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Thread: Getting mildew off a gig bag

  1. #1
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Getting mildew off a gig bag

    Some people worry about humidifying their instrument rooms. I'm afraid mine is a little TOO humid.

    Got a Boulder Alpine gig bag here with a lot of mildew on it. What's the best way to get it off? Would it survive a trip through the washing machine?
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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Getting mildew off a gig bag

    Why not contact Saga and ask them what they suggest?
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    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Getting mildew off a gig bag

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Garber View Post
    Why not contact Saga and ask them what they suggest?
    Way to take all the fun out of it ...
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    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Getting mildew off a gig bag

    FYI, the "Contact Us" form at the Saga website doesn't allow apostrophes.
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    Mando-Accumulator Jim Garber's Avatar
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    Default Re: Getting mildew off a gig bag

    Yikes! I needed a gig bag for my double cutaway ‘68 Apostrophe. Dang!
    Jim

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    Default Re: Getting mildew off a gig bag

    Hydrogen peroxide, maybe?
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    Default Re: Getting mildew off a gig bag

    You could always buy a new one!

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    Default Re: Getting mildew off a gig bag

    rubbing alcohol

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    Default Re: Getting mildew off a gig bag

    I would take it to the dry cleaners and see what they have to say. R/
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    Default Re: Getting mildew off a gig bag

    Vinegar will remove it and not be harsh. The vinegar odor will go away soon if you want to leave it on for further protection. Use a brush and scrub it, rinse.
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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Getting mildew off a gig bag

    Take it down to a local hockey rink that has an ozone treatment for hockey gear. Just the bag not the instrument. It will get rid of it.
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    Registered User sblock's Avatar
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    Default Re: Getting mildew off a gig bag

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeEdgerton View Post
    Take it down to a local hockey rink that has an ozone treatment for hockey gear. Just the bag not the instrument. It will get rid of it.
    +1 for ozone treatment! It not only kills all the mildew and mold, but it also eliminates the characteristic smell of dead mold, which otherwise can linger for long after the fungus has been destroyed. You can also find ozone generator devices at car body and detailing shops.

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    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Default Re: Getting mildew off a gig bag

    Yea, Pacific North Wet , western coast, its Mushroom season.. , after all Mildew is a fungus..
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    Registered User John Soper's Avatar
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    Default Re: Getting mildew off a gig bag

    Location, location: it's been so sunny and dry in NC this past month, I was going to suggest leaving it out in the fresh air in a sun-exposed area... the ozone treatment will surely work. I'd check to see if there are signs of mildew/mold in your house. We got some in our ductwork one year and the air-conditioning spread it throughout the house. A real hassle to mitigate.

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    Default Re: Getting mildew off a gig bag

    I recently cleaned off a bunch of our tailgating chairs with bleach. Wet, scrub with bleach, let stand for a couple minutes, then rinse thoroughly. The chairs are all colored and none faded or spotted because of the treatment. But, test a small patch first if you go this route. The ozone is probably a safer way to go...
    Chuck

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    coprolite mandroid's Avatar
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    Question equivalency?

    But an injection Molded plastic chair is not made of a woven nylon.. fungi have roots.
    so you don't have that issue with a solid plastic chair, right? .. you cleaned the surface....



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    Registered User sblock's Avatar
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    Default Re: Getting mildew off a gig bag

    Quote Originally Posted by CES View Post
    I recently cleaned off a bunch of our tailgating chairs with bleach. Wet, scrub with bleach, let stand for a couple minutes, then rinse thoroughly. The chairs are all colored and none faded or spotted because of the treatment. But, test a small patch first if you go this route. The ozone is probably a safer way to go...
    I would not recommend using bleach directly on a gig bag made of fabric. The bleach can fade and/or damage the fabric, and it might not penetrate it to get all the mildew. Yes, ozone treatment is a much better and safer option, IMO.

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    Default Re: Getting mildew off a gig bag

    I would never use a chlorine bleach. sblock is right. It will both damge and weaken the fabric as well as discolor it.
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    Registered User DougC's Avatar
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    Default Re: Getting mildew off a gig bag

    Smooth surfaces are easy to wipe with something safe like cleaning vinegar. Cloth in a gig bag is a bit harder but you can give it a lot of vinegar and set it out to dry. The UV light from the sun kills mildew. Also the heat and low humidity kills mildew. The smell can be reduced and maybe eliminated with baking soda (and then clean the powder with a vacum cleaner.)

    I'm working on eliminating mildew from a pretty air tight fiberglass case and the fuzzy cloth inside is quite a problem. So far it has been in the sun and the smooth surfaces have been wiped with vinegar. It still smells a little and I think more 'sun tan' is in order.

    The ozone treatment sounds like a great alternative.
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    Default Re: Getting mildew off a gig bag

    Again, do try (you can research it) isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol). I had to remove mildew from an entire room and it truly worked - permanently. No remaining odor, no fabric damage or bleaching. Just sponge it on mildewed areas. Inexpensive and easy. So consider it.

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  24. #21
    Martin Stillion mrmando's Avatar
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    Default Re: Getting mildew off a gig bag

    1. The vinegar worked.
    2. No reply from Saga.

    All hail the Mandolin Café!

    (Now to get the mildew off the OHSC for my '30s National Silvo tenor ...)
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    Registered User mreidsma's Avatar
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    Default Re: Getting mildew off a gig bag

    I have had good luck with vinegar and then running a TKL gig bag by itself through the "hand wash" cycle of my washing machine with a gentle cleaner like Woolite. I then ran it in the dryer for a bit on "air" (no heat). Then l left it on a drying rack for a few hours. Looked and smelled like new when I was done.

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