Mold: How to recognize it and care for it

[RichMan]

I'm looking into a piece of equipment right now and there is some slight damage but it's hard to identify off the bat if it's mold or some other kind of damage. See pic.

I also thought it would be a good topic of discussion for knowing how to recognise it and when to know if it can be salvaged or it will only get worse and cause spread on the rest of your gear or even cause skin and health issues (breathing in spores).
 

[chile57]

For what its worth - doesn't look like mold to me. Mold tends to be more black-ish than brown-ish. Looks like the remnants of a burn or tear (like by rusty metal or similar) to me. Hope this helps.

Disclaimer: not a certified mold "expert" but I have seen some gross shit in my day. 

[RichMan]

1 hour ago, chile57 said:

For what its worth - doesn't look like mold to me. Mold tends to be more black-ish than brown-ish. Looks like the remnants of a burn or tear (like by rusty metal or similar) to me. Hope this helps.

Disclaimer: not a certified mold "expert" but I have seen some gross shit in my day. 

Thanks. I'm not an expert either but I have lost 2 chest pads because mold somehow got into them despite my strict after game routine.

[bunnyman666]

Looks like good old fashioned rust.

[SaveByRichter35]

I was leaning towards rust as well.

[creasecollector]

Yeah, this definitely looks like rust to me. 

[coopaloop1234]

Has anyone else said rust?

[chile57]

I don't know - could be rust (don't think anyone's mentioned that yet).