How to Get Rid of White Mold on Your Old WW1/WW2 Leather Holster - You Do This?!

[@ar6985]

Hey Tom, Wanted to let you know that I tried it out and wow! I had a really nice Type-26 Japanese Revolver holster with shoulder strap that was ate up with that white mold and I had tossed it out in the garage. I couldn't bring myself to get rid of it because they aren't that common...especially with the shoulder strap. Anyway....watched the video and tried it out. Came out great. I treated the leather with Hide Food after it cooled down and have kept an eye on it for 5 months now and no mold has returned. Thanks so much for the tip!

[@thomaswhiteman4261]

Glad it worked for you. I handle a lot of holsters and use this almost every month with good success

[@wildmanjeff42]

thanks for the video. searched specifically for it -- I have a Jit slide holster for 1911 I have had for about 20 years that I love and don't want to replace.

[@mikeblair2594]

I have a lot of leather goods and some have got a bit of mold and a couple a pieces have a lot of mold(in a box together). Thanx for the tip. Another good tip is it you got wool socks and such that have stretched out so they just fall down, dip.them in boiling water and they shrink back to the original dimensions.

[@thomaswhiteman4261]

Thanks. Good tip. Not gun related but still a good tip. I thought you were going to say "wrap your guns or holsters in you old worn out wool socks" :) When people ship me gun they are often inside old socks.

[@mikec35000]

Great tip, thanks! My tip to get around an upset wife - wait until she has a cold - nows the time to cook your moldy leather! Unfortunately wife lost her smell after Covid, she's slowly gaining her smell back, but while in recovery I'm going to do this to my Grandpa's fishing pliers holster.

[@burb122]

Tom come at us with some more great tips like this!! This one was great!!

[@crabappleoutdoors7875]

TOM DAMN THOUGHT YOU WAS CRAZY BUT MAN THAT DOES THE TRICK. THANKS MUCH.

[@Souljunkie574]

Thanks for the tip !! I just bought some old ones that I'll be selling on ebay and needed this.

[@sdr109]

That's a great tip. How about nylon gun stocks. I have an old Stevens 20 Gauge with a brown nylon stock covered in a white moldy powder. I can wipe it off but comes right back. Now sure if the nylon can handle 250 degrees in the oven?

[@LegacyCollectibles]

I would try it at 150,,,, then 175,,,, etc, but keep an eye on it. I suspect it would be fine.

[@sdr109]

@@LegacyCollectibles Thanks, I'll give that a try.

[@robavis4906]

Wow thank you. Im going to try this. My mom gave me a peacemaker .22 that is for 1972 she asked me if i wanted it and of course i said yes the holster that it was in has some white mold in some of the crevaces. I was lookin at how to clean it up so i will give this a try. Thank you

[@martinwall7297]

thanks, Tom I have been using diluted bleach or white vinegar and water with a bristle brush for 40 years, never too late to learn something new

[@jwhiskey242]

Works 100%. Its insane!

[@roberttaylor6030]

I have a 1943 p38 holster gonna get this, glad for warning on the smell.

[@tracyjohnson2121]

Thank you Tom! I have several moldy holsters. Saddle soap and conditioner didn't do the job.

[@51WCDodge]

Saddle soap, being Glycerine actually feeds the mould. A solid wax such as clear floor wax, or musuem quality wax such as Renassance Wax is the answer for stored leather. You can also get a stuff called Coachaline, is works but is messy.

[@tracyjohnson2121]

@@51WCDodge I have noticed everything I use saddle soap on molds. Boots, belts and coats. I recently purchased the Renassance wax for my guns. I'll try that today. Gonna look for Coachaline also. Thank you very much!!

[@51WCDodge]

@@tracyjohnson2121 Funnily enougfh Coacaline is also Recoomend for storage of guns' . As long as you don't have to rtake it off. :-)

[@r669charger7]

Does the heat bake the smell into the holster, or does it go away after it cools off?

