Lacing with a mildew smell, can I rescue?

[IngridG]

Bought some lacing from China and it comes with a strong mold/mildew odor, it looks fine though otherwise. Is there anything I can do to get rid of the smell and rescue this stuff? I don't even know if it is a chemical or a natural smell, I only know I must get rid of it before use. I am currently trying borax powder and setting it out in the sun (we have plenty here). It seems persistent though. By the way I don't recommend buying it from there as I got the same thing from multiple sellers. I am learning and wanted something cheap to practice with. I am not wanting to handle this the way it is though.

[LatigoAmigo]

26 minutes ago, IngridG said:

Is there anything I can do to get rid of the smell and rescue this stuff?

I always clean the lace with saddle soap before I use it. Then let it thoroughly dry. I usually follow up with some beeswax/oil conditioner. It should help, but no guarantee, as it depends on the leather used to make the lace.

[IngridG]

Thanks, I'll try it.

I think the listing called it nappa lacing which is an unlikely term but like I said, China. Some kind of leather, probably ;-).

[mikesc]

A few of drops of Tea Tree Oil ( mould inhibitor ) on a cotton cloth..wipe the lacing down with the oiled part..if you can't get Tea Tree Oil, Eucalyptus Oil will also work.But the smell of it is more noticeable, that may be a good or a bad thing..

Btw..avoid sniffing mouldy things, a large part of the "smell" is mould spores, you can get some very unpleasant ( and sometimes fatal, ) diseases / infections from simple moulds..even the ones that can grow in your bathroom, the black ones on the grouting in between the tiles.. walls in humid places etc..mould spores will quite happily grow in your lungs, and other areas of your body, as will ( do ) various fungi, yeasts etc..not all are benign or symbiotic to us..some are pure "parasitic" , if moulds can / should ( seems taxonomically inaccurate ) be described as parasitic.

Edited September 11, 2019 by mikesc

[IngridG]

Yeah I was a little worried about that as I recently tested allergic to mold but I am just that much of a cheapskate. Might make a funny tombstone, "just couldn't stand to throw away potentially useful craft supplies" ;-).

[mikesc]

You be in grand company..Spike's Tombstone reads.." I told you I was ill" in Gaeilge :)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spike_Milligan#Death