Help! - Mouldy Gloves!!!

[Diesel]

With the torrential downpour that the SEQldrs rode home from the charity run to Grantham in, my gloves have succummed to a layer of mould growing on the damp leather.

What to do?

I don't have a tumble dryer, and it rained a lot of the rest of the day here, so there was no hanging them up in the sunlight.

Any suggestions to stop it costing me $150 for a ride in the rain?

Cheers, Diesel

[West Aussie Glen]

Hair Dryer?

[Dan]

Hmm, I've never done anything other than let them dry at room temperature, so far no mould problems.  Coming from the UK I've experienced one or two wet rides!

You could always buy cheaper gloves!    

[saaz]

Is it really mould, or a layer of salt coming from the leather?  I use leather conditioner of some sort and let the gloves dry at room temperature to get them to last, but eventually they dry out and crack.

[alans1100]

Being leather, Heather gives mine a go over with shoe polish sometimes. If mine get wet in winter I put them in front of fire (if it's going) or in front of fan heater.

[Diesel]

I've heard that wiping them down with eucalyptus oil to kill mould and Dubbin to restore? Yes?

[saaz]

Dubin to restore, the black one if you don't have fancy colours.  What is around to do horse gear really.  Never had mould so don't know about eucalyptus oil.

[Down Under]

A coat of Sno Seal, followed by a hit with the hair dryer to help the leather absorb it.  Let it dry out completely at room temp.  Best leather conditioner going IMHO.

http://www.atsko.com/index.php?option=com_tienda&view=products&task=view&id=2&filter_category=37&Itemid=114

Inside the gloves, for mould or smells I"ll sprinkle a generous amount of bi-carb and shake it around, or a good spray with Glen 20.  If they smell really bad put them in a sealable plastic bag and throw them into the freezer for a couple of days.  The low temps will kill the bacteria that cause the bad odours.     

[terrydj]

No idea about getting rid of mould, but I suppose you can give em a spray with that stuff you use on shower screens and bathrooms.
Now I only use stuff that works. Been through a few of those so called waterproof Motorcycle gloves and irrelevant of price their just junk, except for
The BMW Pro Winter ones. So good I brought a pair and I'm no millionaire, but they cost a couple of hundred and their bloody perfect. Rode home in a Thunderstorm for 2 days and not a wet spot in the gloves
But for years and years, used to put over my normal everyday gloves a pair of them long chemical gloves you get from the safety shops or you steal from work. Just remember to take your gloves with you when you got to get em, so you can try on the gloves when you have your bike gloves on

[bobSTer]

 

Kev is right!
Must dry normally at room temperaure prio to application of anything.
Repeat - MUST dry normally / naturally - prior to any treatment otherwise the mould is ingrained into the product and there for ever.
Dubbin or Sno seal are the best - Dubbin for me

Bob

[Tipsy]

  py

Once they are dry you can use "Lanomax"
Made here in Brisbane ...it is just wd40 and such but it made with Sheepskin grease, ie.... Lanolin

Good for vynal / leather /skin / corrosion  protection /water proofing / timber treatment / and lubricant
Any decent parts store should have it.

Tipsy

[Nh478m]

FWIW. I found that too liberal a use of dubbin tends to destroy the stitching - the leather bits are lovely but they don't stay together!

Since losing a good pair that fell apart after a while I now only treat central parts of leather patches away from stitch lines and let it seep out through the leather. Dubbin is brill though.

[Mitch]

 Post them over to the sunny West, and I'll dry them out for you. 
 I'll give them back to you at Blackheath, I need a good set of gloves for the ride over   
                           

[Shiney]

A coat of Sno Seal, followed by a hit with the hair dryer to help the leather absorb it.  Let it dry out completely at room temp.  Best leather conditioner going IMHO.

http://www.atsko.com/index.php?option=com_tienda&view=products&task=view&id=2&filter_category=37&Itemid=114

Inside the gloves, for mould or smells I"ll sprinkle a generous amount of bi-carb and shake it around, or a good spray with Glen 20.  If they smell really bad put them in a sealable plastic bag and throw them into the freezer for a couple of days.  The low temps will kill the bacteria that cause the bad odours.   

Mate thanks for the advice for getting rid of smells
I'll have to give it a go on my old smelly gloves

Cheers
Shiney

[Couch]

We don't get much rain down here ol'mate......so wouldn't have a bloody clue!

[Aj1300]

Diesel, try this.
2 to spoons of baby oil,and 1/4 teaspoon of oil of cloves( get this from the chemist) stir well and put a clean cloth on top and warm in the microwave , not hot let it cool then wipe the cloth over the leather, leave for 24hrs. The mould should be gone. This is out of the book complete spotless .
It is a lot of work but it works if you have good quality gloves it's worth the effort.
Cheers Aj

[rendog]

Bad news sunshine 
All chemicals only strip the colour from the mould and inhibit it's growth.
Acetic acid (vinegar) will attack mould and inhibit it's growth.
Clove oil is the only thing that will actually kill mould.
But mould is a spore and once it gets into a porous material, which leather is, you will not get rid of the tiny spores.

Burn those gloves :( before you end up with fungal disease in your nails or skin 

[Diesel]

Well - a bit of an update......

On closer inspection.... it was SALT from the leather brought to the surface - thanks saaz you flamin oracle.     

I mixed a little eucalyptus oil in water, and smeared it over the gloves - cured! Then I hit them with some of Mrs Diesel's leather conditioner and let them air dry - voila - all good!     

Some pretty good advice here to store - thanks to all.   

Cheers, Diesel

[saaz]

I have lost a few gloves to the same condition over the years.  You can extend their life but unfortunately they will crack up in a few years.  I have moved to using offroad textile gloves for hot weather as they breathe better.