Removing mouldy smell from camera case

[zerobuttons]

Does anyone here know of any remedy that can ensure that mould in an old ever-ready case is removed?

Since neither of the two gentlemen producing the best Leica M cases today, have got the time to answer my requests, I have bought a couple of old Leica M ever-ready cases through eBay, to experiment with.

As I anticipated, they have clearly been stored for many years in a non-ventilated place. A mouldy smell emanates from them. So far, I have hung them in the sun on my terrace. Fresh air and sunlight should be doing some good, but if something else can be done to speed up the process, I would like to hear about it.

 

[zuikologist]

Placing the case next to bicarbonate of soda in a sealed plastic container usually works.

Otherwise, something like Fabreze should also work.

Alternatively, Zhou cases come up often on ebay.

 

[user237428934]

coffee beans?

 

[antiquark]

Placing the case next to bicarbonate of soda in a sealed plastic container usually works.

I've also heard about using charcoal briquettes in the same manner. (Never tried it though.) The activated carbon in them absorbs the smell (allegedly).

 

[zerobuttons]

Thank you all for your answers so far.

@zuikologist: The bicarbonate seems to be a good idea together with the sun treatment. I know about the Zhou cases, but I´m looking for a half-case with a screw for the camera´s tripod mount thread. I know of only two who make cases with that today.

@tom.w.bn: Since coffee beans are actually an excellent growth medium for mould spores, I dare not try that out. If it were only about the smell, it would be a great idea, but giving mould spores the slightest chance of multiplying is like asking for trouble.

@sonofdanang: Yup, that was my first thought. Luckily we have very sunny days here, the next couple of days. I´ll see how hanging the cases on my terrace works.

@antiquark and DanOnRoute66: I´ll try look for some of that stuff (activated charcoal) tomorrow in an aquarium store as suggested.

 

[btgc]

Rare NRC I got this year smelled like you describe. Kept it for some week in a box with baking soda, changing it after two days, then kept case on sun. Now smell has gone...maybe very slightest hint of it I can smell.

 

[zerobuttons]

Rare NRC I got this year smelled like you describe. Kept it for some week in a box with baking soda, changing it after two days, then kept case on sun. Now smell has gone...maybe very slightest hint of it I can smell.

NRC? I´m not sure what that is, and Wikipedia didn´t help:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NRC
I´m guessing it could be a Never Ready Case.....

Anyway, I believe that if you experience even the slightest musty smell, you should keep that thing (whatever it is) from other camera equipment, in particular your lenses. I will be very wary of using the cases I bought, unless I can remove any smell of mould completely.

 

[john_s]

.............Anyway, I believe that if you experience even the slightest musty smell, you should keep that thing (whatever it is) from other camera equipment, in particular your lenses. I will be very wary of using the cases I bought, unless I can remove any smell of mould completely.

There are mould spores around just about everywhere, but I agree that using leather that has been mouldy is asking for trouble. Maybe for short times, it would be ok. But storage needs to be quite dry. It depends on your local climate. I don't use leather for any camera storage, even the nice Leica "echte leder" lens cases, since I live in a damp climate.

For synthetic cases, soaking in chlorine bleach and very, very thorough rinsing would probably suffice.