Brown spots on my layout

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

In the last couple of weeks, I have noticed brown spots appear in assorted (not confined to one area)places on my layout’s surface. These spots have appeared on areas that have been finished several years ago as well as on surfaces finished months ago. Sometimes these seem like areas of Woodlands Scenics earth blend turf lightly dusted on the green surface. At other times these seem to go deeper and eat/cover my surface groundcover; at these times the surface left seems to be the same color as my latex paint underneath the groundcover. Also, a few times there seemed to be a brownish fluff on the surface.

Since I noticed this, I have installed a 70 pint dehumidifier which keeps the basement at around 45% humidity and have given the layout a spraying of Moldzyme mold killer/cleaner.

These patches still seem to be appearing but less often. Thankfully nothing else seems to be affected.

Has anyone had this or a similar problem before?

I’m sorry I don’t have any pictures.

Does anyone have a suggestion on what this is and what can be done?

Thanks in advance for any advice/help.

Robert Farkas

2

Sounds like you have a “mold” problem. The brown mold isn’t as bad as other types. The humidifier should help, but try to find the source of continued dampness. The only way I know of treating it is to kill it with bleach and remove with damp towels. Whatever you do do not try to vaccum it. Most mold spores are so fine they will go through the toughest filters and you will be spreading it all over the place.

There was a house in my neighborhood that had black mold in the bathroom around and under the tub and sink and in the closet that was on the bath wall. The wood joists were totally rotted out over time and the tub actually sank. The board of health condemmed the house as uninhabital for humans and it was torn down. Black mold is toxic and can be deadly. That house was only 20 years old.