[@kenibnanak5554]

Great video. Just tried this on my old Glisenti holster. Wow, night and day difference. :)

[@michaelragains4938]

Toe fungus sucks🦶, seriously tho this is a great tip. I have several holster that get stored and I cleaned them every other month, hopefully this tip works and no more fungus.

[@51WCDodge]

The other way, on flammable objects, place in dry plastic bag and deep freeeze for a few days. Invest in a cheap glass bowl halogen fan oven. Small can be set up outdoors and big enough for a holster.

[@qcitizen6738]

EXCELLENT !!! I've just discovered what'll be my affirmative defense to prosecution, after I throw my nagging wife into an industrial stove and crank the dial setting to 'black toast smokin' . ..."Your honor, I loved my wife. But she had a bad case of mold..."

[@sladelerch6686]

Ok. The boss is at work. I’m going to give this a shot!

[@Lonewlf7676]

Would Ballistol be a proper treatment for the leather?

[@TopoPilot]

What if the holster has integrated elastic bands, plastics and other bits attached to it? Can elastic polymers and plastic connectors be subjected to 250º temps?

[@davidabell2020]

Very useful info. Thanks .

[@RogerJG21]

question I left bullets in cowboy holster for a year now bullets have mold how to clean them?

[@chaseholladay3781]

Would the temp and time work for a longer saddle holster made for a rifle?

[@LegacyCollectibles]

As an update - I would use a hair dryer instead. Much safer ! Good luck

[@silverfingerthesilverstack5062]

I was all dripping with anticipation at watching this vid as I have had fun with the leather on my PTRD41 growing fur despite everything I tried, hmm I think I might need to take it to the nearest crematoria to be able to fit it in one.

[@51WCDodge]

Once done, rub a good quality wax over it, not shoe pollish! That has a spirit base and drys the leather. Depending on what you do with the kit, ordinary clear floor wax will work, also good on gun meatl for storage. For quality kit Renaissance Wax is museum quality, expensive but on a hand gun or rifle, it goes a long way, and gives a superb finish.

[@doaknife9161]

If you have sort of an unfinished liner inside of your holster and want to smooth it out what would you use

[@tobysmith8032]

Don't panic, this is just Spew, which is oils and fats in the leather surfacing due to temperature changes and is easily wiped off, just regularly give leather items a wipe down and no harm done! 👍

[@alb5874]

What type of oil/treatment would you recommend after the "cooking " process? If anything?

[@thomaswhiteman4261]

I would use a leather preservative. Often made for car leather interior

[@51WCDodge]

Neatsfoot oil is the standard treatment, boiled up cows feet. However a good quality vegtable oil is cheaper and as effective on vegtable tan leather. Metallic or Chrome tan leather, sometimes called blue leather, has a distinct three layer tan on cut edges, is more difficult as it is designed to be waterproof. It is the inside flesh side of the leather that you should treat. This can change colour or soften leather so use with care. Glycerine saddle soap is another one if the leather is still in reasonable condition. Or and I kid you not, double cream, rubbed in gently. This is often the choice for delicate antique leather. Avoid shoe polish, that has a spirit in and drys leather. For genral outdoor leather. The Nicwax range is ideal.

[@user-zk8tg8ko1u]

Well, I have russian leather holster/cover for hunting shotgun, also moldy. But how can I place it in the oven? 😅 Also, how about stitches? Will they be ok?

[@littlerayofsunshine69]

Omg, speaking of toe fungus, I had a crotch rot fungus once. Used every treatment available for six months and it kept getting worse. Finally started wiping it down with 91% isopropyl alcohol three or four times a day. Within a week, gone!

[@KRN762]

What do you recommend to keep the leather soft? I've got a nice ww2 soviet tokerev holster with all the right wear patterns but is somewhat stiff.

[@bobk1627]

This was a bad idea for me. I wrecked a nice vintage FBI holster. 250 for 15 minutes cooked it to a crisp cookie and cracked the leather.

