MOLD TO MAGNIFICENT! HOW TO REMOVE MOLD AND MILDEW FROM A PAIR OF VINTAGE DRESS SHOES

[@my_key]

As an amateur mycologist and mushroom grower I would not recommend the brushing first as in the above method. You have basically contaminated your entire house and brush with the spores of what looks to me like Penicillum sp. It needs water, heat and oxygen to grow. Since it's impractical to take away the heat and oxygen, you're basically obligated to keep the shoes dry. You can basically only kill the spores with bleach, as you did. The mycelium can be killed with either alcohol/spirits, hydrogen peroxide, bleach or iodyne (the latter is probably not recommended on anything but red shoes :) ).

[@tmac3983]

Mate. Help. I’ve got two really expensive shoes which have been ruined by mould. Both are leather. One being part leather part mesh. How do I clean them so they are wearable again. Please let me know!!! 😮

[@my_key]

@@tmac3983 I would take them outside and dip it with something sticky like painters tape to take all the spores off (discard in a rubbish bag you don't take into the house). Then wipe the rest off with a bit of bleach. Then clean with saddle soap to remove the bleach residue. Thereafter, treat as you normally would (see video).

[@jedwards4002]

I certainly would not want those shoes now

[@michaelmoreno9522]

"I don't know everything and I'm just doing the best I can with what I have." That right there is a big part of the reason I subscribe to your channel and love your videos. Not only is your craftsmanship top tier, but your humble attitude and calm demeanor is truly elegant and refreshing. It also, in some ways, makes me want to strive to better myself in similar ways. Thank you Preston.

[@haynerbass]

Can't say I've EVER left an expensive pair of shoes outside. In a bucket.

[@ladyeclectic]

haynerbass More than likely it was done just so he’d have a moldy set of shoes to do this video. From the state of those shoes in the beginning, mission accomplished!!

[@dicksonm1254]

@@ladyeclectic yup , the outsole is unworn

[@wonderwend1]

@@ladyeclectic can he be reported for shoe abuse? 🤣

[@ladyeclectic]

@@wonderwend1 I’d hate to be the one to do it but oof, those poor moldy shoes! 🥺

[@princesaleia0079]

My leather boots got moldy inside my closet lol. Mold is nasty

[@1sistersanguine]

Also need to treat with a phenolic to kill the mould or it will come back. For safety phenolic disinfectant BEFORE brushing.

[@TheRealBizWiz]

*Who complains about such subtle music?* It’s almost therapeutic.

[@steveclark4821]

KZbin complains about recognisable, copyrighted music playing in the background (and takes the video down)... not the subtle overlay music.

[@TheRealBizWiz]

Steve Clark You must have not been paying attention to what he said in the video. 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@Secretcrushonglam]

I would have sprayed the shoes with 70% rubbing alcohol first before doing anything else at all. When you simply brush the mold off, the nasty stuff practically flies everywhere and you breath it in.

[@TraumaER]

Hold your breathe, make a wish, count to three, Come with me, and you'll be, in a worldddd of pure imaginationnnnn!

[@SansAziza]

That's why you brush em outside with a particulate mask on. But vinegar kills mold. Don't alcohol your leathers.

[@wythvivien8929]

@@SansAziza May I know why?

[@illestofdemall13]

@@TraumaER You guys don't seem to know when to use breath and breathe. You both used the wrong one. Breathe is a verb, as in breathe slowly. Breath is a noun, as in hold your breath.

[@bungeedoughnut]

@@illestofdemall13 omg! English is my language! Wonderful certification. Thank you!

[@sjmevans]

I really needed this video. I live in a pretty damp building and I’ve had a couple of pairs go a bit mouldy when they haven’t been worn for a few months. You’re a genius. Thank you.

[@Mason-hs9oz]

Thank you for all the information! You've made me want to be a better looking me and to look at second hand shoes and fixing them up to look better. Thank you!

