How to Remove Mildew Smell in Car?

Notice that pungent, musty odor in your car? If your car seats or carpets have been previously soaked with snow or rain, then you didn’t have the chance to dry them thoroughly (as what usually happens in stormy or snowy weather), there’s a huge chance that the lingering musty odor comes from mildew. So how to remove mildew smell in your vehicle?

There are effective ways on how to remove mildew smell, or at least, minimize it. How? Read on and find out.

5 Steps to Remove Mildew Smell from a Car

1. Find the Source of the Odor

The first thing to do is to locate where the mildew is. Don’t leave any stone untouched. Look  under the car upholstery and rugs, inside the vents, and even the area where you keep your spare tires. If you detect that the mold growth is in the air conditioner, start the A/C and check. Mold growth in A/C is actually indicative of a moldy air filter. For cleaning A/C vents, you can use cotton swabs that are dipped in window cleaner. If you still feel that your A/C has not been cleaned out completely, you can run the heater at full-blast for 10-15 minutes. Remember to leave the windows open.

2. Dry the Car Interiors

Park the car somewhere warm and leave the car doors open for a few hours so that the interior dries completely. Remove the floor mats and dry them separately.

3. Clean up Mildew Spots

You need to clean the mildew spots with a clean shop towel. For tough growth,  use a dish sponge and vacuum so that you can scrub the growth easily. After cleaning the growth areas, dry them thoroughly. Use a hair-dryer for spot drying,. This is very helpful for removing traces of moisture from your vehicle.

4. Baking Soda

Sprinkle baking soda on the upholstery and floor of the car. You can slowly spread it into the rugs. Leave it overnight. Vacuum the next day. Also, you can keep a bowl with baking soda on the floorboard of your to absorb any lingering mildew smell.

5. Use an Air Freshener

To bring back the pleasant smell in your car, use an air freshener. Make sure that you use it only after you have cleaned the vehicle properly.

If this home remedy doesn’t work to remove mildew smell in your car, consider professional detailing services.

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