What is this crud on my leather firearm accoutrements?

[D.B. Cooper]

I'm going to put his in General Gun because it's happening to leather for both rifles and pistols, and it' sonly happening in my safe, so I don't know if it should go in Long Gun Accessories, Handgun Accessories, or Shooting Gear and Storage. I'm sure a moderator will relocate to the right place.

My brown gun leather keeps growing this white, almost mold-like crud substance on it. Except, it isn't mold, because it isn't black or green and it cleans up very easily. I just hit it with some saddle soap and it's wipes away.

It appears on my rifle sling and my holster. Both are good to top quality leather. The sling is Triple K and the holster is Diamond D. Take the leather out of the safe, and the problem goes away. The safe is in a climate controlled room that average about 65-75˚F and runs about 50-70% humidity.

Odd that it only appears on brown (natural) leather (although, I've put Kiwi polish on the sling before). I have a black (obviously died) leather sling on a rifle adjacent to the sling in the photo below-it never has this stuff on it.

Does anyone recognize this stuff or have an idea on how to prevent it?

 

[troy fairweather]

Looks like mold

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Looks like mold

Yeah, that's what I thought, too, except mold is notoriously hard to clean (nigh unto impossible) and this stuff just wipes right off. Also, why doesn't it attach tot he black leather sling?

 

[hso]

Mold on leather is easy to wipe off...but difficult to prevent.

 

[JimKirk]

My safe does the same ...even with rods and damp dry stuff ...

It is some type mold ....some old type stocks will turn white too ...

 

[Bazoo]

Mold is pretty easy to get shed of, wipe what you can off with a damp rag, then give the leather Items a dip in 50/50 water and vinegar solution. Then, dry as quickly and as much as possible with a towel. Then, to remove the smell of vinegar, if it bothers you, place in a ziplock back with baking soda for a month. I've removed it from leather knife sheaths successfully that way.

 

[Jim Watson]

Mildew.
Libraries used to wipe leather bound books with a cloth DAMP with copper sulfate solution.
Probably something high tech to buy instead of vinegar or copper sulfate.

 

[desmobob]

I have the same issue even though there's a Golden Rod in my safe. I recently wiped them down with a rag wet with "Mold Armor" mold and mildew killer. It turns out the active ingredient is bleach. But that company also makes a remediation product that contains mildewstat and fungicides. I'm going to order some.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

....some old type stocks will turn white too ...

That would upset me greatly. Most of the guns in there are near-hundred year-old family heirlooms.

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Well crap, guys. Just another reason everyone is buying guns with plastic stocks, stainless barrels, and nylon slings. smh

 

[desmobob]

Well crap, guys. Just another reason everyone is buying guns with plastic stocks, stainless barrels, and nylon slings. smh

It grows very well on Nylon slings! That's where it showed up first in my safe.

 

[drband]

Yep. Mold.
Here’s your problem:

The safe is in a climate controlled room that average about 65-75˚F and runs about 50-70% humidity.

You’ve got to keep the humidity below 50% if you experience mold problems. There’s no way to stop it at the moisture levels you describe in your room.

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

Its mold, it loves leather. Seems to especially like quality leather and if humidity is there it's a perfect environment for mold.

 

[WrongHanded]

Hmmm ... I wonder if UV lighting might prevent the issue? Not an easy or cheap solution, but whilst I've seen such mold, I don't see it on items that are regularly exposed to daylight.

 

[ms6852]

Bleach will not kill mold like most people think, buy an anti microbial, I've used this in the past and it works. Used it on leather seats in my truck.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Concrobi...4bf18933b62b194fc828ed1b51819e0e&gclsrc=3p.ds

 

[D.B. Cooper]

Yep. Mold.
Here’s your problem:


You’ve got to keep the humidity below 50% if you experience mold problems. There’s no way to stop it at the moisture levels you describe in your room.

Its mold, it loves leather. Seems to especially like quality leather and if humidity is there it's a perfect environment for mold.

Well. Airflow must be part of the equation. I took the holster out of the safe and never had a problem again. I just don't want to have to remove all the slings etc every time I shoot.

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

Yeah, that's what I thought, too, except mold is notoriously hard to clean (nigh unto impossible) and this stuff just wipes right off. Also, why doesn't it attach tot he black leather sling?

Could be what the sling is treated with, etc. Generally healthy leather is more attractive to mold then old dried out leather. Bee Natural makes some leather treatment that helps prevent leather. A lot of people use white vinegar, it's what most of the old timers used when I was growing up on saddles or harness. Some will say the Vinegar is not good for the leather but the mold is probably even worse for it just don't get carried away with the Vinegar. I've used it myself on old leather I acquired and also under the recommendation of a saddle maker I used scrubbing bubbles spray on a couple old saddles that had gotten covered in mold in a damp barn.

I've found whatever method you use placing it out in the sun helps kill the mold spores. The problem you're going to have is once you have it in your safe you probably have spores around and will continue to get on things that attract it so you will have to get aggressive and stay diligent until you get it well under control. Especially if you wiped it off in the house or area where it is stored, that will spread the spores.

Take the items outside in an open area to clean them and let them sit in the sun after cleaning. Clean your storage area very well with a good cleaner such as Vinegar on any items that won't be harmed by it. Don't let the Vinegar get on blued firearms because it will strip the bluing.

 

[Cowhide Cliff]

Well. Airflow must be part of the equation. I took the holster out of the safe and never had a problem again. I just don't want to have to remove all the slings etc every time I shoot.

Probably light as much as the airflow plus the fact that the safe is likely full of mold spores now.

 

[illinoisburt]

Never had that issue until I moved to Alabama. It's definitely mold. After cleaning everything, gave a light mist of Tinactin powder spray into the safe and wipe the slings and wood stocks with some of the spray on a cloth. Seems to work and haven't seen a bad effect from it so far.

 

[WheelGunMan]

Never had that issue until I moved to Alabama. It's definitely mold. After cleaning everything, gave a light mist of Tinactin powder spray into the safe and wipe the slings and wood stocks with some of the spray on a cloth. Seems to work and haven't seen a bad effect from it so far.

Great info.. Tinactin is an anti-fungal with alcohol and other ingredients that mold despises. Fast actin' Tinactin!

 

[TRACON]

Why are you people keeping leather holsters, shoulder slings or ANYTHING made of leather inside of a safe? If it’s growing mold inside the safe, it’s collecting and producing moisture. Leather is to NEVER EVER be stored inside of one’s safe. Whadya y’all new???? I thought everyone knew that you NEVER EVER keep anything made of leather inside the gun safe.

 

[illinoisburt]

Why are you people keeping leather holsters, shoulder slings or ANYTHING made of leather inside of a safe?.

Cannot think of a reason to put one of my holsters into the safes since those are more or less clothing accessories like a belt. Never heard of removing the slings and such from my long guns when in the safe. I always kind of set them up as a finished item and store them unloaded but in an otherwise ready to use condition.

 

[Coyote3855]

Antique leather goods at the museum where I volunteer often show similar white residue. A knowledgeable curator agrees with Cowhide Cliff that in our case, it is previous treatment material coming to the surface. Can't say that's what's going with the OP. I've seen the same stuff on some of my belts and holsters. Humidity here is low.

 

[Barbaroja]

It might be the oil they used to finish it coming to the surface.
This is from the simply rugged FAQ not sure if this is your issue.

 

[WrongHanded]

It might be the oil they used to finish it coming to the surface.
This is from the simply rugged FAQ not sure if this is your issue.
View attachment 1143707

That actually makes a lot more sense.