[xj] Mildew remedy for leather?

XJ
1

It has been an unusually damp summer in NW Arkansas and
there is mold and mildew growing everywhere. I just checked
the boot of the DD6 and found white mildew on the spare
wheel cover, in the well, and on the spare tire itself, and
there are a few areas of whitish powder on the interior
leather. I did a search for remedies and distilled white
vinegar is the most often recommended safe agent for killing
mildew followed by baking soda to absorb the vinegar odor.
I plan to scrub down the spare wheel well, the cover, and
the spare tire, but is it safe to use vinegar on leather?
Anyone out there with experience in killing and removing
white mildew safely?–
Phil W - 87XJ6, 86DD6, 85Sov, 74E, 67DQ450, 67DR450, 67Mk2
Arkansas, United States
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2

In reply to a message from Phil in Ar sent Wed 23 Sep 2009:

Phil,
where there is mildew there is a problem with lack of air movement
and humidity.

move the car into a totally dry area, open the windows and the
trunk and leave them open with a fan or fans running continuously.

Spray Lysol everywhere and ever other day.

Personally I hate vinegar, it makes me sick. I prefer Lysol.

Zurdo–
The original message included these comments:

Anyone out there with experience in killing and removing
white mildew safely?
Phil W - 87XJ6, 86DD6, 85Sov, 74E, 67DQ450, 67DR450, 67Mk2
Arkansas, United States

–
1965 3.8 ‘S’ 1984 XJ-6
Florida, United States
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3

In reply to a message from zurdo sent Wed 23 Sep 2009:

Zurdo:

Vinegar and olive oil, good for salads. Cleaning and fungus
killing…?

Bleach does that very well, but not a good idea for leather/vinyl.

May be just clean it with mild soap and water followed by
Leatherique or similar and lots of fresh air.

Carl–
Carl Hutchins 1983 Jaguar XJ6 with LT1 and 1994 Jeep Grand
Walnut Creek, California, United States
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4

My daughter is very sensitive to mold and we use Borax (‘20 Mule
Team’) …no affiliation… on moldy saddles and mildewed wooden
structures.
Don’t remember where I saw it recommended but it seems to work; just
sprinkle the powder out of the box and brush or vacuum it off after a
while.
Smells good.
Seems like it would be easier on a jag interior…
Bill
'86 v12 vdPOn Sep 23, 2009, at 5:13 PM, cadjag wrote:

Vinegar and olive oil, good for salads. Cleaning and fungus
killing…?

Bleach does that very well, but not a good idea for leather/vinyl.

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5

In reply to a message from Phil in Ar sent Wed 23 Sep 2009:

Phil,
It may be a seem a bit rough in your case, but have a look at:

My seats were covered with black spots deep in the leather and

white powdery mold spores on the surface - in places 1/8’’ thick. I
was concerned about getting rid of this previous to recoloring the
seats. The problem with a surface cleaning is you don’t get rid of
the source, and if you leave it long enough it will degrade the
stitching. Vinegar will not harm the leather.
I would say try first cleaning with vinegar, then saddle soap,
then the Borax.
Get a bottle of mildew stop at your local building centre and
try it on an unseen area of the leather. When I used it it made no
appreciable change to the existing color or finish.
For the trunk and carpets you should be able to use the mildew
stop without any concerns.
My car sat for 20 years in an underground garage with the
windows closed… 20 years with 0 air circulation.

Andrew–
The original message included these comments:

I plan to scrub down the spare wheel well, the cover, and
the spare tire, but is it safe to use vinegar on leather?

–
1968 3.8S
Zurich, Switzerland
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
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6

In reply to a message from JagWaugh sent Thu 24 Sep 2009:

Phil, the best way to erradicate mould isto kill the spores first
and then remove the staining. So, first spray a diluted mixture of
oil of cloves and leave for 24 hours. Then apply a mixture of
vinegar and baking soda to remove the stains.

