help! mold on saddle :(

[shadesofbay3]

hi all,

I was not At the barn for a pretty good period of time and my saddle developed a good amount of mold. When I say a good amount, I’m talking about green and fuzzy. The first thing I thought when I saw it was that my saddle was probably damaged for the long run because once mold spores come in they’re in the leather forever. Upon cleaning it pretty thoroughly yesterday, I looked at it today and it seems as if it’s even worse than I thought. It seems that the saddle looks like it’s “spotted” - No longer a consistent color, and some of the molding spots almost look to be coming back.

I don’t know exactly what to do or how to clean it, I’ve done the ammonia and soap before, but nothing on anything this severe. Any time I’ve ever used the “mold prevention” Products, I have never felt like they’ve been super effective.

Is my saddle ruined?

[sheltona01]

First off make sure your saddle actually needs conditioner. The mold will feed off of it if the saddles does not need it. Have you tried the Effax mold product? I have had that work well for me previously.

[Inclined]

Leather Therapy Wash has worked well for me: https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/leather-therapy-wash-4?utm_source=cpc&utm_medium=google&utm_content=shopping&utm_campaign=nb_shopping_barn_gifts&utm_term=Tack%20Room%20Supplies&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3NTDnc2i3QIVBY7ICh0n_gViEAQYAiABEgLRHvD_BwE . I picked mine up at a local feed store, but lots of internet companies carry it. It has a nice lemony smell and really cleans. It leaves the leather soft, too. L.T. makes other products that are supposed to keep mold and mildew away once you clean it, but I haven’t tried those yet. Maybe someone else here has.

[Pico_Banana]

Advice from my fitter: clean thoroughly with a couple of drops of Dawn dish detergent in warm water. Allow to dry completely. When dry, apply conditioner.

[shadesofbay3]

Thank you everyone.
Has anyone had luck with the vinegar/warm water mix? Or ammonia/water?

I’ve also heard people talk about clorox spray, but that sounds crazy…

[NO-CTRL]

Clean it as usual with Castile soap and the on a clean damp rag put a few drops of Clove Oil and work over whole saddle. I live in a very humid wet part of Australia and mold is something we battle every year. All my tack gets the above treatment as wet season kicks in and again if my tack gets soaked during a ride. Works better than anything else i’ve ever tried. Clove oil is amazing for killing mould!

[Linny]

I’ve used white vinegar with success. A bit on a soft cloth, apply directly to mold and then clean, then condition.

[Scribbler]

Get all the mold out of all the crevices and let it sit in sunshine for a while.

[OneTwoMany]

Why not contact the saddle manufacturer and ask them for their recommendations? I would avoid putting chemicals (ammonia, cleaners, etc.) or acidic products (like vinegar) on tack unless you understand how the chemicals or acidity will affect the integrity of the leather.

[TMares]

You can try white vinegar full strength but i would think the dawn wI’ll do better . Throw away any rags you used. Let dry in full sun follow with the oil of your choice. I would avoid “condiioners” they seem to feed mold.

[DarkBayUnicorn]

White vinegar, allow to dry 100%, oil. Leave the cover off for 24 hours.

[Natalie]

I’ve used vinegar, Belvoir spray, and once, in a pinch, a quick spray of Listerine (the brown unflavored kind). Make sure you let the leather dry…and yes, putting it out in the sun often helps.

[Against_All_Odds1]

@Inclined

Leather Therapy Wash has worked well for me: https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/leather-therapy-wash-4?utm_source=cpc&utm_medium=google&utm_content=shopping&utm_campaign=nb_shopping_barn_gifts&utm_term=Tack%20Room%20Supplies&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3NTDnc2i3QIVBY7ICh0n_gViEAQYAiABEgLRHvD_BwE . I picked mine up at a local feed store, but lots of internet companies carry it. It has a nice lemony smell and really cleans. It leaves the leather soft, too. L.T. makes other products that are supposed to keep mold and mildew away once you clean it, but I haven’t tried those yet. Maybe someone else here has.

I’ve used both products. Love them!

[limptoad]

Agreeing with white vinegar, let dry completely and keep in a climate controlled-area. Which may mean bringing it home. Don’t condition. Then do a second application of vinegar a few days later, or earlier if you see mold sprouting up. Again, let dry completely and keep it in a climate controlled area. After the second application has completely dried out, then you can condition.

If you don’t want to lug your saddle back and forth forever, see if you can put a dehumidifier in the tack room.

[benmatt2c]

Effax has a mildew free spray that i use to clean my saddle daily