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Moldy rain gear

Dogma

Dogma

Forum Sage
Once again my search-fu has failed. Any suggestions for moldy gear, other than replacing it?

It looks as though I stashed my rain jacket in the saddle bag while wet and forgot to take everything out later to dry out. So now, all my rain and cold weather gear is moldy. The worst was the leather palms on my cold weather gloves. They're completely covered in what looks like a gray/white dust. I didn't stick my hands inside to see what it was like in there. Other pieces, like a balaclava, have the more traditional mold colors. The rain jacket and pants themselves don't seem able to host the stuff nearly as well, but still show some signs.

A bit of Googling turns up the expected use of bleach to kill the stuff, but I'm not sure things like thinsulate and gore-tex will survive.
 
Dogma said:
A bit of Googling turns up the expected use of bleach to kill the stuff, but I'm not sure things like thinsulate and gore-tex will survive.
Click to expand...

Bleach is unnecessary and overkill. Good warm soapy water will take care of most of it, but membranes like gore-tex might hold mold spores. The synthetic fibers will probably be OK, but the natural fibers/leather will be tougher to clean. Use a washing machine where you can.

I suspect a lot of people suggest bleach is because it'll deodorize, but that's all it'll gain you.
 
OK, so I can run the simpler pieces through the machine. Good to know.

The balaclava I might replace just to be sure I don't try breathing through moldy fabric. They're cheap enough.

I did a little more searching on the gore-tex. Mold can get into it and decrease the water repellant properties. Ruin it, in other words, cleaned or not.
 
Dogma said:
I did a little more searching on the gore-tex. Mold can get into it and decrease the water repellent properties. Ruin it, in other words, cleaned or not.
Click to expand...

The problem is that the pores are one way. You want the outside surface to be water proof, but the inside to breath. The spores will plug the inside pores meaning it'll be more like a rain slick...hot and humid. And guess what kind of environment mold likes?

I feel your pain too...good Goretex gear isnt cheap.
 
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