How "not' to kill mold spores, and the right way

[ithacaartist]

This idea is evident in my chart--quicker, hotter or slower, less hot. Jerry's scrap-strip experiment will settle the issue. Hey, what about the microwave oven?

Originally Posted by lugerholsterrepair

David, you will have to speka da English. 60-70 C is this some foreign tongue?

OK, I'll do the calculations just this once. I don't bother estimating by conversion formula any more, just use a search. By the time I had typed in "60 deg", a list of suggestions popped up and the answer was one click away. 60 C = 140 F, 70 C = 160 F. Also, the standard temp for sterilization is 121 C (250 F). Length of time is also a factor, measured as The Thermal Death Time, which is different for different organisms. From the Mushroom Forum (http://www.shroomery.org/forums/show...umber/11563238)

An example to clarify:
Assume the TDT for a certain bacterium is 1 minute at 121 °C, and you have 1000 of those bacteria in your jars.
After 1 minute at 121 °C, you have killed 900 of them (90%).
After 2 minutes, you have killed 990 (99%) of them.
After 3 minutes, you have killed 999 of them and have one left (on average).
After 4 minutes, you have on average 1 bacterium in every tenth jar.
After 5 minutes, you have on average 1 bacterium in every 100th jar. And so on.

There is no specific temperature at which contaminants die, it has to do with time as well.

Mold spores are everywhere! Flies deliver them via the hairs on their legs! Strictly speaking it is impossible to kill them all, or prevent them from access to all but a permanently sealed environment. All we can hope to do is keep them from germinating and growing by maintaining materials in a cool, well-ventilated, dry place. (Something tells me Jerry already recommends this!)

Mold can affect all organic collectibles! A decent article, "Mold is Not Your Friend" https://www.imagepermanenceinstitute...old-not-friend