What is the best way to get rid of the musty smell from a Koolah leather jacket that has been in storage for awhile?
By Allan D. from Pender Harbor, BC
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
Air it out very well. Use a saddle soap to clean the leather portion. The inside, if lined, you can help rid the smell by wadding up newspaper and stuffing it into the sleeves to help absorb the odor. You can also spray the lining with fabrize (don't get it on the leather) or vinegar.
Another way to leech musty, mildewy odours from an item is by completely immersing it in clean, ordinary (i.e., old school, non-clumping) cat litter for a week, maybe longer; cat litter might have to be completely swapped out for new, fresh litter. You will easily be able to tell when it's times to pitch the used litter, and repeat the same process with new litter, if necessary. A clean plastic tub (e.g., dishpan, storage bin, etc.), will work well as vessel for damaged item, and cat litter.
I know this works extremely well with books (My great aunt rehabbed a humungous, over 100 year old family Bible, using this simple method.) I am seriously thinking of employing this cat litter method to help rehabilitate some of my coats that were damaged in a basement flood. The coats range from leather, suede, wool, and cotton, respectively.
Since I think the cat litter can only help, not hurt, once spring arrives I'm gonna give it a whirl. Hope this tip (particularly when using with printed matter such as books, papers, etc.), will prove to be a helpful household hint for others. :) Best regards, Shash B.
Add your voice! Click below to answer. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