[@bernhardlist9359]

Dear Preston, I noticed that You don’t like to use water to rinse them but after the mold removel treatment you must rinse them good with water, it will not hurt leather BUT afterwards stuff them with newspaper and let them air dry in a warm area but NO HEATERS OR DRYERS PLEASE since this will eventually harden the leather, give it time and lay them on its side or on something where air gets to all sides of the shoe to slowly dry them. Here in Germany in the wintertime when a shoe has been exposed to salt and mud you must wash them to get that stuff off and saddle soap (no normal soap) will help. After a day or so (don’t rush this step) of slow air drying you can add YOUR treatment and all will be fine. Greetings, Bernhard

[@TheElegantOxford]

Thanks for the information!

[@bernhardlist9359]

The Elegant Oxford One little caveat: I have done it only with good quality welted shoes, I don’t know about glued shoes! Just try it with some old shoes first just to gain confidence, of course this should be done only once a year or so to get them back in shape after winter. In your case the shoe was wet in and out already anyway and the Clorox is much harsher than any water will ever be 😁

[@bernhardlist9359]

The Elegant Oxford Here is a german internet site where they clean/wash the shoes on the inside to get rid of sweat. If you need some translation let me know and I will do my best ([e-mail]) to help you out. Here is the link: www.sattelschuhe.de/schuhe-innen-reinigen.html here is another: www.sattelschuhe.de/schuhe-reinigen.html They use mostly the same products that you use.

[@williamsimscolemanjonesjr2023]

This is a great blessing to help me out to keep my Dress collection clean and dirt free I appreciate you for posting this video be blessed.

[@summe1972]

Citric acid solution. I currently live and work in South Korea, and here there are both bottles of citric acid solution in a spray as well as citric acid tablets that one can purchase to make their own solution. I recently bought some ready made solution myself, primarily just to reuse the dedicated citric acid spray bottle for making my own. Humidity and mold are a huge problem in Korean apartments, and I'd been battling it with diluted bleach spray, but my wife complained about the smell (like you said, the smell is overpowering). I tried the citric acid spray (it's marketed here as a mold killer) and it seems to be fairly effective. I can't recall if citric acid tablets or spray are readily available in the States (I'm assuming that's where you are), but I would highly recommend it for treating mold. The major plus is there is no smell, unlike bleach and vinegar.

[@nicolasmorillo5328]

Thank you, I'll try this

[@MagicznaPanda]

Please, whenever removing mold/mildew, be absolutely sure that you killed it *before* interacting with it in any way. If you wouldn't want to use bleach on the leather, a good solution might be to use the same fungicides that leather tanneries use during the tanning process. TCMTB (2- Thiocyano-methylthiobenzotiazole) and N-OITZ (N-octyl-isothiazolinone) are the most commonly used ones. 2-Phenylphenol and Carboxymethyl cellulose are used as well. And if you want to use vinegear, *do not* mix it with baking soda, as it will neutralize it.

[@AllegroRubato]

Where can i even buy that stuff tho. It's frankly flabbergasting how underwhelming the market offer is for anything to deal with fungus. What product can I have on hand to consistently deal with this problem, without having to go on google deep dives just to find the brand store name of a single thing?

[@northernbohemianrealist]

I'm from Chippewa Falls, WI, former home of Mason Shoes and Chippewa Boots. You are absolutely right on defining 'vintage.' I'll go a step further: Had Allen Edmonds stayed locally-owned, it would be making brand new 'vintage' shoes right now. Today, anything a WalMart customer thinks costs an astronomical amount is vintage.

[@halnywiatr]

1) Saddle soap 2) Hydrogen peroxide 50/50 with water 3) Listerine 50/50 with water Repeat

[@steventrosiek2623]

Thank you very much

[@TJ-gt1zz]

Thanks I'm going to try it out and hope that it works.

[@williamalvarez9563]

@@TJ-gt1zz did it work?

[@TJ-gt1zz]

@@williamalvarez9563 On some of the shoes it worked really well. Others were too far gone.

[@raymccreary6114]

He’s back!!! Yes

[@luisshotgun3371]

You are the best on shoe restoration and you got a good touch with watches, nice casio marlin👌👌

[@LovingAtlanta]

👍Wow.....Those shoes were basically still brand new. So sorry you forgot them outside. I admire your tenacity and dedication to reviving these shoes. I’m pretty sure I would have tossed them in the trash or torched ‘em.

