Re: Mold in helmet?

[Guest guest]

I use one disinfection method for just about everything:

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/how-to-clean-your-vegetables.html

And I happen to have a spare STARband available for research. So

I proceeded to test it on a back corner, where extra orange padding

had been added, and also included the edge where shell meets foam.

There was no problem with the adhesive boundaries, but when drying

with a paper towel, a slight stickiness was felt just before the foam

was completely dry, suggesting that some breakdown of the foam

material (both orange and white) had occurred.

(/Oh no you didn't!/) Retrieving calipers from basement, I repeated

on the other corner, this time taking measurements of greatest

thickness:

Before: 2.71 cm

After: 2.66 cm,

then washed with alchohol and left to dry in my usual manner, inches

from a compact fluorescent light bulb. Except that I'm out of 70%

isopropyl alcohol, so I used 50% instead.

Final thickness: 2.71 cm

So, I'd definitely go ahead and hit it with vinegar and peroxide,

then figure out a way to rapid dry using a CFL on an ongoing basis.

--

Thad Launderville

Montpelier, VT

Clara ~ 22 months, 5 1/2 months in STARband

[Guest guest]

Slight discoloration of the foam over time is also normal.  There were a couple points on Elaine's bands that got a brown/red or a brown/yellow tint to it over time.  I'd ask your ortho about it and see what they say.

Elaine (twin A), plagio & tort, grad 06/09On Wed, Feb 3, 2010 at 11:35 AM, Thad Launderville <p38thadl@...> wrote:

 

I use one disinfection method for just about everything:

http://www.care2.com/greenliving/how-to-clean-your-vegetables.html

And I happen to have a spare STARband available for research. So

I proceeded to test it on a back corner, where extra orange padding

had been added, and also included the edge where shell meets foam.

There was no problem with the adhesive boundaries, but when drying

with a paper towel, a slight stickiness was felt just before the foam

was completely dry, suggesting that some breakdown of the foam

material (both orange and white) had occurred.

(/Oh no you didn't!/) Retrieving calipers from basement, I repeated

on the other corner, this time taking measurements of greatest

thickness:

Before: 2.71 cm

After: 2.66 cm,

then washed with alchohol and left to dry in my usual manner, inches

from a compact fluorescent light bulb. Except that I'm out of 70%

isopropyl alcohol, so I used 50% instead.

Final thickness: 2.71 cm

So, I'd definitely go ahead and hit it with vinegar and peroxide,

then figure out a way to rapid dry using a CFL on an ongoing basis.

--

Thad Launderville

Montpelier, VT

Clara ~ 22 months, 5 1/2 months in STARband

[Guest guest]

we found a huge difference using the 91% alcohol instead of the 70%. spray it on liberally then brush vigorously with a nail brush.

 

aja

On Wed, Feb 3, 2010 at 1:22 AM, Kathy Jensen <kathylorajensen@...> wrote:

 

All,

This is , Kathy's husband.

We're worried that there may be some mold in our son's helmet; there's a dark pinkish patch inside near the closure (on both sides) that doesn't seem to go away no matter what we do.  The weather may be partly to blame -- if the sun would come out for more than a few minutes at a time we'd put it outside for some good UV.  It may have gotten some moisture from rain.  Any suggestions?

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

Have you cleaned with anything other than alcohol? Alcohol should kill

any bacteria - but when in doubt, call the ortho.

Jen

Mom to Luli - 3 yrs old

Torticollis, Plagio, Syringomyelia

Mold in helmet?

All,

This is , Kathy's husband.

We're worried that there may be some mold in our son's helmet; there's

a dark pinkish patch inside near the closure (on both sides) that

doesn't seem to go away no matter what we do.  The weather may be

partly to blame -- if the sun would come out for more than a few

minutes at a time we'd put it outside for some good UV.  It may have

gotten some moisture from rain.  Any suggestions?

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Thanks everybody.  My husband has tried some of the advise.  (I'm not

sure what all.)  It worked in the since that the spot stopped

spreading.  Unfortunately, the affected area has not shrunk and it is

now pink. :|(  We have our ortho checkup this Tues.  I was hoping not

to bring the ortho into it.  I'm scared he will think of it as a reason

to stop the helmet, since is older and has been in the helmet

awhile. 

-Kathy, mom to 20.5 months, 8.5 months in Starband

JenandLuli@... wrote:

 

Have you cleaned with anything other than alcohol? Alcohol should

kill

any bacteria - but when in doubt, call the ortho.

Jen

Mom to Luli - 3 yrs old

Torticollis, Plagio, Syringomyelia

Mold in helmet?

All,

This is , Kathy's husband.

We're worried that there may be some mold in our son's helmet; there's

a dark pinkish patch inside near the closure (on both sides) that

doesn't seem to go away no matter what we do.  The weather may be

partly to blame -- if the sun would come out for more than a few

minutes at a time we'd put it outside for some good UV.  It may have

gotten some moisture from rain.  Any suggestions?

Thanks,

[Guest guest]

After all our worry about the mold, the ortho didn't say anything about

it and most of it was shaved off in the adjustment.  There is still a

little in the opening, but at least that does not touch the head.  The

day before had managed to stick the helmet out in a sun break and

that helped some.

I believe the mold may have started from putting the helmet back on

before it was completely dried.  Also, some rain may have gotten in the

helmet at 's daycare.  Now we blow dry both 's hair and the

inside of the helmet.

-Kathy, mom to in Starband

JenandLuli@... wrote:

 

Have you cleaned with anything other than alcohol? Alcohol should

kill

any bacteria - but when in doubt, call the ortho.

Jen

Mom to Luli - 3 yrs old

Torticollis, Plagio, Syringomyelia

Mold in helmet?

All,

This is , Kathy's husband.

We're worried that there may be some mold in our son's helmet; there's

a dark pinkish patch inside near the closure (on both sides) that

doesn't seem to go away no matter what we do.  The weather may be

partly to blame -- if the sun would come out for more than a few

minutes at a time we'd put it outside for some good UV.  It may have

gotten some moisture from rain.  Any suggestions?

Thanks,