How to Remove Mold From Car Interior

What is worse than having the friend with the smelly car is realizing that you yourself are in possession of such a vehicle. Many smelly problems in vehicles come down to mold or mildew growth somewhere within the car. During summer, when we rely on air-condition to help us survive the scorching heat, our cars are susceptible to growing molds. We usually have our windows closed during summer to have the cold air from the air-conditioner to circulate. That alone will make the mold thrive and survive inside our cars.

What is Mold?

Molds are actually fungi and can be found almost anywhere in our surroundings, may it be indoors or outdoors. Mold has the tendency to grow in cold and insulated spaces. Once the mold spores has thrived on the surface and meets all its needs for surviving such as moisture content , nutrients the right temperature, the spore will grow and multiply. Mold reproduces by means of tiny spores; the spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air. Those molds can cause health problems such as allergies and even toxicity.

Mold Removal

If you have a mold removal dilemma you can check the advice below. As a precaution you should wear appropriate attire such as clothes that you wouldn’t mind throwing once your done cleaning as well as goggles and gloves.

1. Prepare your self: As a precaution though you should wear appropriate attire such as clothes that you would not mind throwing away once you are done cleaning as well as goggles and gloves. For the cleaning materials you would need biocides which are also known as non-chlorine bleach and, disinfectant, brush and cleaning rugs. You should use a non chlorine bleach since it would prevent removing the color of your carpet, upholstery and car seat.
2. Locate where the mold is: Find where the stale smell is coming from. This may seem like a silly step, but often mold can hide under seats, behind cloth fabric, upholstery and the corners which are likely to be the location where the mold grows. If you are having a difficult time looking for the source, you can try using mold testing kit. A mold testing kit will allow you to identify molds and as well as its harmfulness. Some of the brands you can check out are Pro-lab and Enviro.
3. Loosen up those spores: To be able to loosen up the spores, start with vacuuming the affected area. Then brush the mold and the mildew which usually comes together. Scrubbing of these molds are the best means of removing them on the surfaces of our surroundings. Scrub vigorously to ensure that all the molds are removed. For dry surfaces, we need to wash it first with water as the dry mold spores can be carried by air to prevent inhalation. Then vacuum the affected area again. It would be advisable to throw the bag after to lessen the risk of having the mold spread inside your car when you use your vacuum cleaner again.
4. Disinfect the area: If the mildew is still present use detergent or non-ammonia soap to clean the surfaces thoroughly. Once the infected area is cleaned rinse it with water and then disinfect it. Perform disinfection by using bleach and water. The amount of bleach should be in proportion with the amount of water that is being used.

Mold remediation can be a pretty challenging project and usually involves very caustic chemicals that can make you sick. Fogging is a technique that uses environmentally safe products to kill the mold and prevent its spread. The use of these safe products reduces your chances of getting sick, only attacks the mold, and guarantees a resolution to your mold issues. Once the surface is disinfected, steam cleaning the interior of the vehicle will help to sterilize and sanitize the area.

It is impossible to get rid of all mold and mold spores indoors; some mold spores will be found floating through the air and in house dust. The mold spores will not grow if moisture is not present. Indoor mold growth can and should be prevented or controlled by controlling moisture indoors. If you clean up the mold, but do not fix the water problem, then, most likely, the mold problem will come back. Mold and water damage can be devastating but with proper clean up you can be confident the mold will not return. Part of what using a professional buys you is peace of mind, and that is truly priceless. Although it may seem expensive at the time, proper professional mold abatement is well worth it in the long run. You may repeat this procedure every so often to prevent the mold from coming back. Mold abatement procedure depends on a number of conditions (your climate, humidity, etc.).

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