MOLD MOLD MOLD,,,,, Mold on my freaken gear!!!!

Tajue17 · #1 08-18-2011, 12:38 PM

well being a new home owner I guess I'm learning as I go and the other day I go down in to my storage room in my cellar to see whats what and find I have that whiteish mold growing on the sides of my cab and traces of it on the surface of my shock case where the head is,, my leahter bass straps are covered and honestly I havent even got the balls up to open the bass cases

I am buying a dehumidifier today but is there anything that the mold can screw up? someone said clean everything with bleach and water but bleach can't be cool for the cabs or inside the bass case right? I was wondering if Mold got on the tubes in my 400+ or my ampeg classic and dried there or whatever could that mess something up down the rd.. or is it cool to just run the dehumidifier
and move on as if nothing happened.

**mikeddd** · #2 08-18-2011, 12:42 PM

How long has your gear been down there? Mold doesn't grow overnight. Don't leave the mold on anything. Get it off your gear. If you can't use bleach, at least use soapy water and a sponge.

90k · #3 08-18-2011, 12:45 PM

I bought a bass years ago that had this issue. for me it was a matter of a little bleach mixed with water, then some fabreez.
In your case I would work outside in the open air and a wear a mask. Wash everything down with bleach mixture. the reaction with the the bleach makes for an airborn toxin. mold is easy to kill if it is exposed to sunlight. good luck I think you will be fine.

Tigger Bangdang · #4 08-18-2011, 12:47 PM

no bleach! Just mild detergent (dishwashing liquid) will suffice. Bleach is a no-no

Tigger Bangdang · #5 08-18-2011, 12:48 PM

and cover everything with a good layer of soduim bicarb (baking soda) and set out in the sun for a few days to kill the smell.

essentre · #6 08-18-2011, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tigger Bangdang

no bleach! Just mild detergent (dishwashing liquid) will suffice. Bleach is a no-no

Yea, I heard bleach on mold is the biggest misconception there is.

bongomania · #7 08-18-2011, 12:57 PM

Hardly! Bleach is a very effective mold-killer. The only reason not to use it is that some musical gear/materials can be harmed by bleach. Use with caution, but do use.

**mikeddd** · #8 08-18-2011, 12:58 PM

Bleach is THE THING to use to kill mold. If the surface will tolerate it spray straight bleach right on the mold and scrub.

bongomania · #9 08-18-2011, 01:00 PM

I should clarify that bleach is also toxic to people and pets--but then so is every other effective mold-killer.

Soapy water is a joke. You may be able to wipe off surface mold from some items with just soapy water, but any remaining mold under the surface or in crevices will continue to grow like crazy

lowendgenerator · #10 08-18-2011, 01:03 PM

This sounds like a possible case for an insurance claim.

runmikeyrun · #11 08-18-2011, 01:25 PM

While bleach is the best solution for killing the mold, I wouldn't risk it discoloring things or removing the finish on my bass. For things like tolex and rack cases it's fine. I definitely wouldn't use it inside the amp, on the face plate, or on grill cloth.

I had mold (green) on my speaker cabs from practicing in a dank basement. I used liberal amounts of Green Works household cleaners. No stains, no bleaching, no bad smell, and the mold never came back. You could probably also use stuff like Simple Green or Fantastik. I sprayed it on liberally, scrubbed it with a plastic bristled brush, let it sit, and wiped it off.

Damp basements suck. IDK if a dehumidifier will be enough. If it's that damp down there to grow mold it can also be internally corroding components in your amp, corroding your speaker's voice coils, weakening the paper cones, and warping your bass's neck. I would get everything out of that basement and keep it out.

BurningSkies · #12 08-18-2011, 01:32 PM

Don't leave any gear in damp conditions.

Moisture is what kills gear, not temperatures. If you think its bad for your amp and cabs, its way worse on wood, especially 'precision cut/fit' wood...like the neck of your basses.

Russell L · #13 08-18-2011, 01:32 PM

Careful not to use anything with ammonia while you are using bleach. The two make a toxic fume.

beans-on-toast · #14 08-18-2011, 01:50 PM

The best stuff that I've found to kill mold on equipment is gritty solution of Borax and water. It kills the mold and the scrubbing removes it.

Probably what your great great grandmother used. Since you are around, it shows that it isn't toxic.

I get it from the grocery store.

BurningSkies · #15 08-18-2011, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beans-on-toast

The best stuff that I've found to kill mold on equipment is gritty solution of Borax and water. It kills the mold and the scrubbing removes it.

Probably what your great great grandmother used. Since you are around, it shows that it isn't toxic.

I get it from the grocery store.

Back before the FDA existed Borax was added to things like sausage. Ick.

grendle · #16 08-18-2011, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tigger Bangdang

no bleach! Just mild detergent (dishwashing liquid) will suffice. Bleach is a no-no

+1

lowendgenerator · #17 08-18-2011, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

Back before the FDA existed Borax was added to things like sausage. Ick.

...that's why people live to be 110. People used to be able to survive on potatoes and sawdust back in the day. Now we convulse when Starbucks doesn't get our Double Dirty Chai right.

Muahaha.

/wild tangent

Frankjohnson · #18 08-18-2011, 02:01 PM

If you use bleach, dillute it 10:1 - maybe a cupfull in a bucket of (half a gal or so) water or so - it will be string enough to kill what grows.

Use detergent (mr. clean, ajax, top job - etc) with a cloth dampened and clean - scrub - abrade the substrate to remove the growth/issue. Buy a hygrometer (maybe $20 - walmart) - use with your dehumidifier in the basement - maintain relative humidity below 50 % to reduce potential of a recurrence. you cannot ventilate AND dehumidify. You may wish to flush the air by using fans and opening windows on a nice day, but close everything up - and run your dehumidifier 24/7 doors and windows closed to allow the remaining mold structure to desiccate.

the musty odor is hard to get out - many ways to try - but it may be there for a while. CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN

Don't saturate - water is the enemy.

NEVER use Straight bleach - BTW - if you have handled bleach without gloves - that slippery feeling is the oils and breakdown from your skin - not the bleach.

Ensure that your dehumidifier is drained daily, or drains/pumps into a sink/appropriate drain.

Do you have active water leaks? Or is it just a damp/humid basement?

Tigger Bangdang · #19 08-18-2011, 02:03 PM

White mold is not invasive and as tough to kill as black,yellow, or red mold. Soapy Water is fine if it just on the surface. Even remediation services don't use bleach, it is too overkill. They use an enzyme based neutralizer to treat the root of the problem.

Frankjohnson · #20 08-18-2011, 02:14 PM

Mold is not speciated by color -
Many molds are black at various stages of growth -

Stachybotrys, Aspergillus, and other molds over sensationalized as "Black Mold" are caused by excess moisture (humidity and or water) and are typically cleaned the same (generally).

Not going to get into a Pee-Pee measuring contest - just trying to give solid advice

there are MANY products out there, that can be had by homeowners - without going to extremes. Even vinegar is good - enough acid to kill the growth.

Hope the info helps -

now go dehumidify - and read about cleaning - do what makes sense after you research.

Avoid "Miracle cures" and websites about TOXIC MOLD - just look for the facts. A good epa site may be helpful - www.epa.gov/iaq/molds