Instructions
Clean moldy or mildewed leather outside of your tack room to prevent the spread of spores during cleaning. Always throw away any toothbrushes or rags used for cleaning. Rinsing and reusing will promote the spread of mold and mildew.
Use pH neutral products when cleaning mold and mildew from leather supplies. While many people use vinegar, bleach or alcohol to kill fungus, these products can permanently damage your leather tack supplies. Use pH neutral products for conditioning your leather tack as well, instead of saddle soap which contains glycerine and can actually promote the growth of mold and mildew. These pH neutral products can be used to clean blankets and other supplies and surfaces in your tack room as well.
Dry leather, blankets and other tack supplies in the sun after cleaning. The UV rays help to kill mold and mildew. Make sure that all of the liquid has evaporated completely before returning supplies to your tack room.
Clean surfaces inside of your tack room with either pH neutral solutions or diluted household bleach. Wipe down the inside of buckets, storage bins, closets and walls often, allowing thorough drying before returning supplies to their proper place. If necessary, use a portable space heater to help drying, as mold and mildew grow quickly in moist environments.
Install a permanent dehumidifier in your tack room once you have successfully eliminated all mold and mildew. It is also a good idea to hang a few bags of desiccant in your tack room, replacing them periodically to keep your supplies dry.
Keep your tack room mold and mildew free by allowing headstalls, blankets and saddles to dry thoroughly in the sun after use. Make sure that all of the moisture built up due to your horse's sweating has dried before returning your supplies to the tack room.
How to Stop Mold and Mildew in a Tack Room
Mold and mildew may be one of the most frustrating problems in caring for your leather tack supplies. Once the spores of mold and mildew contaminate leather, it is almost impossible to destroy them without destroying the leather in the process. Inhibiting the growth of mold and mildew in your tack room takes careful care and the right products, but with a few steps you can keep your leather tack supplies free of these destructive spores.