[@thorkill8246]

I use a comerercial washing machine. It removes it completely. Cleaning old leather with a washing machine makes it clean. When it drys the stink is gone

[@robs9574]

I’m gonna put my feet in the oven. Great tip on the leather ty👍

[@whathappy6052]

Didn’t work for me at all. I used my kitchen oven too. I did one batch at 250 for 15 checked then kept going for another five then did another batch at 265 for 15 and added five minutes and it did not turn out at all

[@Chrisamos412]

Great thx!

[@rotory2002]

I just did it exactly the way you said and it came out looking the same as when it went in :( Still white mold ?? Not your fault but definitely my luck LOL

[@thomaswhiteman4261]

Try using a hair dryer

[@wb9859]

Gunna do this while my wife is upstairs, I would ask her but I am sure it would be a hard no. So better to ask for forgiveness after.

[@gotsig99]

Has anyone tried this on a cookie sheet on an outdoor grill? I have a pretty accurate grill thermometer so I think I’m going to try it on a stunt holster that doesn’t have a lot of value. I’ve seen the comments about using a hair dryer as well, but was curious if anyone tried this outdoors. I won’t put it over direct heat and put it on a higher rack with a smaller sheet or heavy duty foil, otherwise I’m sure I’d either burn it or have it come out with a nice pork chop crosshatch! 😂 And for what it’s worth, after decades of using Hoppe’s No. 9, I use Seal 1 now and I have a much happier significant other, so not looking to backtrack on my hard earned smell considerate status. 😅

[@charlesmckinley29]

Preheat the oven so the holster isn’t in a hot spot while it is coming up to temperature.

[@winstongreenwell2367]

Seems to make the stitching fall apart.

[@wompus_king]

Hey, guys!

[@UrielX1212]

Are you sure it is not just bloom?

[@LegacyCollectibles]

Not sure what you mean "bloom". Do you mean it is not mold? or do you mean that we are only killing the bloom? It remains to be seen whether it comes back in time, but for now it has worked well with no return of mold in 2 months.

[@UrielX1212]

@@LegacyCollectibles Bloom or spew is the term used for the oils and fats in the leather migrating and solidifying on the surface due to humidity/temperature changes. Pretty common in old leather and in Chocolate/Cigars. Also very common for those who deal with the preservation of leather bound books. To test if it is mold, just use a hair dryer gently. If it disappears it is bloom and not mold. Usually happens when someone over conditions leather (i.e. picards bloom). I fear far too many collectors assume it is mold and subject old leather to high levels of heat unnecessarily. Yes the bloom will disappear at the heat you are subjecting it to but it is almost the nuclear option. A low setting on the hairdryer is all you need. That and a rag to wipe off the excess fat. I have also seen a product called spew stabilizer but I have not tried it. Unfortunately it is almost gospel at the Luger Gunboards to think it is mold so fighting that stigma is half the problem. Personally I only saw bloom with holsters I treated with renaissance wax. I fear I used a little too much wax. Not a hard process to remove though.

[@thomaswhiteman4261]

@@UrielX1212 Interesting. You could be right. I will have to look into it more.

[@UrielX1212]

@@thomaswhiteman4261 Please let me know what you find out on your end. Everything I have read and researched is pointing to bloom/spew. Hopefully this can spread and collectors can sleep a little easier.

[@BingGeaux]

Hey Tom, yeh well it needs a disclaimer because it doesn't work for ALL leather holsters. I had two that i cooked for 15 minutes at 212 degrees and one is fine and the other looks like a struck match.

[@thomaswhiteman4261]

Use a hairdryer instead

[@BingGeaux]

@@thomaswhiteman4261 too late for that tip.

[@thomaswhiteman4261]

@@BingGeaux are you outside the United States? Because I was using Fahrenheit

[@BingGeaux]

@@thomaswhiteman4261 nope. I'm deep in south Louisiana using fahrenheit myself. I got reamed pretty good for taking advice on this matter from a video instead of asking my friends who are gun experts. So, thanks for the help, but it didn't work for me. AND the one holster STILL smells like mold.

[@wompus_king]

No metal on my toe... Can microwave foot to remove toe fungus.

[@michaelcapobianco5627]

try vinegar