Slightly over-humidified my guitar case....

[Bill Evans]

Hello,

Some advice please. I guess I over-humidified my guitar case as I have noticed some fine white mould growing on the velvet at the headstock end. I've brushed it off and have left the case open to 'air' thoroughly. It seems to have cured the problem. No more mould. I don't want it to recur.

So, a few questions:

* will the mould come back?
* if it does, is there a permanent way to deal with it?
* if left untreated, is there any threat to the guitar itself?

Taylor support weren't that helpful. They suggested that I buy another case. The problem isn't really bad enough to warrant that.

Many thanks.

Bill Evans (Shrewsbury, UK)

[Earl]

I would do whatever possible to mechanically remove the mold itself, such as wiping and vacuuming the case interior.  Then I would leave the open case out in the sun or under a UV lamp to fry the remaining spores that might be lingering.  Another possibility is leaving the case open but inside a car parked left in the hot sun to bake them.  If the mold comes back then you probably have to resort to chemical warfare - vinegar or diluted bleach solutions, antifungal sprays, ozone generators (as used for smell removal), and similar measures.  There was some recent discussion here:
http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=392267&highlight=mold

[Bill Evans]

Many thanks Earl,

Very helpful.

Bill

[etzeppy]

Baking soda works pretty good on mold. Mix a halve tablespoon in a spray bottle of water, dampen the area, let dry, vacuum up any residue. I couldn't image that would do any damage to the case.

[fmbstrummer]

If my case, I would use a product called Concrobium Liquid Mold Remover.  Comes in a spray bottle.  I purchased from a big box home improvement store.  It worked on a couple of projects where I needed to kill the spore.  Where I used it, it did not stain or "bleach" the surface sprayed on.  I noticed the product is available in a powder form.  May be just the ticket for the case lining. 

A final step of drying in the sun sounds good as well.   

Do you see mold on the guitar, inside or out? 

FMB

[nobodeuno]

Baking soda and a fan at room temps for a few days...