Mold On Leather: Causes And Prevention

For people who love their motorcycle leather jackets, mold is one of those things that always poses a menace to one’s precious apparel. Mold is made up of tiny fungal spores that take root on surfaces that are exposed to humidity and dampness. When they do, they can damage your leather jacket as well as give it a terrible odor. Stains from mold are difficult to remove and depending on the extent of the damage, you may end up not wearing your expensive leather jacket again.

The good news is that if you understand how mold settles and grows on your leather jacket, you can get really good at preventing it from taking root. In this article, we explain to you the causes of mold on leather and how you can prevent it.

Causes

Mold likes to grow on moist surfaces and so you are likely to have a mold problem when you do not dry your leather jacket properly. Leather is highly porous, and this means that tiny droplets of moisture (water or sweat) are likely to make their way through the fabric. This moisture, if not taken care of, can attract mold which then grows and multiplies on the surface of your leather jacket. The problem is further compounded if the leather jacket is not stored properly. For example, putting a damp leather jacket in warm storage space will likely attract mold. This can happen especially in rainy or wintery conditions when our leather jackets get wet. Mold can also develop on leather jackets that are left for a long time in storage.

When we wear our leather jackets and go out, the sun, as well as our body oils, combine to keep mold from our leather jackets. If they are stored for a long time without being worn, there is a risk that they will develop mold.

Preventing Mold

It is clear from the above that mold infestation is largely caused by the way we maintain and store our leather jackets. By making some changes, we can protect our precious leather jackets from harm.

Clean and Dry Leather Jackets

If your leather jackets are exposed to dampness or dirt, clean them with a damp cloth and ensure that they are completely dry before storing them. You can easily clean leather attire by wiping with a commercial leather cleaner.

Condition Leather Jackets

When you apply a layer of leather conditioner on your leather jacket, you seal the pores on the jacket thus preventing moisture and mold spores from taking root on the surface of your leather jacket. Some conditioners can also kill mold spores thus making it unlikely the this will ever be a serious problem.

Proper Storage

If you have cleaned, dried, and conditioned your leather jackets, the next step is to ensure that you are storing them properly. Always store your leather jackets in a cool and airy space. This is not conducive to the growth of mold spores and thus your leather jackets are likely to stay mold-free.