Mold -- Possible Effect on Guitars?

[CandidPicker]

My apartment unit is a relatively clean place and is well-maintained. However, occasionally, moisture builds up in the bathroom or bedroom, and black mold forms on the ceiling above the shower, or in the outer upper corners of the bedroom and storage space.

The prescribed treatment for this is a water/bleach solution is a spray bottle. The solution kills the mold and the affected area dries clean, free of mold.

Am curious if the cooler bedroom temperature is a cause of the mold in the bedroom. (Room temperature in the living room and bathroom are warmer by several degrees Fahrenheit).

The reason I'm not inquiring about the bathroom is because mold forms in the bathroom only when the bathroom thermostat is shut off during the spring, summer, and autumn, but can form anytime during the cooler months of the year where baseboard heat is not above 65 °F.

What effect might this have on guitars hung from hangers in the living room where room temps are 68 °F or more? I've not noticed any mold forming in the living room at any time I've lived in my apartment.

 

[Jazzedout]

My best solution would be a dehumidifier.
Excessive moisture could cause hardware to tarnish for sure.

 

[jak3af3r]

A friend of mine lived in an apartment on the side of a hill. His unit was half-buried with a stream right out the back door. They had huge moisture problems and one of his very expensive handbuilt teles started growing mold.

I'm not entirely sure what he did to clean those guitars but he has since moved. I'll try and remember to ask next time I see him.

 

[aphantomvaper]

The baseboard heater prob keeps the air dry so no mold.

Mold can have a farther reach of damage than just your guitar. It can also affect you physiologically; breathing and brain functions may be impaired. Be careful when cleaning up mold with bleach!

 

[veinbuster]

Mold can have a farther reach of damage than just your guitar. It can also affect you physiologically; breathing and brain functions may be impaired. Be careful when cleaning up mold with bleach!

Yes, mould is much worse for you than for your guitar.

 

[bodia]

Gotta agree, it's worse for you than your guitars. Also agree with getting a de-humidifier. Odd that it happens in the winter, when the air is drier.

 

[Jazzedout]

Gotta agree, it's worse for you than your guitars. Also agree with getting a de-humidifier. Odd that it happens in the winter, when the air is drier.

That really depends on the area. Where I live is 500m from the sea and temperature rarely drops below 0'C (freezing point) so it is more humid in the winter. (Less sun to dry things out...) I believe winters are less humid where temps are below freezing and less water molecules exist in the atmosphere...

 

[CandidPicker]

My best solution would be a dehumidifier. Excessive moisture could cause hardware to tarnish for sure.

Thx, ordered one last night.

The baseboard heater prob keeps the air dry so no mold.

Mold can have a farther reach of damage than just your guitar. It can also affect you physiologically; breathing and brain functions may be impaired. Be careful when cleaning up mold with bleach!

After reading Wiki's description of "Indoor Mold," it was obvious this was likely caused by either a leaky roof or moisture buildup underneath the outer eaves. My next door neighbor over the past several months had leaky pipe issues above his kitchen...am wondering if the attic crawlspace was affected beyond what apartment management did to dehumidify the attic.

In the interim, bleach/water solution was sprayed directly on the mold which killed it, and removed the black mold stain color. Excess solution was mopped up with paper towels. This morning, my breathing improved simply because my sinuses were clearer than previously. I used a mask while spraying with protective eyewear.

The wiki article said antifungal agents are required to mitigate mold, but apartment management and I had been using bleach/water as long as I can remember, which does the job well. Not only does the bleach kill the mold, it sterilizes the surrounding surfaces and prevents re-infection.

My bedroom air temperature usually remains at or below 64°F. The wiki article said mold prefers warmer temps to colder ones. Am guessing that it was the moisture buildup in the bedroom that was the culprit. The dehumidifier will take care of this.

 

[Jazzedout]

You woul be surprised from the amount of water the dehumidifier will remove...
Do you have a way to measure the relative humidity in your space?

 

[CandidPicker]

You woul be surprised from the amount of water the dehumidifier will remove...
Do you have a way to measure the relative humidity in your space?

The living room registers about 48% RH. The bedroom is a closed space at night which doesn't circulate air, save for a wall AC unit during summer, and a fan/space heater during cooler months. Not sure of the bedroom RH, likely higher since the bathroom is connected to the same room.

 

[Jazzedout]

48% is not much...
Up to 60 is fine I guess...
Maybe as you said the mold is created from moisture coming from the other side of your wall...

 

[CandidPicker]

48% is not much...
Up to 60 is fine I guess...
Maybe as you said the mold is created from moisture coming from the other side of your wall...

There are several possible sources: gutter ice dam on outer wall/roof, covered over open bag of peat moss just outside the building back wall next to shed, neighbor's leaky kitchen ceiling pipes (repaired), sweating storage room pipes above ceiling, bathroom condensation, bedroom airtight space.

At any rate, the mold is under control now, and will likely need regular observation/maintenance to keep it in check. The dehumidifier will help keep the bedroom RH down so that there is decreased chances of the mold returning. (Cellulose (food source), moisture, and warm temps are required for mold proliferation).

 

[Rider1260]

If you are repeatedly getting Back Mold the mosture is most likely coming from outside and there is most likely more there than you can see.
I would be much more worried about YOUR health in the conditions you describe.
A dehumidifier may help as will running fans to keep the air moving but there must be moisture coming from someplace.

 

[CandidPicker]

If you are repeatedly getting Back Mold the mosture is most likely coming from outside and there is most likely more there than you can see.
I would be much more worried about YOUR health in the conditions you describe.
A dehumidifier may help as will running fans to keep the air moving but there must be moisture coming from someplace.

The mold is likely originating from the covered-over open bag of peat moss I've got nestled between concrete blocks and my outdoor shed. Peat moss is a breeding ground for mold, accordion got wiki.

My personal health is comparatively good; a dehumidifier is on order and will use a fan to circulate some air in the room. The moisture is likely because the room is airtight at night, kept dark, and the bathroom adjoins the bedroom. Other possibility is that there is water backed up on the roof because of snow blocking the gutters. Will inform management tomorrow, but they'll likely do little (budget constraints) except offer suggestions how to mitigate the issue myself.

The black mold occurs usually in the bathroom over the walk-in shower-tub during the summer. The storage room has seen some mold in the distant upper corner ceiling as well. Noticed the mold in the bedroom outer wall corners/storage room yesterday and promptly dispatched bleach/water spray. Looks better now, though guess this will require regular observation/maintenance.