Members theGOOCH Posted February 7, 2007 Members Share Posted February 7, 2007 I have one of the cheaper pw humidifiers (the one you put in the soundhole between your strings). After using it for about a month the sponge has a whitish coating which I assume is mold/mildew. This shouldn't happen should it? Don't they use a material that resists that? I use DI water, so it can't be a mineral buildup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Queequeg Posted February 7, 2007 Members Share Posted February 7, 2007 you are supposed to put distilled water in it. This is most likely lime deposits that you see on that sponge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Hudman Posted February 7, 2007 Members Share Posted February 7, 2007 you are supposed to put distilled water in it. This is most likely lime deposits that you see on that sponge. I use distilled water in mine. I got it a year and a half ago and the sponge still looks new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members theGOOCH Posted February 7, 2007 Author Members Share Posted February 7, 2007 That's what I meant, distilled, not deionized (I used to work with lab geeks) I use distilled water I got from the grocery so I don't think that's it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bbarkow Posted February 7, 2007 Members Share Posted February 7, 2007 Maybe your atmosphere is damp enough that the sponge isn't letting any water go? Maybe it's mildew after all. Just a thought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members theGOOCH Posted February 7, 2007 Author Members Share Posted February 7, 2007 Maybe your atmosphere is damp enough that the sponge isn't letting any water go? Maybe it's mildew after all. Just a thought. Well, I have a hygrometer and it is reading 33% That's why I took my guitar off the wall and put it in its case...I guess I need to contact Planet waves Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Greymuzzle Posted February 7, 2007 Members Share Posted February 7, 2007 If you put poteen on the sponge it enhances the highs but the lows can be particularly deep the following morning Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kwakatak Posted February 7, 2007 Members Share Posted February 7, 2007 Gee, GOOCH - you got me there. I don't want to say what I've been putting in mine but let's just say that it's not the same color it once was either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members theGOOCH Posted February 9, 2007 Author Members Share Posted February 9, 2007 Gee, GOOCH - you got me there. I don't want to say what I've been putting in mine but let's just say that it's not the same color it once was either. Wow, that caught me off guard. I'll agree not to ask if you agree not to volunteer any more info on that subject:D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members theGOOCH Posted February 9, 2007 Author Members Share Posted February 9, 2007 From their site... My humidifier has developed a white build up, or mold. Is this a problem? You should be using distilled water in your humidifier. Not doing so can lead to mineral deposits building up at the holes where the humidity is released. You should be able to wipe off this build up with a damp cloth or perhaps by gently using a Q-tip. Unfortunately mold is a natural occurance that we do not have control over. If the environment is right, these units can develop mold. Mold should not have any adverse effects, but we recommend that you remove it by means mentioned above. Oh well Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cldplytkmn Posted February 9, 2007 Members Share Posted February 9, 2007 seems like mold is a stretch... i thought mold could only grow above 70-80degrees and at high RH levels?... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members drnihili Posted February 9, 2007 Members Share Posted February 9, 2007 I use DI (de-ionized, not distilled) in mine and haven't had any problems Pics? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dcarey Posted February 10, 2007 Members Share Posted February 10, 2007 It's definitely not mold. Mold would be black. It's more likely the minerals that are left in the process of making the "Oasis" the material that's inside the plastic housing. It routinely emits a whitish buildup that has nothing to do with mold or mildew. I have six of them and they've all developed the white haze after a while. The Oasis that florists use will do the same thing. I just scrape the edge slits with an X-Acto knife and use a small drill bit to clean the stuff out of the larger holes (just a slight spin with my fingertips...NOT in an electric drill) Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guit30 Posted February 10, 2007 Members Share Posted February 10, 2007 This is the humidifyer I got from planet waves ,just put it in today, hopefully in a few weeks my guitar back, wish now, I had got the whole kit, didn't get the gauges, going to try to get a radio shack oneJim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Cripes Posted February 10, 2007 Members Share Posted February 10, 2007 Sounds nasty, whatever it is.......Neil. Hey Gooch, use a little diluted bleach on a spot and if that clears it up then soak it in it. Then rinse it out. If it doesn't clear up, same deal with vinegar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members knockwood Posted February 10, 2007 Members Share Posted February 10, 2007 Not crazy about the PW humidifiers. I've had a few - still have 'em, just don't use 'em anymore. Had that problem with every one of 'em. At first, figured it was my fault because I was dumb and used tap. But even after I bought new humidifiers and switched to distilled water, same problem. I use Dampits. Zero problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarist21 Posted February 10, 2007 Members Share Posted February 10, 2007 "You should be using distilled water in your humidifier. Not doing so can lead to mineral deposits building up at the holes where the humidity is released. You should be able to wipe off this build up with a damp cloth or perhaps by gently using a Q-tip." I don't have the Planet Waves one, but the one that came with my Epi appears to be rather similar and there was a little piece of paper in the case that said that a little discoloration was normal... nothing about whitish coating, though. Ellen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guit30 Posted February 10, 2007 Members Share Posted February 10, 2007 Well, my PW humidifier is in one day, hopefully in a couple of weeks I will have a guitar again, Radio Shack has d/ced their hygrometer, but replaced it with what looks like a better one for $20, you can keep memory of humidity or temp settings, below %20 humidity it just reads lo, I read an article, that says this situation is worst for guitars , super cold outside with 50% humidity and heat inside which drops the humiity more, for example ,at the radio shack store, the temp read 73 degrees, but the humidity was lo, meaning leass than 20% or dangerous for guitar, I'm wondering, I only have a solid top, everything else is plywood, people say that plywood is more sturdy, I guess in this situation it doesn't matter.Here is a great article on guitars and humidity, will pick up the hygrometer later so I can see what;s going on in my guitar case as opposed to the rest of my apartmentArticlehttp://www.pjguitar.com/article2.htmRS Hygrometerhttp://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?summary=summary&techSpecs=techSpecs¤tTab=summary&custRatings=custRatings&features=features&accessories=accessories&productId=2049773&support=support&tab=features Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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