Eurofins Institute
Mould spores in sports footwear and ski boots
Moulds are extremely adaptable organisms and occur in almost any organic nutrient. Under appropriate conditions, depending on adequate moisture, oxygen and pH levels, one or more types of mould may attack the material. This attack may involve enzymes produced by the mould, or other excretion products of mould metabolism.Research conducted by EUROFINS Institute has confirmed that after the "deep fresh" CO2 cleaning process developed by Fred Butler all moulds originally located – in this case, in sports shoes – had been completely removed. Causes of mould formation and spread are:
- Poor ventilation
- High moisture level
- Incorrect storage
- Transport damage
Consequences of mould formation and spread:
- Unattractive stains or discolorations
- Typical strong musty smell
- Destruction of the material as a result of metabolic processes of the mould
In the research project, sports shoes with mould stains were cleaned using the Fred Butler CO2 cleaning process and additional other wet cleaning methods. This method enabled stains and mould to be removed while retaining the elastic properties of the leather. 
Fred Butler commissioned similar tests at Pegasus Laboratory (Sweden) involving ski and snowboard boots which had been subjected to repeated wear. Inshoes from Nordica, Technica, Völk, Dynastar and Dalbello brand shoes were cleaned using the Fred Butler "deep fresh" CO2 cleaning process. Subsequent analysis showed that the cleaning process had destroyed practically all microorganisms such as mould, and with them the unpleasant odours they caused. The ski inshoes were clean and fresh for the start of the new season.