[@anshumanbhattacharya5020]

On train, returning from vacation, i come across your video. Well what do you know, i have encountered this problem. I can now tend to it better. Happy new year to you and your family.

[@patrickwilliams3108]

Many years ago, I watched a program on PBS about one of the last traditional gentleman's gentlemen in the UK. Once a month, if I remember correctly, he soaked his (and probably his employer's) shoes overnight in a solution of household ammonia and water. Afterwards, when dry, he would condition and shine them. This would take care of any mold, fungus, bad smell, or what have you.

[@LovingAtlanta]

👍@3:12 Thanks for mentioning the radio and/or TV in the background. I know I left a comment previously because I thought I was going crazy hearing voices. I guess some people can hear it and some people can’t. I appreciate you replying to my previous comment letting me know I wasn’t going crazy hearing voices. 😂🤗💞🤗

[@angelalane8660]

HEY, PRESTON!!! So great to see you again! I hope you had really great holidays!!! PRESTON! You left your shoes outside? In a bucket!? Tsk tsk tsk...

[@JamesMilliganJr]

Reminds me of what excellent quality Cole Hahn used to produce.

[@TNUni167]

After cleaning with saddle soap or Castile soap, I use a UV bulb that produces Ozone. Sterilizes the surface and the heat helps with odor.

[@TheElegantOxford]

Good Idea 💡

[@joaquin-jacknava2696]

Preston what a great video to start the year. Welcome to 2020,looking forward to new upcoming videos

[@michaelheong166]

Australian Tea Tree Oil is effective against mold and mildew. Smells great too.

[@ajeetbharadwaj1916]

Hey dude plz do a video on installing different shaped new soles to old boots like round toe soles to pointed soles no-one has done it before

[@frankferraro5082]

Pure perfection! Awesome workmanship….

[@adamwasmyname]

That Glossy Shine is So Bright, Nice Job...😎

[@adrianrzamora9293]

I have been in the business 16 years and have never seen a pair with mold... Great job on the results.

[@goldenrayofcentralsun1111]

That’s why they put a small packet of silica in your new shoe box. The silica absorbs the moisture. If not, u can use rice. Functions the same.

[@markvincent5241]

Great to have you back Preston, missed the videos. Had to do some work recently with a pair of Cheaneys which had mould.

[@leftyk1968]

I had a great Christmas thank you i hope you and your family enjoyed it as well

[@saiyajedi]

Me: Ugh, mold. TEO: *casually pops out a dead black widow spider* Me: *keels over* Seriously, though, good on you for not simply setting the things on fire, which is what I probably would have done. *shudders*

[@marycoleman3711]

I would of had a heart attack thank goodness no black widows in minnesta lol

[@annavennemeyer8784]

I can tell you don’t live in San deigo😂 we have so many black widows

[@Sippin777]

Sodium percarbonate is very good on mold and mildew. It’s the primary ingredient in many kinds of cleaners. Oxi Clean is one. It is great on clothes and tennis shoes but never tried to get mold off nice dress shoes. Don’t mix with bleach. Thanks for the video.

[@glennforrest7003]

Just a thought; Try clove oil in water. Will kill mold spores thouroughly. Dilute at 5 drops to 500 mls of water and spray on to saturate mold. Allow to dry then remove mold and treat leather as per. Downside; your shoes will smell like a dentist's office until you treat with restorative agents....

[@TheElegantOxford]

Thanks! I appreciate all the help you can give me

[@ddfann]

Borax is excellent for killing mold. I've just had to clean mold from some Grenson dress shoes and it worked first time with much less effort that you're having to put in.

[@dominick7464]

Borax : European regulations have classified this product "H360: May damage fertility and the unborn child". Have nice shoes for flirting, ok but after ... Nice shoes or babies, you have to choose ... 🤔😉

[@adamhuff3088]

It's often debatable what is vintage, with most items that deal with clothing shoes Etc, 15 years is vintage. I am a reseller and collector of vintage clothing and shoes. So you are right, at least in my book. Great job

[@TheElegantOxford]

Yeah true

[@jerrycooper7]

You are humble and a pro...

[@SpongeHabib]

finally, ive been waiting 3 weeks for this.

