How to remove mold/musty smell?

[DeWayne Hayes]

Though I make my own holsters, I recently grabbed a nice Ted Blocker duty holster off eBay - these sell for about $260 new; I got this one for $24!  After I re-did the edge painting and used some Fiebing's Atom balm/wax on it, the holster could pass for new. 

Unfortunately, it was definitely used by a policeman, and it has a musty smell that I'm guessing is patrol car. Almost like a musty gym locker, or a musty old book. The smell actually clings to the gun too. 

I tried "bathing" the holster overnight in cedar shavings and that helped some. But the cedar smells wears off fairly quickly, leaving the musty smell. 

Does anyone have any tips for actually exorcising the holster of this squad car funk? I'm especially sensitive to off smells, so it's a bit of a buzz kill. 

Thanks,

DeWayne

 

 

[Ole South]

A couple of things to try:

1. "Dust" the inside (maybe the back) liberally with 20 Mule Team Borax laundry powder and let sit for a day or two.

2. Suspend holster flat a few inches above a wide flat container (approx. the size of of the holster. DO NOT WET the holster) with about 1/4-1/2 inch of vinegar and cover with a plastic bucket for a day to a week. Check after a few hours to insure the finish(black dye area) isn't being affected.

Borax is a "dry" deodorizer that has worked for me on moldy smells and about the only thing I've found that will truly neutralize dog and to a lessor extent cat urine(takes longer) from carpet and upholstery. (sprinkle thin layer over carpet area spotted, and mist lightly with water, then vacuum up about 2-3 days later, repeat until odor is gone). I've never had issue with it affecting pile or color.

Vinegar (vapor?) is especially effective removing cigarette/cigar smoke from upholstery. The vinegar will draw many unwanted odors out. I've tried it with black mold and it removes the smell until the mold "blossoms" again but it doesn't kill badly infected leather.    For furniture, fill a cereal bowl size container or two, half full of vinegar, then bag and tie opening shut(works best) or drape the item in plastic sheeting, tape closed as well as you can, and leave it for a couple of weeks or until the smell is no longer noticeable. (*Note: you may want to change out old vinegar with fresh every 2-4 days. If you choose to spray/mist leather, do so with caution!  It will stiffen, darken, and brittle veg tan, even cut 50/50 with distilled water.)

Edited 29 minutes ago by Ole South
clarification