How Do You Clean Mold Off of Horse Tack?

Mold can quickly ruin an equestrian’s financial investment and hurt their horse. By keeping your tack clean and in good condition, equestrians can prevent this from occurring.

Once outside, or in an area with ample ventilation, take the tack that needs cleaning outside to begin its cleanup process. This will prevent mold spores from spreading across other items in your tack room and further increasing health risks.

Use a dampened rag

At times, mold may form on horse tack when moisture meets food sources such as organic material or leather, leading to the development of an unsightly fungus which not only looks bad but can damage it as well. To address this problem quickly and safely, first use a damp rag to wipe away visible mold from surfaces of saddle or bridle saddle or bridles in well-ventilated area before throwing away or bleaching rag – this will prevent its spores from being redistributed onto other surfaces which further pollutes the horse tack.

Next, use a pH-balanced leather cleaner to scrub away mold from your tack. Solutions like vinegar or alcohol could harm leather fibers while leaving behind residue which promotes further mold growth. Once clean, it would be wise to apply a conditioning balsam – this will keep the leather soft while repelling moisture which could further lead to further mold growth.

After using a cleaning solution and thoroughly scrubbing the tack, it’s crucial that it dries thoroughly in direct sunlight. UV rays from the sun’s UV rays can help dry leather while killing off any remaining mold spores that remain. Once completely dry, inspecting it to make sure all mold has been eliminated is essential for long-term success.

If there are stains on your tack, you can attempt to remove them with a white eraser – but be wary not to damage the leather with too much pressure or force. A toothbrush may be more suitable in reaching hard-to-reach spots of your tack. For help in removing stain, reach out to your local tack store as they will recommend the appropriate product and how much of it to use; typically a small amount should do just the trick!

Use a toothbrush

Mold and mildew can wreak havoc on leather products over time, degrading its quality. To protect both your financial investment as well as to keep yourself and your horse safe, taking additional steps to remove these pesky spores is key in keeping tack in good shape – however with just a little effort you can restore and keep looking new for years!

At first, when cleaning mold off of your tack it is best to first remove visible spores with a rag or sponge, using disposable cloth rags so as to not spread them further around. You should also ensure you aren’t breathing them in while cleaning. Next step in cleaning mold off is scrubbbing affected area using pH balanced leather cleaner and clean sponge. Be mindful not to oversaturate leather as this could cause it to split or crack over time; for deeper clean use a toothbrush instead!

Once you have removed as much mold as possible from your tack, allow it to air-dry completely in direct sunlight for several hours in order to kill any remaining spores. A dehumidifier in your tack room can also help reduce humidity levels in order to inhibit mold growth and mildew formation.

Using moldy tack is risky business. Treating this kind of infection, especially on older pieces, is difficult and could prove potentially hazardous for your horse’s welfare. Therefore it is imperative that proactive maintenance and cleaning efforts take place regularly, inspecting for signs of damage or fungi to detect early and treat as quickly as possible if needed with quality leather cleaner. Alternatively, conditioners with antifungal properties might provide another effective solution in keeping tack looking great while simultaneously protecting it from further infections in future use.

Apply a leather cleaner

Mold quickly forms when moisture, mild temperatures and food sources – in this instance leather – combine. However, mold is treatable if caught early and prevented from spreading by taking regular cleaning and preventative care steps.

If you find a small patch of mold, use a clean rag to scrub off and discard. For larger areas of mold growth, however, you may require using a toothbrush in order to access hard-to-reach crevices.

Once your surface of tack has been thoroughly cleaned, it’s crucial that it dries completely so as to avoid further deterioration. Placing it in direct sunlight allows water to evaporate away while killing and disinfecting any remaining spores. As part of this process, any sponges, buckets or rags used to remove mold should also be thrown away – it is best done outside to avoid reintroducing its spores into your tack room or barn where they will quickly multiply again.

After drying and scrubbing, it’s also crucial to use Lexol Leather Cleaner on any affected area to eliminate mold and mildew odor while simultaneously protecting leather from further damage. Avoid vinegar, alcohol or bleach products which will kill mold spores but deteriorate leather fibers – these may only further deteriorate them!

Once using leather cleaner, allow your tack to air dry in direct sunlight again for several days to kill any remaining spores and ensure it dries completely before use. When dry, Lexol Leather Conditioner offers excellent oils to soften and suppleness your leather, repel water that promotes mold growth, and provide further protection from future damage to ensure lasting quality results.

Mold and mildew can be extremely destructive to tack, leading to it to deteriorate, split, crack or tear over time. Furthermore, their spores may penetrate stitching entirely and ruin an expensive piece of equipment. To combat this damage effectively and preserve it for the future, ensure your tack is frequently cleaned in an airy dry location while being stored away properly so it stays protected for many years to come.

Let it dry

Moldy tack can pose serious issues for both horse and rider. Not only can it deteriorate your financial investment, but also compromise both comfort and safety. Therefore, it’s crucial that tack is treated as an investment, cleaned regularly, stored safely, and stored appropriately in order to preserve its condition and extend its useful life. Mold Off (r) provides effective mold removal which retards new growth while stopping it spreading across other pieces in the tack room.

Leather can never be 100 percent waterproof; even the best-treated tack absorbs sweat during riding and washing, which attracts mold spores that could grow on its surface. To reduce mold growth on leather tack, use pH-balanced soaps with sponges after every ride before storing in your tack room to wipe down equipment with pH neutral soaps before placing back in storage – it is also wise to allow leather time to dry before storing in your tack room for additional growth prevention.

While vinegar might kill some mold spores, it can damage leather fibers and permanently disfigure tack. A safer and biodegradable solution like Mold Off can remove existing mold as well as help inhibit further growth.

As part of your storage plans, it is also crucial that your tack be stored in an environment with adequate ventilation and dry conditions. Mold spores thrive in humid conditions and can quickly spread between pieces by simply touching. A dehumidifier in your tack room can help lower humidity levels and effectively eliminate mold spores from spreading further.

Finally, when cleaning your tack it’s best to take it outdoors or at least into an air-conditioned space with good ventilation. This will prevent inhaling mold spores that could potentially spread to other tack and become contaminated. Furthermore, disposable rags should be used – rather than spending your money on towels which could carry mold spores from one piece of equipment to the next.