Connecting to Collections Care

Hello all,

TLDR; I could use some suggestions on removing mold from cow hide!

My historic house museum opened an outdoor art installation over the summer. The body of the installation is a shipping container with doors on both sides. We built up the earth around it, so that is effectively buried. The doors are not buried so you can walk through it like a little underground tunnel. The container holds some ceramic works and a cow hide hung on the wall, so it is locked most of the time, with the exception of guided tours. 

Unfortunately, a considerable amount of mold has grown on the cow hide in the past few weeks. We have had a decent amount of rain and humidity, and the conditions must have been perfect because rather than just mildew, there are full on mold "blooms" covering about 1/3 of the full-sized hide. It is cow hide rather than leather, meaning there is still hair on the hide. The hide also has a pattern of metallic blue paint spattered on it (it looks like the paint was applied directly to the skin, rather than having it sit on the hair). I think this pattern actually helped disguise the mold growth.

Has anyone dealt with anything like this before? Can we wear PPE and vacuum the mold off with a HEPA vacuum? Is sucking this mold up into a vacuum we use in the house a bad idea? 

The installation will be open until at least next summer, if not longer. After this initial issue is resolved, I am going to look into keeping silica desiccants inside and opening the container more regularly to air it out. Neither us nor the artist have ever done anything like this before, so we did not know what to expect. Fully removing the cow hide is not really an option, it is a really integral part of the installations theme. Thanks in advance for any advice!

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Emily Leger, Collections and Exhibitions Manager
Oyster Bay, NY
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Hello Emily,

As you mentioned, appropriate protection (PPE) around mold is very important. Surface molds – the molds that conservators usually encounter – produce conidia, which form and release mold spores into the air. Those spores float through the air and land on surfaces along with dirt, skin cells, pollen, fibers, and other materials that makeup dust. Cleaning is your best bet for preventing mold, especially when it's dormant. Removing the spores doesn't give them the chance to germinate and colonize.

If possible, try to isolate the object while cleaning it. Often, labs have tools especially dedicated to mold remediation projects. They are kept in a separate bag sealed. Tools can be cleaned and maintained by using at least 70% alcohol to disinfect them.

 A textile conservator Deborah Trupin, has outlined some guidelines on how to vacuum textiles properly:

-- use the upholstery brush of your vacuum cleaner, being sure it is clean before starting.

-- if your vacuum cleaner has any way to adjust the suction, adjust it to its weakest suction.

-- use a gentle patting (up-and-down) motion, rather than brushing the surface.

-- whether or not to use a mesh between the vacuum brush & the quilt (textile) depends on how sturdy the quilt surface is and how weak you can make the suction on your vacuum.  To be safe, secure a piece of net around your brush. You can change the net as it gets dirty.

The biggest challenge will be to control your environment and ensure the mold does not come back.

For safe cleaning, be sure to use a HEPA or ULPA-filtered vacuum (variable suction is best) in a fume hood while wearing PPE. Dispose of mold-infested filters, vacuum bags, and other waste by sealing them in thick polyethylene bags and throwing them away with the trash.

Water vapor in the air, the water content of the mold, and the equilibrium moisture content and its availability within the substrate all contribute to the life cycle of mold. Controlling your environment by keeping your dew point below 50ºF and your relative humidity below 65% will reduce the possibility of spore germination.

Installing fans in the space will keep the air circulating during humid days. Perhaps investing in an air purifier for that space if it will have a lot of visitors and a dehumidifier during humid days. Also, adding a thermohygrograph something akin to HOBO data logger, to monitor temperature and relative humidity in the space. The silica desiccants and the airing of the container will also help to control the environment. 

I hope this helps. Please feel free to reach out with follow-up questions. My colleagues may also have good suggestions on this dilemma.

Best,

Luda

Lyudmyla Babadzhanova (she/her/hers)

Connecting to Collections Care Monitor

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Lyudmyla Babadzhanova
Book Conservator
Center for Jewish History
Brooklyn NY
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Thank you, Luda! That is good to know that alcohol can be used to clean the vacuum. Unfortunately, the mold has spread since I made this post, and I think the cow hide may need to be replaced. But this is still helpful for cleaning the rest of the area and hopefully keeping it mold-free in the future. Thanks again!

Sincerely,
Emily 

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Emily Leger
Curatorial Assistant
Planting Fields Foundation
Oyster Bay NY
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-21-2023 13:33
From: Lyudmyla Babadzhanova
Subject: Mold on Cow Hide

Hello Emily,

As you mentioned, appropriate protection (PPE) around mold is very important. Surface molds – the molds that conservators usually encounter – produce conidia, which form and release mold spores into the air. Those spores float through the air and land on surfaces along with dirt, skin cells, pollen, fibers, and other materials that makeup dust. Cleaning is your best bet for preventing mold, especially when it's dormant. Removing the spores doesn't give them the chance to germinate and colonize.

If possible, try to isolate the object while cleaning it. Often, labs have tools especially dedicated to mold remediation projects. They are kept in a separate bag sealed. Tools can be cleaned and maintained by using at least 70% alcohol to disinfect them.

 A textile conservator Deborah Trupin, has outlined some guidelines on how to vacuum textiles properly:

-- use the upholstery brush of your vacuum cleaner, being sure it is clean before starting.

-- if your vacuum cleaner has any way to adjust the suction, adjust it to its weakest suction.

-- use a gentle patting (up-and-down) motion, rather than brushing the surface.

-- whether or not to use a mesh between the vacuum brush & the quilt (textile) depends on how sturdy the quilt surface is and how weak you can make the suction on your vacuum.  To be safe, secure a piece of net around your brush. You can change the net as it gets dirty.

The biggest challenge will be to control your environment and ensure the mold does not come back.

For safe cleaning, be sure to use a HEPA or ULPA-filtered vacuum (variable suction is best) in a fume hood while wearing PPE. Dispose of mold-infested filters, vacuum bags, and other waste by sealing them in thick polyethylene bags and throwing them away with the trash.

Water vapor in the air, the water content of the mold, and the equilibrium moisture content and its availability within the substrate all contribute to the life cycle of mold. Controlling your environment by keeping your dew point below 50ºF and your relative humidity below 65% will reduce the possibility of spore germination.

Installing fans in the space will keep the air circulating during humid days. Perhaps investing in an air purifier for that space if it will have a lot of visitors and a dehumidifier during humid days. Also, adding a thermohygrograph something akin to HOBO data logger, to monitor temperature and relative humidity in the space. The silica desiccants and the airing of the container will also help to control the environment. 

I hope this helps. Please feel free to reach out with follow-up questions. My colleagues may also have good suggestions on this dilemma.

Best,

Luda

Lyudmyla Babadzhanova (she/her/hers)

Connecting to Collections Care Monitor

------------------------------
Lyudmyla Babadzhanova
Book Conservator
Center for Jewish History
Brooklyn NY
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