Klarinet Archive - Posting 000804.txt from 1998/03

From: "Diane Karius, Ph.D." <dikarius@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Mould on reeds
Date: Sat, 14 Mar 1998 11:43:52 -0500

Stephen wrote:
> I found that you dont need bleech to get rid of the mold, because this
> often occurs with my reeds. what i found you could is get a piece of sand
> paper and rub it over the read gently until the mold comes off.

I personally would toss any reed that was getting moldy - I was
recomending the bleach for the things that you don't really want to
throw away - e.g. the reed guard. As has been pointed out,
the mold is (most likely) using the reed for nutrition - molds
secrete wonderful substances to enable them to break down its food
source. I already have enough trouble finding reeds that I like -
sharing it with the mold doesn't strike me as a symbiotic
relationship I want to invest in.... :-)

diane k.