What lurks beneath?

[Ad Astra]

Dropped a favorite re-handled brush of mine, one with an Amack Sunrise knot.

It fell about four feet on a hard surface, hitting perfectly on one side. The glue broke and the knot popped out.

To my consternation, there was mint-green mold at the base!

Here's an unused spare knot at top (I like this knot so much, I bought three) so you can see the difference …

So. I've boiled the knot for a few minutes, and might treat it with something else before re-setting.

But this raises a thought. Are OTHER knots moldy at the bottom? Are yours?

And how can one know, short of the thing popping out?

I dry all my brushes just like everybody else- on a stand, handle up.


AA

 

[FarmerTan]

Dude. That's not mold. Your wife is messing with your mind. It's Crest toothpaste.

 

[FarmerTan]

Seriously, is that a synthetic brush? Weird.

 

[Ad Astra]

Dude. That's not mold. Your wife is messing with your mind. It's Crest toothpaste.

Whatever toofpaste we're using is white ...

Yes, it's a synthetic knot, one I really like. I've been using that particular one for 2-3 years.

There are lots of kinds of molds in the tropics, but I admit I've never seen mint green ... If it isn't mold ... Don't see what else it could be.

AA

 

[FarmerTan]

Me either. It's probably not harmful, and it is beautiful in color. Hopefully someone with more than my shortened summer microbiology class experience will chime in...

 

[Mick]

Aliens

 

[FarmerTan]

I knew someone more knowledgeable than me would chime in.

 

[Ad Astra]

Aliens

Well.

It's possible. I was at Devil's Tower once ...


AA

 

[Bob L.]

Green mold might be pennicillium. Just soak the brush in white vinegar for an hour or so. This will kill most molds.

 

[FarmerTan]

Green mold might be pennicillium. Just soak the brush in white vinegar for an hour or so. This will kill most molds.

This guy sounds more legit than me and @Ad Astra put together!!!

 

[Ad Astra]

Green mold might be pennicillium. Just soak the brush in white vinegar for an hour or so. This will kill most molds.

This I can do. Boiling didn't remove it ...


AA

 

[FarmerTan]

This I can do. Boiling didn't remove it ...


AA

Thanks for helping to destroy life on Earth as we know it. You have only made it stronger. I hope you're proud of yourself!

 

[Brompton]

Vinegar or rubbing alcohol maybe.

 

[Ad Astra]

Yes. That.

It's now soaking in a Dixie cup of white vinegar ... Thing is, I never saw anything green until the knot popped out. Perhaps all brushes should get a regular vinegar soak ...


AA

 

[AimlessWanderer]

Are you sure it's mould? Have you got copper pipes? It looks about the right colour to be copper carbonate.

 

[Ad Astra]

Are you sure it's mould? Have you got copper pipes? It looks about the right colour to be copper carbonate.

Pipes: partly copper, at least.

Never heard of this, though ...


AA

 

[Snurgblat]

Have you tried drinking some scotch to see if that will help?

 

[Ad Astra]

Have you tried drinking some scotch to see if that will help?

No, but if that vinegar works, might try a shot of that.


AA

 

[ajkel64]

I think that no matter how much we clean out brushes there will always be something lurking beneath. Just my $0.02 worth. And I only give the spa treatment to second hand brushes. Never bother otherwise. Maybe I should take more care of my brushes even though my everyday brush is a $2 brush from a cheap shop.

 

[bakerbarber]

Was it set on a coin?

I've used coins to raise the loft under a knot and the coin turns blue green. Usually with silicone.