Help with mold smell?

[r8shell]

I bought an old NYKC pocket knife with ebony handles. I figured I might turn the worn out main blade into a leather punch, or worst case, use it for parts. When it got here, I noticed a very strong smell of mold. I'm not particularly sensitive to mold smells, but it's a very strong smell. Perhaps the knife was stored in a flooded basement for years.

I washed the knife with dish soap, and flushed the works with WD-40, but the smell is still bad enough that I have to wash my hands after holding it. I tried washing it with vinegar, and then scrubbing it with baking soda, and it's still there. I'm trying to think if there's anything short of dipping it in bleach that will kill the mold. I'm afraid that would ruin the wood.

Any advice, or is it beyond saving? Here's a picture, just for fun.

 

[lex2006]

Try put it in a baggie with baking soda and let it sit for a week or so.
Another thing you can do is let it sit out in the the sun on hot days .

 

[EdgePal]

I use citrus acid (citric acid) to take away mold and mold smell.

Let the handle dry. Use citrus acid and let it soak in, let the handle dry again.

I also use this to save wood that is attacked by mold. Wash away all mold with water, let the wood br totally dry, then, let the wood soak in citric acid as much as possible, let dry. This wood will never have mold again. This can also be used in house construction attacked by mold.

I learned this from a old farmer and I have use this many times - and it works.

Thomas

 

[Obsessed with Edges]

Try put it in a baggie with baking soda and let it sit for a week or so.
Another thing you can do is let it sit out in the the sun on hot days .

Thinking the same thing.^

Baking soda seems to work well in drawing out or neutralizing any odors. Also works if something corrosive is in the material (knife, sheath, etc), in neutralizing any issues with rusting or verdigris. Just put it in the baggie for at least a week, and let it be.

I'd personally be worried about using anything potentially corrosive (bleach, acids, etc); especially on a non-stainless knife, unless absolutely nothing else gets it done.

 

[r8shell]

I use citrus acid (citric acid) to take away mold and mold smell.

Let the handle dry. Use citrus acid and let it soak in, let the handle dry again.

I also use this to save wood that is attacked by mold. Wash away all mold with water, let the wood br totally dry, then, let the wood soak in citric acid as much as possible, let dry. This wood will never have mold again. This can also be used in house construction attacked by mold.

I learned this from a old farmer and I have use this many times - and it works.

Thomas

...Baking soda seems to work well in drawing out or neutralizing any odors. Also works if something corrosive is in the material (knife, sheath, etc), in neutralizing any issues with rusting or verdigris. Just put it in the baggie for at least a week, and let it be.

I'd personally be worried about using anything potentially corrosive (bleach, acids, etc); especially on a non-stainless knife, unless absolutely nothing else gets it done.

Thank, guys, I appreciate the help. I think I'll try putting it in a plastic bag of baking soda and leave it in the sun. That seems the least risky. If that doesn't work, I'll look into getting some citric acid. Is it sold as a powder?

I bought the knife with the idea of modifying it, or using it for parts, so I don't mind experimenting a little. If I find a way to kill mold without damaging the knife, it'll come in handy if I come across this problem with a more valuable vintage piece.

 

[EdgePal]

Yes, it is a powder and you can probebly by it in any shop tyat sell flower and bakning things. Here it cost just some cents. Earlyer people use it when they prepear food in cans to preserv the food.

Do not let the name "acid" frighten you - you can drink it if you like, taste citrus

Thomas

 

[Mahoney]

Ethanol is used to remove odors from fabric and leather, and as long as you don't soak the knife in it for a long period of time, won't harm the wood or steel. I prefer to use "everclear" or other high proof spirits. 100 proof vodka is less effective at removing odors. Denatured alcohol from the hardware store is a possibility, but I prefer to avoid being exposed to the additives.

 

[Phixt]

I bought a $400+ Anapurna (sp?) winter coat for about $40--uh oh, right--from a retailer years back. Oh dear lord did it stank from mold/mildew beyond all belief. I tried backing soda. I soaked the entire thing in a full bottle of Grey Goose (I had no bottom shelf vodka on hand, and wasn't about to buy some) using a spray bottle. The vinegar made the coat smell like vinegar and mold. Washing it was a joke, and sun drying did nothing. I filled the innards and all pockets with coffee grinds and full coffee beans. Finally, I used charcoal disks all over and in it. FAILURE.