[@BarryFromEastenders]

For scuffs and marks on boots I see u sometimes use lightly coloured cream to fill in or cover the scuffs. What colour would you recommend to use on the Thursday Captain boots Natural ?. Thanks Great channel

[@daughterofmosthigh8074]

I'm so impressed!!!! Thank you so much!

[@PimpdaddyMasterE]

My two cents are to use mold and mildew remover to begin with when dealing with any mold. Any other method is a mess and spreads the mold spores around sharing the mess elsewhere, plus you inhale the mold crud as well. I have dealt with mold many times, not on leather dress shoes, but carpet, furniture, backpacks, sports bags, refrigerators, food containers, car floor mats/carpet, closets, windows from a 100year old house and so on and the list goes on. If the mold mildew remover destroys the item, so be it because the mold mildew remover is a last ditch effort anyways. But you might be surprised how well many items survive and turn out really good. And by some of the videos I have seen with shoes being restored there are allot of amazing restoration of them. Look around at old tennis shoes being restored. Crazy to see a pair of 80’s sneakers restored to near new condition.

[@cornbobrimlove7892]

It was so humid last summer that all of my leather molded!........mold is annoying!!!

[@SansAziza]

www.amazon.com/dp/B00DYLR3Q6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_WGkiEbPPSEZZR

[@Ceelle2]

Yikes...but great job and Happy New Year. Mrs. Soto needs to buy you a hairdryer for your next birthday. LOL

[@Juanasoto33]

Ceelle2 No! He needs to buy me a new one Bcuz he’s been using mine lately....🤣😫😒

[@TheLoneDragoon]

I had a pair 1984 Johnston and Merphy wing tip loafers. All of a sudden I went through a growth spurt and wint up a size ans half (sad I know).I went in to my local J&M and one of the head guys of that one store gave me $475 bucks for them. Why I will never know, couldn't have been worth it. The pair I got to replace them only cost 200 and change. I payed $2 for my old ones at a thrift store.

[@moriawheeler5453]

Hi, I’m wondering if your shoes have remained mold free after some time has passed. I have a few vintage shoes that keep getting moldy. I clean them with strong mold cleaning products but the mold keeps coming back. I’m wondering if I’m not doing the best at cleaning or if the vintage shoes are too porous and that why they keep molding. Any feed back would be super appreciated.

[@Manzinger-rd3zj]

I gave you a like as a respect, bro mold and you got them back in action kudos for you I don’t think I could but if I love the shoe at least I learned “ saddle soap and bleach “

[@Schlaegel]

Please give an update on these shoes after a month or two. Did the mold or mildew come back? Did the harsher cleaning damage the leather?

[@rafaelhernandez2729]

Thank you so much for sharing, great shoes, that's the way i like to keep my shoes wow

[@justalittlebitmo]

As a bookbinder, I'm curious if this type of leather really is used in binding books 🤔

[@kstew1984]

I have so many questions...did the mold grow back? Did the shoes smell like Clorox for years? Was that brush ruined from brushing the dried mold? Did the spider regenerate and try to avenge itself!? I need to know!!

[@TheElegantOxford]

Haha so far nothing negative has happened. The shoes look good.

[@docb7585]

Great fun and of special interest to me: in Cornwall (UK) it's generally so damp our shoes can mutate into blue hairy blobs after a few days in a bedroom closet. MANGOLIAN ?! Dare I venture to suggest you mean Mongolian?

[@ReeceRailTV]

Living in Cornwall as well myself I found a similar problem, especially the soles which pick up moisture from outside. My solution was to have a separate cupboard with a dehumidifier tub to keep my shoes in and to rest them with shoe trees in on top/around the hot water tank for a day or so after each wear. Dry and away from mould spores, with regular polishing and storing in boxes with those little silica packets (which you find in packaging) I haven't had a problem since.

[@markp.9707]

Nice video once again Preston!!!

