Don't do that! There's no need. If the subject ever comes up again, you'll certainly remember. The question is, will the other readers of this thread remember it if and when they need to store one?
Alright i bought a couple of 2x4s and have it propped up against the house, but my wife used up all the disinfectant spray cleaner so now I got to run back out to the store. I actually think the sun might just kill off the Bacteria on it own, but I want the stains gone as well.
OK the wife found some Lysol kitchen cleaner and who did that work great, but I had to quit for a while because the hot sum was heating up the tracks and they were bending all over the place. So I rinsed it and the hose water was so hot that the spray nozzle was burning my hand. I wash everything down with the hose and blow dried it and quickly moved it into the garage. I could not believe all the dirt and crap that wash out of it. I'm feeling pretty good about it now, but I do want to wash it one more time only I'll get my wife to wash one side as I do the other so I can get it out of the hot sun sooner.
First, my sincere condolences on what happened to your layout. I can only imagine how shocked and upset I would be to find this had happened to something valuable I left in storage! Ammonia and bleach are useless against mold or bacteria in porous surfaces like wood. I suspect the same will be true for anything left behind by animal waster. That's why when there is black mold in a home, you can't use those products to get rid of it. People try it, and at first, the wood looks great because they get rid of the surface problem, but those products do not penetrate the porous wood deep enough to kill everything inside. Even though you said you painted and sealed the wood, I wouldn't count on that. Alcohol, however, penetrates a lot better, and it's also cheap and harmless to plastic and metal products like your track. I would load up some alcohol in a spray bottle and spray things down with it. I'm not sure how you affixed the track or any scenery materials, but I would think that anything you are "spraying" on that whole layout is likely to make things come unglued, so you will have to deal with that afterward if you really want to save this. One final thing. The smell from feces and urine is likely to be VERY hard to get rid of, even after the cleaning. You know how hard it is to get rid of the smell when a dog pees on your rug or couch? Even shampooing doesn't always work. It seems clean for a while, and then every once in a while, you'll get a whiff of "What the heck is that???" Pet supply places sell some pretty good natural urine "destroyers" these days, like "Nature's Miracle". It's a natural enzyme that devours the yuck left by animal waste. It's sold specifically for dogs (or cats), but I bet it would work on any animal waste. We have used it for messes left by our dog and I must say, in all my life, I've never seen something clean up a pet mess once and for all with no residual smell, ever. This stuff really works. They say it is safe for use on wood, fabric, carpets, etc. It might be worth a try after you spot-test it. https://www.chewy.com/natures-miracle-dog-stain-odor/dp/142845
I looked up bacteria in Google and they say most can not survive over 120 deg F and I know that layout was at least that setting in the sun. Plus the water in the hose was scalding hot. There was a lot of track expansion in the heat and some of it popped loose from the roadbed so I know it got pretty hot. I am going to have some re-gluing and some track straightening to do, but that's OK as long as the switches aren't damaged.
Years ago, I heard from a zoo worker that they used hydrogen peroxide to clean and deodorize the lion cages. I don’t know if they still do, but I was thinking about dumping that on the layout as well.
I'd end up sounding political if I said what I real think and believe. Time to leave my native state before it gets any worse. Daughter and her family live in Idaho and it's time to make the move closer to them. My train layout was built in sections so I could take it apart in case of a move. Not modular. Quite of bit of work to moving it. Won't be fun.
Ah Rick.......... Tough call but understandable, family is the most important people in your life......
Sleeper/Johnny, The snow is not something I'm afraid of. Cold doesn't bother me, yet. What hot water? +And by the way I've missed those visits. For now I'm waiting to see what happens next. David, It is a tough call and one I don't really want to make, having put it off long enough. I'll let you know where to send that E-9 in the SP Black Widow livery. LOL
Oh so that's what it is. I keep yelling at the wife to stop turning that water heater up so high. I'm down to the fastest showers ever.
Rick - The years I spent in Boise were some fairly mild winters compared to up here in MT. So I daresay you will acclimate fairly quickly. Good luck on your move!
I'm sure you are right. Thanks for your well wishes. I'll be at a lower elevation which will be a plus. I don't think it will be much different then when I used to live in Victorville, Ca. Or so says my daughter. Biggest plus is being near the Union Pacific Main Line. Can't beat that! Sorry, Johnny no intention of hi-jacking your thread. Just drifting down grade. Grin!
I remember those days when I lived in Phoenix from 1960 thru 1980. Just turn the cold water on in the shower and ya get a pretty nice really warm shower...lol
Well....I'm a Canuck...and I like having 4 seasons to contend with... gives a rhythm to life. I've lived , worked in, or traveled through the country from BC..with it's 40 days of rain...to Newfoundland,,,with ice burgs floating by.... and it was all GREAT. If you don't like the weather today, wait for tomorrow...it'll be different. Sometimes better....sometimes worse...but different! And like someone famous said...Variety is the spice of life!!! Best of luck to you...enjoy where you are...and family is the most important part of living happily! Jim
Ditch it. Start over. Not worth the risk to your health. Take this as a chance to fix the things you did wrong the first time.