I bit the bullet and began wearing the stink monster. After time, months I assure you, the stanky beast finally exorcised itself. The elements and wearing (or carrying in your case) very well may be your only saving grace. Good luck.

 

[Darkera]

I bought a $400+ Anapurna (sp?) winter coat for about $40--uh oh, right--from a retailer years back. Oh dear lord did it stank from mold/mildew beyond all belief. I tried backing soda. I soaked the entire thing in a full bottle of Grey Goose (I had no bottom shelf vodka on hand, and wasn't about to buy some) using a spray bottle. The vinegar made the coat smell like vinegar and mold. Washing it was a joke, and sun drying did nothing. I filled the innards and all pockets with coffee grinds and full coffee beans. Finally, I used charcoal disks all over and in it. FAILURE.

I bit the bullet and began wearing the stink monster. After time, months I assure you, the stanky beast finally exorcised itself. The elements and wearing (or carrying in your case) very well may be your only saving grace. Good luck.

wow I can only imagine what a moldy jacket covered in baking soda, vodka, vinegar, and coffee grinds would smell like haha

It's hard for me to imagine a knife (i.e. metal and varinished/treated wood) could be permeated with such a recalcitrant mold smell, even if it was stored in a mold-contaminated area. Metal isn't exactly going to absorb the volatile organic compounds produced by molds. Maybe after years in a moldy environment the handle was basically saturated with VOCs? I don't know. The fact that it is coming off on your hands after handling it is interesting too. Is there a particular part of the knife that smells, for example the blade vs. the handle?

But the handle does look intact and in good shape so I wouldn't bother trying to sterilize the handle or anything like that. This is clearly an issue with a smell not active mold growth. I would clean it in very hot soapy water, rub it dry with paper towel, clean it with vinegar, then let it ventilate outside for a while. You could even leave it for a while in a closed container containing lots of activated charcoal.

Could it instead be some rancid oil/grease, weird solvent, naphthalene, or something along those lines?

 

[Mossyhorn]

I'd recommend clove oil, as it will kill the mold spores. It's very useful to have around the house. Heres a link to its effectiveness.

https://www.biome.com.au/blog/6-things-to-know-about-using-clove-oil-for-mould-removal/

 

[r8shell]

It's hard for me to imagine a knife (i.e. metal and varinished/treated wood) could be permeated with such a recalcitrant mold smell, even if it was stored in a mold-contaminated area. Metal isn't exactly going to absorb the volatile organic compounds produced by molds. Maybe after years in a moldy environment the handle was basically saturated with VOCs? I don't know. The fact that it is coming off on your hands after handling it is interesting too. Is there a particular part of the knife that smells, for example the blade vs. the handle?

But the handle does look intact and in good shape so I wouldn't bother trying to sterilize the handle or anything like that. This is clearly an issue with a smell not active mold growth. I would clean it in very hot soapy water, rub it dry with paper towel, clean it with vinegar, then let it ventilate outside for a while. You could even leave it for a while in a closed container containing lots of activated charcoal.

Could it instead be some rancid oil/grease, weird solvent, naphthalene, or something along those lines?

I'm pretty sure the mold is in the wood, since it can't be in the steel. Traditionally, ebony is not treated/stabilized, since it's a very dense, oily wood. However, after over 80 years of getting wet and drying out, and getting wet again, I can imagine mold getting into the pores of the wood. The handles look in good shape for its age, but there's a thin gap between the wood and liners, so mold could be in there.

I'd recommend clove oil, as it will kill the mold spores. It's very useful to have around the house. Heres a link to its effectiveness.

https://www.biome.com.au/blog/6-things-to-know-about-using-clove-oil-for-mould-removal/

Thanks. I'm starting with the baking soda, but if the mold is still living in the wood, I'll want to kill the spores and not just neutralize the odor. I'll read up on clove oil.

Hmm...vodka, citrus, clove oil...this could end up being a great smelling knife.