Gary–
The original message included these comments:

My seats were covered with black spots deep in the leather and

white powdery mold spores on the surface - in places 1/8’’ thick. I
was concerned about getting rid of this previous to recoloring the
seats. The problem with a surface cleaning is you don’t get rid of
the source, and if you leave it long enough it will degrade the
stitching. Vinegar will not harm the leather.

–
XJC (red)
Wamberal, Australia
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7

In reply to a message from JagWaugh sent Thu 24 Sep 2009:

Thanks for the link, Andrew. Lots of info on really bad
condition seats. I guess I’ll try wiping the DD6 seats with
the white vinegar on a towel (in an inconspicous place
first) and follow up with Gliptone; I’ve used most of my
Leatherique but I have some Gliptone to use after the
vinegar treatment. The mildew is just a slight dusting on
the DD6 and its leather has been cleaned and treated
annually, but I thought something that would kill the spores
would be better for the future than just removal of the powder.

What is in Mildew Stop? Is it a bleach? I didn’t mention
our 74 E-type, but it has been in a car port under a fitted
Tyveck cover with the top down because I didn’t want the
wife’s cats clawing holes in the vinyl top. However, we’ve
had blowing rain that wetted the cover and apparently tyveck
is not totally waterproof and it let water pool under the
Tyveck on the vinyl top cover and created a veritable mildew
garden inside. I was just sick, mentally and physically,
when I discovered it. The seats, soft top, carpets, and
pads are now in the house getting the vinegar and/or baking
soda treatment and I put them out on the deck when there is
sun shine, but we haven’t had much of that lately.

Would Mildew Stop be a good thing to spray or paint the
floors of the E before the interior goes back in and is it
safe for vinyl trim? BTW, I put the hardtop on the E to
keep any more rain from gettng in and used a heavier cover
for cat claw protection; I should have done that earlier,
but I liked having it ready for top down driving when a good
day came along. Live and learn.–
The original message included these comments:

It may be a seem a bit rough in your case, but have a look at:

Jag-lovers Forums - Jag-lovers
My seats were covered with black spots deep in the leather and
white powdery mold spores on the surface - in places 1/8’’ thick. I
was concerned about getting rid of this previous to recoloring the
seats. The problem with a surface cleaning is you don’t get rid of
the source, and if you leave it long enough it will degrade the
stitching. Vinegar will not harm the leather.
I would say try first cleaning with vinegar, then saddle soap,
then the Borax.
Get a bottle of mildew stop at your local building centre and

–
Phil W - 87XJ6, 86DD6, 85Sov, 74E, 67DQ450, 67DR450, 67Mk2
Arkansas, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
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8

In reply to a message from Phil in Ar sent Thu 24 Sep 2009:

Phil,
Unfortnuately I don’t know any of the English brand names. Go
to the paint section and ask for something to stop mildew in
plaster or brick.
I suspect it is a dilute copper sulphate solution, although it
was clear and odorless. It might also contain Borax come to think
of it.

Andrew–
The original message included these comments:

pads are now in the house getting the vinegar and/or baking
soda treatment and I put them out on the deck when there is
sun shine, but we haven’t had much of that lately.
Would Mildew Stop be a good thing to spray or paint the
floors of the E before the interior goes back in and is it
safe for vinyl trim? BTW, I put the hardtop on the E to

–
1968 3.8S
Zurich, Switzerland
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –

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9

In reply to a message from Phil in Ar sent Wed 23 Sep 2009:

I just heard of a product that kills mildew while watching my
favorite boat show on tv.

It is called Marine Spray Nine. Used to kill mildew in boat
upholstery.

buy it at Walmart or any Marine supply.

Zurdo–
The original message included these comments:

there is mold and mildew growing everywhere. I just checked
white mildew safely?
Phil W - 87XJ6, 86DD6, 85Sov, 74E, 67DQ450, 67DR450, 67Mk2

–
1965 3.8 ‘S’ 1984 XJ-6
Florida, United States
–Posted using Jag-lovers JagFORUM [forums.jag-lovers.org]–
–Support Jag-lovers - Donate at http://www.jag-lovers.org/donate04.php –

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