Cleaning / Sanitizing a hard case

[kingrob76]

I recently took possession of hard case that has a bit of "funk" emanating from it - specifically, mildew. Upon close examination mildew is visible on the exterior surface. The smell also exists on the inside of the case. This is an old-style wood case with a black "supposed to look like leather" material on the outside - it could easily be 20 or 50 years old or even older.

Now, I could just soak the thing with several coats of Lysol but I thought it would be worth asking here if anyone knows a more effective way to remove the mildew and effectively sanitize the interior of the case (short of ripping out the guts and re-doing it). Any ideas or suggestions?

[bloke]

Use any good mildew remover for the outside.
Vacuum the fool out of the inside - combined with some vigorous brushing with a plastic stiff-bristles brush, and set a sponge full of cleaning vinegar in a little pan in the case all the time, and when it evaporates, recharge the sponge.
When it gets warm again outside, open the case outdoors and try to expose both interior halves to sunlight as many hours each day as you can manage. It also helps to follow up with more vacuumings.

You can use mildew remover on the interior, but you’ll need a shop vac that is designed to suck up liquid.

The covering - on the outside of the case - is called “tolex”.

[bort2.0]

Gasoline
Matches
Buy a proper new case for your sweet new horn

[bort2.0]

I had an old leather gig bag once that smelled like 30 years of cigarettes. Nothing got that smell out, no matter what.

I've heard that bright sunlight helps a lot, as in like New Mexico summer kind of sunlight. But clearly, I don't live in the desert, so... Not much luck there.

I hope.you can get the smell out

[bloke]

I have never failed to rid a case of mildew.
In particular, tuba cases in good condition otherwise are just way too expensive to casually throw out - just because they need to be cleaned up.

[kingrob76]

I have never failed to rid a case of mildew.
In particular, tuba cases in good condition otherwise are just way too expensive to casually throw out - just because they need to be cleaned up.

Yeah, I won't need it for transportation or anything, it will probably never leave the house and just serve as a place to keep the horn when not in use. Good idea about the sunlight - I hadn't thought about that. My wife is especially sensitive to mold and mildew so this will definitely get some attention. It DOES help that the relative humidity inside is so low right now, nothing will be growing for a while.

[bloke]

Considering her sensitivity,

(and - in the past, I was sensitive to that stuff too, but - seemingly - not anymore)

I believe it would be best to do a super job on the outside, a really diligent first pass on the inside, put the sponge in there in a aluminum pan soaked up with cleaning vinegar, and duct tape the bottom to the lid all the way around. This (and future) interior vacuuming and cleaning should probably all be done outdoors...but it seems to me that – once you get it to this stage – you can store it indoors, if there’s a place for it.
The mildew remover, the multiple vacuumings, the vigorous brushings, the sunlight, and the sponge of cleaning vinegar are all part of the formula.

Considering that your spouse is as sensitive as they are, I would recommend rinsing out the brush and emptying out the vacuum cleaner (into a tied-up plastic bag) after each treatment.

“Avoiding irritating your spouse’s allergies” is a big deal, but the procedures involved in cleaning up this case are really not a big deal.

...and don’t forget to also wash yourself up after each cleaning pass on this case, and that would include any hair on your head.

[pjv]

Warning; this may be fake news??

I heard that putting a mildewed case in a freezer for a day would kill the bacteria.
Heard.
Don't know.
But if you know any butchers or restaurant owners with a walk-in freezer it might be worth your while.

PS. I'm too lazy to fact check this but I'd think a good google search should answer the question

[sidenius]

To get rid of bad smell I've had pretty good results using granulated active charcoal.
I just put a good amount of it in a bowl, put it in the case (closed) and let it stay there for some weeks.
The active charcoal can be reused after a good wash under running water and some drying time

[tofu]

.

[iiipopes]

The last time I needed to to this I sprayed the case in question heavily with Lysol and set it open on the back porch for a couple of dry clear hot days for the sun to finish the job for me.

Where does one buy granulated active charcoal?

Any pharmacy (poison remedy) or pet store (water filter) or on line.

[sidenius]

Where does one buy granulated active charcoal?

I bought it through a webstore here in Denmark that sells all sorts of equipment for aquariums and garden ponds