[@yaelagulto9746]

Have you ever had a woven pair of leather shoes? If so, I would love to see a vid on how to shine/maintain that kind of design/leather. 😬

[@yaelagulto9746]

Woven (same as braided in Carmina shoemaker

[@MYHelen143]

you do an amazing job on the shoes that are brought to you

[@jonathonwilliams93]

Hey Preston, I'm really interested in trying to mirror polish my shoes. I'm wondering if you could do a complete video of all the tools and consumables i.e. brushes, cloths, soaps, chemicals, creams, conditioners and polishes that you use to achieve your amazing results! If possible could you do this?

[@enzo.7947]

Happy New Year Preston, many thanks for the video, amazing result. Bravo bravissimo. Ciao fom Italy 👍🔝👏

[@alan.dillon.mortgages]

Great video!. and beautiful shoes!

[@jacirogers9109]

Dude! Leaving good shoes out in the rain! My Mamma would have a fit!😂

[@TraumaER]

*I called it! I followed this guy since he was 10K subs. I predicted 100K. I always find future KZbin legends (probably 10th channel the past 2-3 years LOL this has happened)! Who will I find next??!*

[@TheElegantOxford]

Thanks for the support!

[@preacherman9018]

😄🕷️🕸️It goes to show that black widows show up in the worst high risk places! I found them next to a basement doorknob. Glad I saw it before putting my hand against it. Basketball and lots of juvenile across urban paths. Anyhow, you found one that died while at home in a shoe. There once was an old lady who lived in that shoe who swallowed a fly. I don't know why, but she wasn't so fortunate when she went for the spider. Lol!

[@jebimaya8]

So how donyou identify between leather that cant absorb polish and leather that can absorb polish? New to polishing shoes...hehe

[@yordanzdravkov7661]

Okay, I've had the same problem with my leather football shoes. I've made a major reconstruction of the house and they've been left in the basement for almost a year. I think I did almost what you've done (no mirror shine though, hahah). And I've put them back in the box for the winter. I am now wondering what I'll find when I open the box. Hopefully the nasty stuff won't be back.

[@yordanzdravkov7661]

Oh, thanks for asking - they are actually perfect. I opened the box in June, no smell, no nasty mold. So the outcome was good

[@marvindharajsuparamaniam2984]

Didn’t clorox or tiles cleaner bleach or at least stain your leather shoes? Im afraid to use them on my calf suede loafers. Any suggestions?

[@krazmokramer]

Did the bleach get rid of the mold/mildew odor? And did the bleach residue inside the shoes, or any that soaked into the leather, bleach your socks whenever you wore those shoes? I recently purchased a VINTAGE pair of Vasque (by Red Wing) hiking boots made in 1976 (date code inside the boots.) These are roughout leather outside, and smooth leather lined (100%) inside. They had been very lightly worn, but must have gotten wet at some time. No visible mold inside or outside, but a very strong mold/mildew odor. I don't detect any typical foot odor in them. Any suggestions for getting rid of the odor? I shampooed the outside with a mild suede shampoo, and wiped the inside with a very strong dental office surface disinfectant. They are clean, but still stink. THANKS for any help!!

[@bL3dbL4k]

For people watching this video, never use Clorox bleach on leather shoes. Can definitely ruin them. And never leave any cleaners or products on your shoes. Even though you might not see it. That residue, overtime.. Will destroy your shoes.

[@dmejia706]

Great work!!!... I personally love the formatting on your video and good luck with remedying the microphone issue.

[@WH6FQE]

Clorox Cleanup is what I just used on a pair of AE that I received today that were in the same shape with the mold all over the inside.

[@mr.r9390]

Nice seiko I have a seiko 175skx

[@aaron_333]

The puff of mold spores at 4:49 really freaks me out!

[@splott8]

Mold killing compounds compiled from the comments: TCMTB N-OITZ Vinegar 50% Hydrogen Peroxide 70% rubbing alcohol Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) Clorox Oxi clean Borax Ultraviolet light (Sunlight) Clove oil Bleach Tea tree oil Concrobium mold solution Exposure time would vary between these. How porous are the shoes, etc. Which ones could potentially damage the shoes or your health?

[@dutchwilson8642]

Very fun to watch thank you

[@Mas_Tun]

When Cole Haan's shoes actually were worth saving

[@benedictvoon812]

Just watched another KZbinr from Trenton & Heath (They are professional shoe repairer/restorer. This vlog is about their 10 Brands of Men's shoes we should avoid it. Goto kzbin.info/www/bejne/jGO9ZWqYaJuamtU

[@MsMiniDope]

Your videos are so relaxing

[@individual1977]

White Vinegar and water works well for leather.

