When to start washing natural rinds

[Mermaid]

I have been making hard pressed cheeses and the recipes say to wait 7-10 days for a "smear " to form before washing with a light brine.

What does that mean? "Smear"?
Currently my cave is cold- it's winter- about 45-48 degrees. BRR. All I see on my cheeses' surface at 7-10 days is maybe some salt crystals on the surface of the cheese, maybe some geo ? After two weeks I'm getting a brown/black mold in small spots.

When to start washing and how often? Thanks!

[Al Lewis]

That's rather strange as the "smear" occurs after you start washing the cheese.  See here.     Read about it here.

[Mermaid]

Thanks for the reply! Yeah that's what I assumed a smear was but it seems the recipe is referring to something different. I've been drying the cheeses for 2 or 3 days before moving to the cave. When should I start washing cheese for rind formation ?

[Al Lewis]

Here is what Alpkäserei told me when I first learned to do washed rind cheeses. He did an entire thread on it. 

[Stinky]

Yes, that's a lovely treatise.

Another thing to add that he notes elsewhere is that when you brush, on a smaller cheese, you try not to add too much liquid. See, the first washed/smear-ripened cheeses I made the brush got dipped in. This results in a stinkier cheese. But if you don't want it to be super linensy, just add a little bit of water once you've gotten the smear established.

[Mermaid]

All helpful info- thanks!
I'm trying to make natural rinds without the linens- should I just be brushing and never washing?

[Al Lewis]

If you want to keep the linens off, not sure that's entirely possible, then brush only. O0

[Stinky]

Some people, and I have tried this once, take a brine and just rub it on twice a week with fingers, and then let it dry. It does discourage mold summat.

[Stinky]

Some people, and I have tried this once, take a brine and just rub it on twice a week with fingers, and then let it dry. It does discourage mold summat.

A clarification here: For linens, mild brine with just a little salt. For not linens, put in more salt than that. And don't leave it wet like you would a washed rind.

[Al Lewis]

I mix 2/3 cups 18% brine with 1/3 cup of white wine.  I mist it on with a spray bottle and then wipe lightly with a paper towel.  Very seldom do I get mold growth doing this and, if I do, I just brush lightly before wiping.