HELP! Interior Mold / Mildew Smell
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Advanced
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 95
Likes: 14
From: Waukesha WI
HELP! Interior Mold / Mildew Smell
I had my windows down during a down pour; couldn't get to the car in time to close it up. (Z06) I cleaned and dried it out the best I could. After being away for 3 weeks, I returned to find mold inside.
Once again I cleaned it out the best I could, but I can still smell it, especially when I'm using the HVAC.
Any suggestions? I'm ready to rip out the entire interior and replace it.
Thanks!
Once again I cleaned it out the best I could, but I can still smell it, especially when I'm using the HVAC.
Any suggestions? I'm ready to rip out the entire interior and replace it.
Thanks!
Racer
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 452
Likes: 2
From: Lynnfield MA
With the heater fan on fairly low, but the A/C off, shoot Lysol
into the vent intake under the hood until you get a strong smell
of Lysol inside the car. You may need to do this a couple of
times to take care of the ducting in the dash.
Next up, Febreeze the seats.
Finally, use Arm&Hammer baking soda carpet cleaner. Dust up
the carpets and floor mats, let them sit the required time, and
vacuum it all up.
Failing that, you're gonna need a Rug Doctor.
Good Luck!
into the vent intake under the hood until you get a strong smell
of Lysol inside the car. You may need to do this a couple of
times to take care of the ducting in the dash.
Next up, Febreeze the seats.
Finally, use Arm&Hammer baking soda carpet cleaner. Dust up
the carpets and floor mats, let them sit the required time, and
vacuum it all up.
Failing that, you're gonna need a Rug Doctor.
Good Luck!
Pro
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 571
Likes: 0
From: Milwaukee Wi
You could also pull the carpet out and let it completely dry. I had a leak in mine from the lower hinge area and had water puddling in my passenger side floorboard. I pulled the carpet out and left it in the sun for a couple of days and cleaned it good. I haven't had any more issues with the smell.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Been there,, smelled that! The ONLY real solution is to REMOVE THE CARPETS and underlayment and let it dry COMPLETELY! If you don't,,the smell will just linger,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,on and on,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,!
Once the carpets are out, use a small carpet cleaning machine and clean the carpets. When your done, they will look great!! THEN LET THEM DRY COMPLETELY!!
If you allow the interior moisture to build up, you will start to destroy electronic modules! $$$$$$$$$$$
Bill C
Once the carpets are out, use a small carpet cleaning machine and clean the carpets. When your done, they will look great!! THEN LET THEM DRY COMPLETELY!!
If you allow the interior moisture to build up, you will start to destroy electronic modules! $$$$$$$$$$$
Bill C
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 771
Likes: 0
From: Erie County, Pennsylvania
You HAVE To Yank Up The Carpet ! It's Still Damp...
Been there,, smelled that! The ONLY real solution is to REMOVE THE CARPETS and underlayment and let it dry COMPLETELY! If you don't,,the smell will just linger,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,on and on,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,!
Once the carpets are out, use a small carpet cleaning machine and clean the carpets. When your done, they will look great!! THEN LET THEM DRY COMPLETELY!!
If you allow the interior moisture to build up, you will start to destroy electronic modules! $$$$$$$$$$$
Bill C
Once the carpets are out, use a small carpet cleaning machine and clean the carpets. When your done, they will look great!! THEN LET THEM DRY COMPLETELY!!
If you allow the interior moisture to build up, you will start to destroy electronic modules! $$$$$$$$$$$
Bill C
Bill is correct ! Unfortunately, you have to pull out the entire interior. That includes the seats, and seatbelt anchors so you can get the carpet out and dried.
Good luck and please don't delay any longer than you have to.
DG
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 467
Likes: 7
From: Fort Worth Texas
I've had a lot of experience getting different smells out of cars. For this type of smell besides normal cleaning there are 3 specific things that work well:
1. Use and enzymatic cleaner, this stuff isn't made to clean and cover up the smell, it actually kills any mold/mildew that is growing. Shampooing the carpets might make them smell better for a while but if you don't kill the mold the smell will come back.
2. Buy and use an ozone machine, you roll up the windows, set the hvac system to recirc, and run the machine in the car for a few hours. Ozone machines are EXCELLENT at getting rid of mold/mildew smells, and it gets to everywhere you can't reach (behind the dash and in the vents). I would highly reccomend getting one of these machines, I've seen is work miracles in similar situations to yours. It may cost you $100 to buy one but you can just resell it on ebay when your finished with it.
3. Get some desiccant gel packs and keep them in the car for the next 6 months.
Assuming you're talking about a few minutes of rain and not standing water in the car I personally wouldn't bother with pulling the carpet, at least not yet. Also I would stay away from febreez/lysol for now as that will cover up the smell and make it impossible to tell if the above tools have done their job.
1. Use and enzymatic cleaner, this stuff isn't made to clean and cover up the smell, it actually kills any mold/mildew that is growing. Shampooing the carpets might make them smell better for a while but if you don't kill the mold the smell will come back.
2. Buy and use an ozone machine, you roll up the windows, set the hvac system to recirc, and run the machine in the car for a few hours. Ozone machines are EXCELLENT at getting rid of mold/mildew smells, and it gets to everywhere you can't reach (behind the dash and in the vents). I would highly reccomend getting one of these machines, I've seen is work miracles in similar situations to yours. It may cost you $100 to buy one but you can just resell it on ebay when your finished with it.
3. Get some desiccant gel packs and keep them in the car for the next 6 months.
Assuming you're talking about a few minutes of rain and not standing water in the car I personally wouldn't bother with pulling the carpet, at least not yet. Also I would stay away from febreez/lysol for now as that will cover up the smell and make it impossible to tell if the above tools have done their job.
Last edited by Davinss; Sep 19, 2007 at 01:46 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,799
Likes: 1
From: Northern Virginia
St. Jude Donor '08
Been there,, smelled that! The ONLY real solution is to REMOVE THE CARPETS and underlayment and let it dry COMPLETELY! If you don't,,the smell will just linger,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,on and on,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,!
Once the carpets are out, use a small carpet cleaning machine and clean the carpets. When your done, they will look great!! THEN LET THEM DRY COMPLETELY!!
If you allow the interior moisture to build up, you will start to destroy electronic modules! $$$$$$$$$$$
Bill C
Once the carpets are out, use a small carpet cleaning machine and clean the carpets. When your done, they will look great!! THEN LET THEM DRY COMPLETELY!!
If you allow the interior moisture to build up, you will start to destroy electronic modules! $$$$$$$$$$$
Bill C
Bill is right on the mark. Have had water on the carpets myself on more than one occasion. You would never know it though because me and my brother did exactly what Bill is telling you to do.
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