I have an SS brassard on which the roundel, or white circle portion, is slightly discolored from, most likely, mildew. What is the best approach to cleaning this item without causing damage?
Thanks for your input.
Thanks for your input.
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Oh no dont clean it with anything ever. It will mess it up and the value will be shot all to heck. -
EdwardB. Please take No offence here. What is with people’s deep obsession on cleaning military artifacts? Please try to help me understand this. As dav stated why run a risk on damaging a $700.00 SS brassard. By using the wrong cleaning method.<O
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Ask your self this question first. If the stain is indeed mold it should have a musty odor. If that is the case what caused the molding. Was the mold on the item before you bought it, or did the mold happen after purchase. If the mold happen after you purchase the item. You may want to evaluate your storage methods and storage area. You might want to invest in a dehumidifier. If mold is on one item if could travel to other items like cloth, paper, leather, wood. <O</O
The only way that the mold can be removed it to brush it off with a medium stiff animal hair clothing brush. Animal hair brush traps the mold and removes most of the mold. The plastic style brush causes the mold to swirl around more and settle on other areas. DO NOT USE THE TAPE ROLLER METHOD. That leaves behind very slight sticky residue on things. When brushing mold go in one direction first for several minutes. Then switch to the other direction for several minutes. Apply light steady pressure work slowly. In between brushing go out door and shake out the brush, or better yet work outdoors. When completed air out the item out doors for several days. Of course keep an eye on it. Mold hates Sunlight and air movement.<O</O
Never use Lysol, febrezze, or any other mold killing chemicals. Most can further stain items, or merly mask the mold odors. Hope this helps. Paul <O</O
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No offence taken. When I said "cleaning," I meant removing the mildew spores that could further damage the item. I should have been more precise in my terminology. I absolutely agree with the notion that historical items should be messed with as little as possible, if at all.
As to your question when the mildew developed, when I moved to a new home several years ago, I'd stuck the arm band in a cardboard box and really didn't think about it until recently. Unfortunately, I live near the ocean and there's a lot of moisture in the air. So when I finally opened the box, I found the item had been affected by this enviornment.
To reiterate, I just want to remove, as much as possible, the mildew discoloration that developed since I've owned it, and your detailed information should help me with this task.
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use a hand held vacuum to suck up the pores. can't clean it with water or brush (as it will smear). Since you are living near ocean/humid condition, you must invest in display cases with silical gel packs or de-humidifier placed near it.Comment
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Yes, a good dehumidifier in the room and a few silica gel pacs in the box will work. Keep the humidity between 43-45%. You may want to invest into a good humidity gauge as well. If the home is a newly constructed home it's going to have a lot of moisture to get rid of for a couple of years. The moisture is in the wood, drywall, paint, cement, ect.
I live in the upper midwest. In the summer humidity can get fairly high. I make it a habit to check my entire collection every 3-4 weeks year round. Put on cotton gloves and check things over closely from top to bottom and backside.
Yes, a hand held vaccum will work as well. Be careful that the vaccum does not have to much suction. You might be loosing thread,labels ect. If you have one of those rare strong hand held vaccum. Take a vinyl window screen about a 6X9 piece. Carefully fold about 1/2 inch border. Place tape on folded screen area as not to snag anything.
Place the screening on top of the area you want to clean. One hand should hold the screen in place. While the other lightly vaccums over the object. If you have a large area to clean and the vaccum has a bag system replace it often. If not clean out the container often. Hope this helps PaulComment
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