Mold & Mildew: Bad News For Saddles

Both mold (green and hairy) and mildew (white-ish gray and powdery) are fungi that thrive in damp, moist environments. And by “thrive,” I mean grows and spreads. It can start from a single spore and multiply like crazy. Ewww!

Mold damage on leather tack can be extensive and usually irreversible. Mold penetrates the leather pores and eats away at the fibers, causing stains and damaging the leather.

Obviously this problem is a much more prevalent in humid clients. In dry Montana we seldom see mold, but it still occasionally rears it’s ugly head.

Steps for preventing mold damage:

1. Wipe down your tack after use removing dirt and sweat.
2. Use a leather cleaner that contains a fungicide and is Ph neutral rather than one that contains humectants such as glycerine. Humectants trap moisture in.
3. Apply oil sparingly. This is good practice regardless of the mold situation. Most folks over oil their saddles.
4. Don’t resort to harsh chemicals that are recommended for hard surfaces such as bathroom grout. They will damage your leather.
5. Don’t store your tack in a moist, damp environment

Related posts:

1. Cleaning Saddle Tooling
2. Saddle Maker’s Blog
3. Cleaning Your Saddle Pad
4. Cleaning Rough Out Saddles