Mold on finished plaster piece how to remove?

[CharliesMomma]

Hi there,

My son passed away this April. While we were in the hospital before we said goodbye they did two molds of his hand one was like full dunk of his hand into what may have been plaster but I can't be certain because I'm not experienced in this area then they did another one in a heart shaped mold that has his hand print. They kept it for a few days to let it dry and we brought it home but didn't put it on display yet because we wanted to figure out where to place it without damaging it. We did take it out to look at it and put it back in the box. I had gone to get a spray because I didn't think it was sealed. When we were ready to pull it out to spray it it appears to be covered in mold as it has turned a bluish grey in many parts. We've taken it out now and left it out. What can I do? can I remove it and if I seal it will it protect it. I can't handle losing it. the full hand I actually hold in my hand with his thumb wrapped around my finger because I miss him holding my hand at night to fall asleep. Please tell my broken heart I can fix this?

I don't know what it was made of. It was white. they used a powder and water to make it and feels like plaster of Paris so I'm guessing thats what it is. I realize this is more for ceramics but I thought if you work with ceramics and clay you might have some ideas to help with this

[LeeU]

So sorry for your loss-that has to be excruciating. Others here  with more knowledge will probably weigh in shortly. What I will say for now: do nothing until you get the info that seems best. You don't know what type of casting material was used & the powder/water mix per se tells you nothing. I'd call the facility ask them to give you the correct namee of the "plaster" that was used. If cleaning methods that may be suggested aren't what you decide to do, perhaps consider a simple application of a high quality spray enamel in a light color, perhaps like a pearl finish-just a thought.  

[Min]

My heart breaks for you, I am so very sorry for your loss. Words are not enough.

Like Lee says it's super important to find out what was used. I would ask the facility if it was a plaster used in an alginate mold.  If this is the case there should be a way to remove the mildew. Before doing it I would practice on a separate piece of plaster, not on these treasures. Perhaps the facility could give you a sample or something to try possible solutions on?  

@Jeff Longtin,  thoughts?

[CharliesMomma]

14 hours ago, Min said:

My heart breaks for you, I am so very sorry for your loss. Words are not enough.

Like Lee says it's super important to find out what was used. I would ask the facility if it was a plaster used in an alginate mold.  If this is the case there should be a way to remove the mildew. Before doing it I would practice on a separate piece of plaster, not on these treasures. Perhaps the facility could give you a sample or something to try possible solutions on?  

@Jeff Longtin,  thoughts?

 

15 hours ago, LeeU said:

So sorry for your loss-that has to be excruciating. Others here  with more knowledge will probably weigh in shortly. What I will say for now: do nothing until you get the info that seems best. You don't know what type of casting material was used & the powder/water mix per se tells you nothing. I'd call the facility ask them to give you the correct namee of the "plaster" that was used. If cleaning methods that may be suggested aren't what you decide to do, perhaps consider a simple application of a high quality spray enamel in a light color, perhaps like a pearl finish-just a thought.  

Okay thank you for that input thats what I was afraid of is ruining it by cleaning it incorrectly. I'm also afraid though of it getting more ruined as mold and mildew spread. It was the hospital that did it, their child life specialists and honestly they didn't seem that confident in their knowledge of the product. The heart shaped one that is forming the mildew  was from another kit like just one of those kids ones you can buy to make a hand print with just a clear plastic mold but they tried it and the mixture didn't work so they got the one they used to make the cast were just like "hopefully this works" and used it in the heart shaped mold. could there have been a reaction from some cross contamination? The cast turned out fine (so far) and it was the same material.  I have emailed them to see if they can provide any info.

[Min]

Until you hear back from them I would put them in an area with lots of air circulation to help dry them completely.

