02/18/2025
Happy Tuesday! It’s and we’ve got a fun fact for you all today.
A lot of folks will take a look at the pictures below and see moldy leather. While mold is often a problem, particularly for tack that is stored in areas with humidity or poor ventilation, the leather below *isn’t* actually moldy!
These images show what is referred to as leather bloom, or “fatty spew” - and while it looks alarming, there is no need to panic! Many quality leathers are imbued with fats during the tanning process, and that residual fat can come to the surface due to fluctuations in temperature and humidity.
How do you tell the difference?
- Mold generally comes with a musty odor that bloom will not
-Mold tends to be more white-green, and can be fuzzy or feel dry or powdery
- Bloom will feel waxy, and as shown in the last photo, a little heat or buffing with a towel will reintegrate the wax easily
If you’ve experienced moldy tack, you know that mold can be persistent, and mold treatment is a service we offer seasonally at Stitchwitch Leather Works. Mold is like a plant and can have roots into the fibers of the leather, making it very difficult to eradicate on your own.
However, if you notice some white bloom on your saddle, particularly during dramatic temperature and humidity swings, like Minnesota has experienced recently, it may be fatty spew. If the tack is otherwise clean, you can just buff this wax back in to your saddle!
