Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 4: Tracing the source of the odor
• Method 2 of 4: Remove moisture from your car
• Method 3 of 4: Neutralize the odor and freshen up the car
• Method 4 of 4: Prevent the mold smell from coming back

A mold odor can quickly develop in your car when moisture penetrates a surface and stays there long enough to attract bacteria and mold. When the bacteria and fungi grow, the unpleasant musty odor also gets worse. If you can smell such an odor in your car, address the problem.

To step

Method 1 of 4: Tracing the source of the odor

1. Check out the inside of your car. Check all areas, even those that are not immediately visible, such as the surfaces under the floor mats and chairs. Watch for moisture and mold.
   • Use your hand to feel surfaces you cannot see.
2. Examine the upholstery of the car seats in the front and back of the car. Check that the seats are free of mold and do not feel damp.
   • Leave the car in the sun with the windows open to let it dry.
   • Brush any loose mold from the upholstery.
3. Check the air conditioning. When the air conditioning is on, water condenses, attracting dust, mold spores, pollen and other bacteria. This creates mold later on, which causes a musty odor that can be dealt with.
   • Treat your car's air conditioning every year with a special spray to remove bad smells.
   • Spray the spray into the air conditioning vents to remove odors caused by standing water, bacteria and mold.

Method 2 of 4: Remove moisture from your car

1. Use a wet and dry vacuum to suck up all the moisture. If you don't have a wet and dry vacuum, you can rent one at most hardware stores. Such a device is very good at sucking up moisture that has penetrated deep into fabrics.
2. Absorb the moisture with anhydrous calcium chloride. This product is sold as white granules and is intended to absorb moisture. The granules can absorb twice their weight in water and become liquid when they absorb moisture. This is how to properly use anhydrous calcium chloride:
   • Put the granules in a cardboard box with a wax coating and holes in it.
   • Put the box in a glazed pot to soak up the moisture that drips from the box.
   • Leave the jar in the car until the box contains nothing but moisture and then put new granules in the box.
3. Leave the car windows open to air the car. This is a useful tip to follow when there is too much moisture to remove on your own. The heat from the sun heats up the inside of the car and causes some of the moisture on the seats, floor and other places with a mold odor to evaporate.

Method 3 of 4: Neutralize the odor and freshen up the car

1. Spray the mold-smelling areas with air freshener. Spray each area a few times so that the agent can soak in and get to the fungus odor. This will help get the mold smell out of your car.
   • Do not soak the areas with air freshener. If the spots get too wet, pat them dry.
2. Sprinkle baking soda on the areas of moisture and mold in your car. Let the baking soda soak into the coating. After about two hours, vacuum up the baking soda with a hand vacuum cleaner or a wet and dry vacuum cleaner.
3. Clean the floor and mats with shampoo. You can use good detergent to clean the floor and upholstery of your car to remove stains, mildew and other substances that cause bad smells.
   • Remove caked-on dirt with a putty knife or spatula.
   • Mix two tablespoons of detergent with 250 ml of water in a spray bottle and wet the affected areas.
   • Let the cleaner sit for a few minutes and then pat the area with a white washcloth.
   • Afterwards, suck up the remaining moisture with a wet and dry vacuum.
4. Go to a car cleaning company. Check the extent of the damage. Mold that has gotten into the lining of the cushions should be cleaned by a car cleaning company using fumigation technology.
   • Call several car cleaning companies in your area to ask about the price of a treatment. Such treatment can be expensive.

Method 4 of 4: Prevent the mold smell from coming back

1. Keep the inside of the car clean. Food scraps and dirt particles that fall into the car can provide a favorable environment for mold to grow in. Vacuuming and shaking out the car's floor mats regularly is an excellent way to prevent mold growth.
2. Keep the inside of your car dry. Moisture attracts mold, which is the cause of the musty smell. It's important to make sure the inside of your car stays dry.
   • Wipe up any spilled liquids immediately.
   • Remove wet floor mats from the car and let them air dry before putting them back in your car.
   • Open the windows and let fresh air flow into your car to get rid of the stale air.
3. Keep the mats and carpeting dry. If water has entered your car or you have spilled a lot of moisture and soaked the carpet, make sure to address the problem immediately to prevent mold growth. The floor covering must be completely cleaned, refreshed and dried.
   • Consider having your car cleaned by a professional if the carpet gets soaked.
4. Improve the air quality in your car. With poor air quality, you will again experience mold odors. It is important to control the humidity, to ventilate the car well and to make sure that the contaminated air can flow out of the car.
   • Every now and then, turn the windows of your car down to let in fresh air.
   • Make sure to clean and maintain your air conditioning every year.