[CharliesMomma]

Thats what we did as soon as we noticed it! I heard back from them surprisingly quick:

For the heart shaped they used the Creatology Plaster Molding Kit

I’ve included the back as it shows the materials utilized. But it appears to be a “creatology Plaster molding kit” (usually sold at michaels/amazon etc). Which just lists its contents as Precious Gel and Premium plaster (plus the plastic mold etc.) but as I mentioned they first tried with the included plaster and it didn't work so they used the geltrate so not sure if any residue or anything could have caused the issue?

 

For the  casted  hand they used Geltrate (alginate) to create the mold and then plaster.

 

https://dentalbrands.ca/jeltrate-alginate-fast-or-regular-set/

Does that information help anyone?

Thank you for following up on this I really appreciate it. As Lee said this is excruciating and I am trying to be grateful for what we do have left and not get angry over a mold but I can never get another one again.

[Jeff Longtin]

I'm sorry for your loss CharliesMomma.

In 2000 I was commissioned, by a funeral home, to make a death mask of a 2 yr olds face. He was cremated the next day. It was a very emotional experience for me and the woman who assisted me. (She too was a mom.) 

I then turned the plaster casting into a porcelain deathmask. The little boy had four siblings. Each one received a casting. When the four kids, and mom and dad, came up to get the castings the mom gave the money to the youngest child, a young girl, and she handed me the cash.  That was a very unusual experience.

The suggestions so far are good. Its hard to say why the pieces are discoloring. Were they wrapped in newspaper or some other material that might have ink on them? (Wet plaster stains easily.) 

At this point I would suggest you simply let them dry completely and see how they look. More than likely the discoloration won't cause them to deteroriate. It will simply be a discoloration.

 

[Jeff Longtin]

Alginate is a skin safe molding substance. Mixed with water it has a consistency like pancake batter. Once it sets its very much like set jello. It's firm for a day or two but after that it starts to shrink and crack. Because of that you want to get a plaster casting made a s soon as possible. I haven't used it in ages but I don't think it discolors plaster. 

[CharliesMomma]

1 hour ago, Jeff Longtin said:

Alginate is a skin safe molding substance. Mixed with water it has a consistency like pancake batter. Once it sets its very much like set jello. It's firm for a day or two but after that it starts to shrink and crack. Because of that you want to get a plaster casting made a s soon as possible. I haven't used it in ages but I don't think it discolors plaster. 

oh perhaps I misunderstood because she did say after the alginate they did the plaster casting so they used the same plaster for the hand print in the heart. 

It sat over night more than 12 hours (as it was done in the middle of the night and they were able to send it home with us that afternoon so I think from like midnight to 6ish). It was stored in a box wrapped in tissue paper I often opened it to look at it through most of April and May and we pulled it out to put it on display at the beginning of June which is when we noticed the discolouration. so it's been sitting out for nearly a month now.

 

So you think it's just a discolouration? My hubby said some of it was brushing off as he touched it which is why we thought mold or mildew and it looks dark and seems to be gathering in the creases.

[CharliesMomma]

3 hours ago, Jeff Longtin said:

I'm sorry for your loss CharliesMomma.

In 2000 I was commissioned, by a funeral home, to make a death mask of a 2 yr olds face. He was cremated the next day. It was a very emotional experience for me and the woman who assisted me. (She too was a mom.) 

I then turned the plaster casting into a porcelain deathmask. The little boy had four siblings. Each one received a casting. When the four kids, and mom and dad, came up to get the castings the mom gave the money to the youngest child, a young girl, and she handed me the cash.  That was a very unusual experience.

The suggestions so far are good. Its hard to say why the pieces are discoloring. Were they wrapped in newspaper or some other material that might have ink on them? (Wet plaster stains easily.) 

At this point I would suggest you simply let them dry completely and see how they look. More than likely the discoloration won't cause them to deteroriate. It will simply be a discoloration.

 

That's quite the experience. The whole death mask thing sounds very I don't know eerie? But at the same time I never thought I'd be asking for pictures of our family laying with and holding our dying child but when you have had limited opportunities for family photos and its your last chance altogether the perspective on things like that change. It's a painful thing to look at but it's the last living memory of him and all you can see in those photos is the pain but also the love. The pain is the proof of the love.

