are you cleaning it with? The article gives you advice on what can cause it

 

[cremedemonthe]

can you just post the info on here rather than p,m?

Mouldy leather - help is at hand and it's cheaper to deal with than you think!​

If you have mould on your leather it will need removing and dealing with BEFORE you condition your leather.​

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Introduction​

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Once your tack gets mould on/in it, it's very hard to get rid of it completely. If I come across any mould on tack that's in for repairs, firstly I take it well away from my other leather, that is VERY important. I take it outside so when I clean it the spores don't float off and land on the uncontaminated leather. Mould spores are present in the air all the time, so even if you go through all this and you have other leather stored in damp, dark conditions you will get more mould-guaranteed!​

By removing your mouldy leather to outside and following extreme hygiene methods listed below you will reduce the risk of spreading the existing mould spores on your mouldy leather on to your good non mouldy leather.​

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What do I use?​

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I use vinegar, you are supposed to use white vinegar but as I can buy 5 litres of the normal dark (malt) vinegar from a cash and carry for a couple of quid, that's the one I use and I know it works. There are many types of mould ranging from white that's on your tack to black in my van and vinegar does seem to kill it all. My Transit van is boarded out, first year I had it (2012) it dripped water from the roof as the condensation was bad. Most non insulated vans have this problem and my roof isn't insulated, just bare metal. The wooden boards on the walls went black with mould. I washed it off, then coated the wood with neat vinegar, I and it smelt like a fish and chip shop for a week or so but that was in 2012 and mould's never returned. It is said vinegar in great concentration can damage leather, I have no evidence to support that but my methods help reduce this risk by rinsing well and then conditioning it.​

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Method.​

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Get yourself set up with a roll of kitchen tissue and a plastic bag for disposing of all the rubbish when you have finished. You'll need vinegar too, white if you prefer but brown malt will do but it's a bit smellier and you will smell for a while. You'll need a place to wash your hands after each treatment too. You are best to do this outside if you can or in a lean to, conservatory etc anywhere AWAY from your other tack or any leather at all really. Using paper towels (kitchen roll) remove as much of the mould as you can, dispose of the towels in a plastic bag that you can tie up and shove in the dustbin when you have finished, do not let any of the towels or plastic bag back in to the tack room. If it's windy outside when you do this, stand up wind so the wind doesn't blow the spores all over you and your clothes/hair as the first thing you will do is walk back in to the tack room and spread them - believe me, it's that easy to spread them around and they will love you for it ​

Wash your hands thoroughly and dry them (using the kitchen roll) then apply the vinegar via a new paper towel, neat, not watered down as that's next to useless, it has to be neat. Leave it on allowing it to kill the spores off for 5 minutes but no longer. Make sure you bin all the paper towels, don't use rags and be tempted to wash and re use as chances are they will still carry the spores and it only takes one to start the whole process off again on other uncontaminated tack stored near it. Wash your hands again thoroughly and dry them again before the next bit. Rinse the leather off with plain water, hang to dry either outside if dry enough or indoors in a warm, dry, bright room away from direct heat (radiators, open fire etc)​

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Aftercare and follow ups.​

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When dry it's important to keep the leather in a dry but not overly warm, bright room.Keep out of direct sunlight but light is good to keep mould at bay. Avoid, glycerine saddle soap, it encourages mould as it's a humectant which means it draws in moisture from the surrounding air and that includes those demon mould spores right along with it, you will also need to avoid dark, damp unheated, tack rooms where possible. If funds and power supply allow, use a de humidifier in your tack room and/or an electric oil filled radiator.If not consider taking your tack home which I know is a pain but saves you a lot of cleaning/treating. You will have to use a leather conditioner (not oils of ANY kind) at some point after the vinegar treatment to keep the fat content up in the leather. If the leather after treatment feels hard, creaks or very dry/brittle when you have killed the mould then condition it asap as if you leave it like that for too long it may not be recoverable.There's no harsh chemicals or additives in the conditioner I make and it includes a natural anti fungal ingredient to help keep those evil mould spores at bay. Once you have done all that remember what I have said, the secret to keep it in good condition is a dry, well lit room at 56 degrees F or slightly higher if the leather has a good fat content but no more than 65-70 degrees where possible. During the Summer you will need to condition your leather more obviously as all veg tanned leather whether new or old, used or unused will lose moisture everyday and the Summer heat speeds this up, same as your own skin, it can dry out and what do you do?​

Apply a moisturiser don't you, apply the same principles to your leather and you won't go far wrong.​

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Storing leather ​

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Place any bridles or saddles not being used in thin white cotton pillowcases or wrap them in white cotton sheets, these help absorb moisture in the air, stops spores getting in to the leather from any other leather in the room and lets the light through which will help kill spores. DO NOT use plastic bags as I have seen some people do, it won't allow air flow and encourages the leather to sweat in the heat, inducing more mould. Sunlight in moderation is a natural disinfectant, helping to kill the spores but don't leave it in the sun for too long as it will damage the leather and dry it out too much, try to get the balance right. Monitor your stored or unused leather as it will need conditioning again at some point. Copyright Unicorn Leather Saddlery 2017​

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I keep all my tack in what I call my back kitchen it's like an extension of the utility area, I used to keep it in that garage but it used to be so stiff and horrible.

It's been so damp and wet for ages everything is going mouldy even my walls in my feed room have.

 

[HBB]

@cremedemonthe Thank you, that is very helpful ?

 

[SantaVera]

Thank you cremedemonthe!

 

[Reacher]

Thankyou @cremedemonthe for your guide - didn’t know about vinegar.
If mouldy tack has already been kept in the house, if I follow your cleaning instructions how long do you think it will be to eliminate the spores?

 

[Tronk]

Get a little dehumidifier, a very small boat heater and some plug in night lights if there’s no natural light in there. Before putting any tack in there though spray mould spray on walls etc. Also clean all mould off tack with vinegar solution and allow to thoroughly dry. Thoroughly wash all rugs etc and dry before putting back in.

 

[littledonkey]

@cremedemonthe Thank you

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Hello everybody,
general question: how do you manage with unheated tack rooms?

I went away for a week, and since I got back all I've done is clean mould off tack. Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING is going mouldy in our small private yard unheated tack room. The fog hasn't lifted for days so it is humid, it is cold, but spending an hour every day cleaning anything leathery in the tack room is starting to test the stamina. Even tack that is in regular use gets mouldy spots if wiped off carelessly.

It's the saddles that worry me the most, for obvious reasons. Any handy tips, anyone?

We have no heater and tack goes mouldy when not use, I use a bridle bag or just leave it mouldy till I can be bothered to clean it. Since I am not allowed to ride at the moment, I am sure my tack is mouldy.