Car molds are a pretty common sight. Regardless of whether a car is new or old, anything as simple as a wet rag left inside the cabin for a few days can result in the nastiest of molds.
But as disgusting and potentially dangerous as they are, molds aren’t necessarily hard to address. The best way to treat them, of course, is to call an expert to do the job for you. However, you can do it yourself as long as you have the right tools and the patience. In this article, we’ll walk you through a step-by-step procedure on how to remove car molds.
1) Prep your tools.
Here’s what you will need for this task:
- Clean rags or cloth
- Brush (for the interior)
- Cleaning solution
- Vacuum
- Protective equipment
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2) Protect yourself.
First order of business before you jump into the cabin is to get the right protective equipment for the job. You need a mask so you don’t inhale any of the spores from the molds. You’ll need gloves, too, and if you can, add some goggles and overalls to the mix to protect your skin and your eyes.
3) Aerate and dry the cabin.
If possible, move your car to an open space under direct sunlight. Open the doors (including the trunk), roll down the windows, and let the car bake under the sun for a few minutes. This will let any of the possible spores out of the cabin and help dry it out.
4) Clean the interior.
Remove any trash or wet clothing—basically anything you don’t need for the job—from the car. Vacuum all the surfaces, carpets, and seats, and be sure to clean up any of the surface molds you see.
5) Apply the cleaning solution.
Once you’ve cleaned off all the surface molds, it’s time to get rid of the ones left underneath. Here are a few options you can use as a cleaning solution:
- White distilled vinegar
- Bleach – you can mix this with water, but make sure you won’t damage any of the interior surfaces when you apply it
- Baking soda
- Special mold-cleaning chemicals
If you’re using a liquid solution, spray it onto the affected areas or use a cloth to apply it and leave it for a good 20 minutes or so. The same goes for any powdered cleaners—sprinkle and wait it out. Be sure to cover areas around the moldy spots as well.
6) Brush and clean the moldy areas.
Brush the surfaces to agitate anything underneath, then use a vacuum to clean them up. Wait for it to dry, then repeat this process as necessary until you completely remove the odor. Having your car under the sun and leaving the doors and windows open will help speed up this process.
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That’s basically it. If the molds keep recurring no matter how many times you repeat this process, then that’s when you should call an expert. There could be hard-to-reach areas that need to be cleaned, and it could take a proper detailing job to eliminate the molds completely.
Assuming you have killed off all the molds, you still need to do your part so that you won’t see any of these pesky fungi return. Here are a few tips on how you can prevent molds from growing in your car.
1) Keep the cabin clean and dry.
It’s as simple as that. Got any wet clothes from the gym? Put them in a plastic bag before you bring them into your car. Loading up any wet groceries? Make it a habit to have a plastic container—a cooler, for example—ready so you won’t get your seats or the carpet wet.
2) Avoid eating in your car.
It’s hard, we know, but those French fries stuck under the seat or the milk tea you spilled the other week will lead to mold growth inside your vehicle. If you really need to eat inside your ride, always make sure that you clean up any spills immediately.
3) Park your car in a dry, shaded area.
The moisture from outside the vehicle can also contribute to potential mold buildup, so where you park your car will also be crucial. Leave it under the shade inside your garage if possible so it’ll stay dry even when it rains. If you don’t have a roofed garage, then get a car cover.
4) Disinfect your car regularly.
Regular vacuuming and wiping off dust and whatnot will help, but it’s best if you really get that antibacterial treatment for your car every so often. It’ll cost you extra assuming you can’t DIY it, but at least you’ll be sure those molds won’t grow back.
