Getting mold out of a leather jacket - SOLVED

[VintageTQ]

I've been trying to get some mold out of some old vintage leather jackets, one or 2 of them were quite bad and I tried various ways, some after researching on here, but to no avail.

Anyway I thought I would share this on here as I managed to find a simple solution that worked.

First of all wiping the surface of the jackets with a damp cloth to remove the sight of any mold. Then putting in an air tight plastic bag (preferably one of those storage bags that you can suck all the air out).

After about 2 weeks the jackets came out and none of the mold had returned, and didn't return once re-exposed to normal conditions.

Hope this is of help to someone

 

[Will Zach]

Very interesting and innovative approach (at least to me). Turns out mold needs oxygen to survive, so vacuum should indeed kill it over some time. Watch out for any surviving spores and possible re-growth later on, but overall very cool.

 

[handymike]

I wonder if going over the jacket with a mix of vinegar and water first would help any, or would it just smell like Easter eggs once you pull it out of the bag in 2 weeks.

 

[belfastboy]

Very interesting and innovative approach (at least to me). Turns out mold needs oxygen to survive, so vacuum should indeed kill it over some time. Watch out for any surviving spores and possible re-growth later on, but overall very cool.

Scary thought but we swim in a sea of mold. It is ever present in the air we breath....as with most things the critical factor is type of mold and concentration. Mold requires 3 things, moisture, food source, and air. The bad news is that most things can be a food source and it does not need much water. But if you eliminate one thing the mold will die....usually it is the water source that can be eliminated.

 

[belfastboy]

I wonder if going over the jacket with a mix of vinegar and water first would help any, or would it just smell like Easter eggs once you pull it out of the bag in 2 weeks.

Whenever I use vinegar to eliminate odours if I wear the article I overeat as I can't get the thought of French fries out of my head.

 

[Carlos840]

Whenever I use vinegar to eliminate odours if I wear the article I overeat as I can't get the thought of French fries out of my head.

Vinegar on french fries is even more perverted than vinegar on chips!
And i thought Canadians were good people...

 

[belfastboy]

Vinegar on french fries is even more perverted than vinegar on chips!
And i thought Canadians were good people...

we have a very dark streak to us.....we do after all eat poutine!

 

[navetsea]

i clean mold on my leather jacket and gloves with vinegar water, moldy smell on the liner is also gone, but I air it out until vinegar smell is gone 3 days or so.

 

[hieu]

Got a real stinker that still smelled very moldy after vinegar treatment. Going to try OP's method and report back.

 

[Gypsymoth82]

I have found a light mixture of vinegar and water to remove the visible mold, followed by some serious time on a hanger outside in the sun works the best. Sunshine and fresh air solve most of life's problems....... I have sorted out some STINKERS this way. Imagine how these smelled.....

 

[Peacoat]

Got a real stinker that still smelled after very moldy after vinegar treatment. Going to try OP's method and report back.

View attachment 500807

Yes, please report back as @VintageTQ appears to have left the Lounge.

I would be interested in the results after 6 months or a year.

 

[hieu]

I have found a light mixture of vinegar and water to remove the visible mold, followed by some serious time on a hanger outside in the sun works the best. Sunshine and fresh air solve most of life's problems....... I have sorted out some STINKERS this way. Imagine how these smelled..... View attachment 500811 View attachment 500812

Those are some nasty looking jackets haha thank you for the recommendation. I think I'll try this next if the smell isn't fully gone.

 

[Canuck Panda]

Would the vacuum method work on perfumed soaked jackets?

 

[Gypsymoth82]

Would the vacuum method work on perfumed soaked jackets?

Try putting the jacket in a box, also placing an open box of baking soda in there with it. Seal it up and leave it for a week. If its really bad, dump the whole box of baking soda in the bottom of the box and then put the jacket in. Patience is key.

 

[Canuck Panda]

Yup

Try putting the jacket in a box, also placing an open box of baking soda in there with it. Seal it up and leave it for a week. If its really bad, dump the whole box of baking soda in the bottom of the box and then put the jacket in. Patience is key.

the baking soda always worked for me. I've got this really stubborn one that's been hanging for a year now. I've never place the baking soda in a closed off bag with it though, gonna give that a try. Thanks.

 

[belfastboy]

Vinegar on french fries is even more perverted than vinegar on chips!
And i thought Canadians were good people...

We have our moments but we are fallible humans too

 

[belfastboy]

We have our moments but we are fallible humans too

BUT at least we don't put mayonnaise on them like the Belgians!!

 

[Carlos840]

BUT at least we don't put mayonnaise on them like the Belgians!!

Hey, we invented them, we can eat them however we want to!

 

[Peacoat]

Would the vacuum method work on perfumed soaked jackets?

Your best bet there would be an ozone generator.

 

[Canuck Panda]

Your best bet there would be an ozone generator.

Yeah I need to invest in one of those.