Mold and Gold

What happens when your Golden Goose boots get covered in molds?

Turn on to panic mode and Google, "how to remove molds on leather boots". And pray. Hard.

Good thing I remembered about Germ Killer and how it is tough on molds and mildew.

I emailed Joni Ong of Germ Killer Philippines and asked her,

Hi Joni! Will Germ Killer work on removing molds from my leather boots? Eeeep!

Joni emailed back,

Yep, it should work. Use the GK Surface one. Spray it on a piece of cloth and wipe it on your boots. It should kill the molds. Test it out first in an inconspicuous area of the boots though. :)

I knew that Germ Killer was water based, so it should be safe on leather. But I did the ultimate test on my suede Minnetonkas. Also ridden with molds. But I wasn't as worried about them. I sprayed some Germ Killer Surface cleaner on a shallow bowl of water, dipped an old toothbrush into the mixture and brushed at the molds.

Side by side. Left part = still moldy. Right side = damp but mold free.

Tadaaaa! OMG. So clean! Like nothing happened! It still has hints of eau de molds so I plan to take this pair to Colorwash and have it deodorized professionally.

So I happily got a damp rag and sprayed Germ Killer on it. Wiped my boots in and out. Et voila!

With nary a hint of its sordid past...

The other day, I brought in a few pairs of shoes for repair at an established shoe/bag repair shop and asked them if they could take out molds. The guy manning the counter said they could, and he estimated that it would cost about Php1,800 to clean a pair of boots. Php1,800 hello! Too mahal. I would rather buy saddle soap and clean these boots myself regularly. Unlike the suede ones, they don't have that old mold-y smell.

These boots are now again made for walking. Must plan a trip somewhere cold so they don't feel neglected.

Germ Killer is on Facebook and available at Handyman, True Value, Ace Hardware and other select retailers.

UPDATE: Joni also wanted to share that they have just marked down their prices. This is great news for me, bad news for molds.

 

Prevention is always better than cure, so here are some tips to PREVENT molds from growing on leather:

- Keep leather clean

- Prevent moisture and keep them dry by stuffing shoes and bags with tissue and wrap them in the dust bag they come in. Put a silica gel pack or two inside to absorb moisture. Best to also use those disposable moisture absorbers/dehumidifiers and stuff inside your shoe closet and bag cabinet.

- If you like, place a dehumidifier in your closet or install an exhaust fan.

- So as not to dry out the leather, apply leather balms regularly

- Check your shoes every so often for molds & cracks

Hopefully these tips keep our precious leather bags and shoes in pristine condition, long enough to pass on as vintage to our daughters :)

How Are You Feeling These Days?

It's been so cold lately I just want to stay indoors and snooze on the couch. Or maybe just watch lots of TV. Wearing Dear Hubby's old sweaters. Lazy Lazy Lazy...

Sorry my pretty boot-ilicious babies, we are staying home until the weather gets a bit nicer.

The Search Continues...Part III

The following day, I wake up with a cold. Not just any cold - think sneezing coupled with a runny nose! Eeew!

But nothing can stop my search. I was relentless! I call Mick Margo, a quaint boutique in the West Village (19 Commerce Street) stocking labels like Alexander Wang, Crispin & Basilio, Jovovich-Hawk and of course Isabel Marant, and between sniffles ask if they still have the Isabel Marant Avela boots in my size on stock.

"Hmmm, let me check..." the SA puts me on hold. "Oh, yes we still have 3 sizes left...", she says graciously and then she drops the clincher, "I think they may even be on sale! I can check with the owner and I'll call you back as soon as I confirm with her. You can also put it on hold if you like!". Excited, I blabber incoherently, telling her how I've been looking for flat boots everywhere, that I hope it will be on sale, and that I will definitely swing by the store soon. Ugh! What an eager beaver! Now they won't put it on sale because they know how desperate I am!

But whew, what a relief! I decide to take a shower and get dressed. I was going to the store no matter what!

But as soon as I get out of the shower, I realize I forgot to ask what color the boots were!

So I call the store again..."It's a light shade of grey, and it's actually called "Anthracite" the SA tells me cheerfully.

"Uhm, I was actually looking for black boots. Is it a dark kind of grey? Practically black?" I ask almost pleadingly, as if willing her to say "yes".

"Well, it's a light kind of grey..." she responds.

"Do you think I can dye it black?" I ask again.

She explains the kind of the leather used on the boots and says it could work but she wasn't sure entirely. I thank her again and tell her that maybe I'll just see the boots for myself after the holidays.

She thanks me for calling and I put the phone down. And I feel kinda down as well. This was turning out to be such a rollercoaster of emotions!

I sit down on the couch with a plop. My feet feel hot that I decide to take off my moccasins.



As I stare down the floor, it suddenly occurs to me to check out the Minnetonka website! Kate Moss had those black moccasin boots, and hey they were flat and very very comfortable! Hmmm, this one's a viable alternative!



So I check the Minnetonka online store and practically squeal with delight when I see the boots on sale! $69.99! Woohoo! El Cheapo!!!

As soon as Dear Hubby steps inside the house, I excitedly tell him that I finally found my winter boots!

He offers to buy it for me and asks me how they look like, so I point sheepishly to my warm and cozy house slippers.

"Huh! Ganyan?! Manipis yan, hindi yan waterproof!", he shakes his head incredulously.

"Like that pero boots, Kate Moss wears that Hon!" I reason.

"Pag tumalon ba si Kate Moss sa Pasig River tatalon ka rin?" he says now laughing at me!

And with that, I knew the search still wasn't over. Sigh!

(To be continued...)