[@pawanswami427]

U make really best videos... the 👍

[@macdonagh313]

Concrobium Mold Control solution would have been a way better choice than bleach. It is more effective and very mild. I would aso think the bleach shoud have been rinsed off or at least diluted and wiped with a wet cloth. Seems like the chlorine could reactivate with heat and sweat...but I'm no chemist. Very nice work on the shoes, as always.

[@michellemcknight4185]

Why do I get the feeling these shoes were left in the bucket purposely just so this video could be made! You don't strike me as the type that would treat shoes this way!

[@KATHYMEADful]

Who cares we got to watch a video either way

[@toninobaroni1572]

Frank Whittle .... no, it DOES matter... INTEGRITY is something that can be LOST and hard to REGAIN!!!

[@TheElegantOxford]

Trust me it wasn’t on purpose. I have a large bucket of shoes in my backyard for projects, experiments, and such. I placed the Cole Haans in there with the intention of getting them out but then Christmas and New Years hit and I didn’t work for 2 weeks. It was a fortunate accident though

[@erictingsee]

A sole for a sole.. guess that answers the dead black widow spider.

[@michaelalbert9299]

I have a pair of black all leather shoes which became mouldy in the box. I cleaned the mould off and keep them out off the box but somehow the mould keeps coming back within a couple of days, but only on the soles and heels. How can I eradicate this permanently?

[@christhomas953]

You might want to use Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) painters use it to kill mold before painting in damp spaces. Just be sure to remove most of the residue left behind. Because it might cause irritation when mixed with sweat.

[@binder946]

Yes it has happened to my leather jacket.

[@timmylangenberg]

Dude how do you get them to shine like that?

[@BassFishing81]

Diluted lemon juice (with water) will also kill the mold.

[@Alien3681]

Great video! What would you recommend for cleaning/maintaining a Hermès Apple Watch Leather Band? Thanks!

[@davidchavez4594]

Thanks so much I safe one of my pair of shoes thanks again

[@Liberation71to24]

Spirit/isopropyl alcohol does a great job.

[@heybigsplendour]

Your video was really helpful but I just draw the line at mould, I just can't deal with it lol I threw out my suede heels that I wore literally twice because I found out they grew mould and recently just found a couple of pairs of Mum's shoes which have also become mouldy.

[@endryudzhenn4398]

My DMs 1460 boots always getting white mold even though they're stored inside my closet. I only wear them if there's an occassion. Anyway is that normal for leather shoes?

[@limitrish9138]

is that crazy horze man? if yes, we have the some problem, have you found the solution? i'll try vinegar / isopropyl alcohol first

[@VJKBorahae]

As always awesome 😎

[@mohammadsamiur4916]

Owaoo. Awesome 👍

[@TGunn1986]

A mixture of distilled vinegar and tea tree oil for mold

[@magnoliamike]

I just bought a pair of shoes from eBay, used, they are in decent condition but I still want to clean the inside of them, what should I use?

[@Paul-044]

To me vintage is 20 yrs old or older. Great video and content

[@MNpicker]

😬😳 Great Job Preston👍🏼

[@LeavesAbove]

In this scenario, acetone would have been a good idea

[@alisafoster6238]

Umm..I'm trying to do this with toys. Knowing what I do of mold, the mycelium lives in the leather (or plastic) and nothing will truly kill all the mold. When mycelium is within the materials, nothing will keep the smell from returning. Moldy things will infect your other things. It's just too sad. Currently soaking toys in bleach, washing then coating them with Concrobium mold inhibitor. For delicate fabrics I soak (separately not near bleach!) in 50/50 ammonia and water. If that fails...I huck it out, no matter how much it hurts. I'm still distraught about my record collection.

[@angelalane8660]

Yakity Yak! Don't talk back! 😂

[@martinzhao7193]

like all of my other comments blow your video, all I wanna say is: you are a fucking genius.

[@mikeresurreccion1162]

Magical!

[@nickbowden4164]

Amazing