[LeeU]

@Bill Kielb

Any chance you have any thoughts regarding either the removal of the mold or using an enamel spray to better cover and seal?? 

 

[Bill Kielb]

49 minutes ago, LeeU said:

Any chance you have any thoughts regarding either the removal of the mold or using an enamel spray to better cover and seal?? 

 

I do not. Not knowing the limits of the materials here …….. there are many mold removers used for plaster, stucco, cement. This is such a precious piece and from what I know of the residence time to kill mold which is significant. We are not even sure it is mold. I think best I can speculate, dry it out thoroughly and have someone recast and make another mold. My heart truly goes out to CharliesMomma and feel I would try and do anything non destructive to reduce the risk of losing this piece or the precision and original character of it. To me — make another mold first before experimenting with chems and scrubbing.

Having done that, then yes gentle cleaning and sealing would be something I would cautiously test and try.

[Jeff Longtin]

When I make a plaster form it usually takes 5-7 days before its completely dry. I place plaster forms on plastic grates that allow air to freely flow around the object. If I forget to prop the piece properly and leave it on a wood board, or plastic sheet, it will develop a brown/green mold where it was in contact with the wood or plastic.

"Brushing off" - unfortunately this is subjective. When you pick up a plaster mold/form you will usually have some white powder on your hands/fingers. An indication that the plaster form is deteriorating would include an increasing roughness to the plaster surface.

 

[Min]

@CharliesMomma, since you now know what was used another option would be to purchase another kit and make some test pieces with it.(just use something from around your house to make some little pieces with creases, maybe wrap them with saran wrap to get the creases) Wrap them up and leave them in tissue and see if they develop the same discolouration. If they do then finish drying them in the same way as your original pieces. Test those pieces with a quality plaster mildew/mold remover and leave them alone for as long as possible ( a year at least) then check for deterioration of those pieces. I would also contact a plaster restoration company if there is one near you and ask them about this, have them test the sample pieces.

Edited June 30, 2023 by Min

[Babs]

8 hours ago, Min said:

@CharliesMomma, since you now know what was used another option would be to purchase another kit and make some test pieces with it.(just use something from around your house to make some little pieces with creases, maybe wrap them with saran wrap to get the creases) Wrap them up and leave them in tissue and see if they develop the same discolouration. If they do then finish drying them in the same way as your original pieces. Test those pieces with a quality plaster mildew/mold remover and leave them alone for as long as possible ( a year at least) then check for deterioration of those pieces. I would also contact a plaster restoration company if there is one near you and ask them about this, have them test the sample pieces.

My thoughts after reading that you can get the product on the Big river website.

Great to read that there is so much love and caring in our Community. 

 

[LeeU]

OK---now I am really curious!! Does anyone have any actual experience or a well-founded opinion on using a spray enamel (or brushed on) for this type of issue? Not necessarily for the OP's situation, but just regarding enamel over plaster that has discoloration which may-- or may not-- be mold.

[Bill Kielb]

13 hours ago, LeeU said:

Not necessarily for the OP's situation, but just regarding enamel over plaster that has discoloration which may-- or may not-- be mold.

Yes, IMO this does work for other gypsum and plaster surfaces. stucco, interior plaster walls, cement …… kill the mold, power wash clean when possible, dry thoroughly and seal as practical to reduce the absorption. Painting interior plaster surfaces has always been the norm to add significant longevity to them. I think it’s a good practical idea.  For this: making sure all mold is killed, non destructive cleaning, thorough drying, then painting to preserve the fine detail would be some thoughts that strike me. As always testing thoroughly prior is key to me.

[Callie Beller Diesel]

Not specifically for memorial pieces, but I’ve cleaned up mould on a bathroom ceiling that wasn’t ventilated properly. They do make specific primer to go over mould cleanup. Mould once cleaned can still leave a discolouration or stain, and that can bleed through a lot of regular primers.