Mouldy leather.

[wood carver 2]

I was shocked to find that my favourite shooting glove was covered with powdery mildew. It had sat for a while, but it was right next to several other leather items that were completely clean. I store all my leather nearby and I have never had this happen before.
Does anyone have any tips for cleaning and preserving mouldy leather? I watched a you tube video where someone used scrubbing bubbles.
Dave.

[Mo_coon-catcher]

Dampen a rag with vinegar and give it a wipe down. Then oil it with extra virgin olive oil. Or use saddle soap to clean. Either will work.

Kyle

[wood carver 2]

Thanks.
Funny that I do a bit of leather work, but I've never had to deal with this before. I wonder if it's due to the type of leather.
Dave.

[Mo_coon-catcher]

It could be. Maybe the extra skin oils may have given the mold something to bite onto.

Kyle

[Pat B]

I've used a Damascus glove for years. At least once a year I wash it in warm water and detergent then rinse well then wrap it in a towel to get most of the moisture out. I put the still damp glove on my hand then remove it keeping it's shape and let it dry. After it is dry I'll put the glove back on and give it a good rubdown with Montana Pitch Blend(any good leather conditioner will work).
 Leather is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs and releases water vapor to the atmosphere. The salts in your sweat attracts and holds moisture in the leather so a clean, well oiled glove should help prevent the mold from getting started. 

[wood carver 2]

I usually oil my gloves when I buy them, but I didn't do this one because it appeared to have been done by the manufacturer.
Thanks guys.
Dave.

[Pat B]

Cleaning the sweat and hand oil out of the glove occasionally will help prevent the mold.

[wood carver 2]

It cleaned up nicely. Now I'm going to go through the rest of my leather gear and make sure it's in good shape. At a glance, everything else looks pretty good.
I guess more frequent use would be a good idea. I've been slacking off recently and I have a moose hunt coming up in a few weeks.
Dave.