How to Get Rid of a Musty Mold Smell in a Car
Does your car smell like old gym shoes? If it does, you may have a problem with mildew. Mildew is often what brings that musty smell to your car and is generally caused by moisture inside the car. This moisture can be anywhere, but generally it is found either on the floor mats, the trunk carpet or the ceiling liner. You'll want to find it whereever it is in order to eliminate the odor.
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Instructions
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Locate the moisture in your car. Once you've located where the moisture is in your car you will want to find out why there is moisture there. If you don't know much about cars you will want to take it somewhere that can tell you what is leaking and how much it will cost to fix. Often times these are easy, cheap jobs because it is simply the lining, but they can be costly if it is the body of the car leaking.
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2
Take out the carpet or the ceiling liner, at least as much of it as you can. Now try to soak up as much of the moisture as you can. Spray with the mildew-resistant spray and allow it to set for at least 30 minutes but also read the directions on the spray for the manufacturer's recommendation. Then take your wet/dry vac and vacuum it all up again.
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Repeat Step 2 until all of the places that are leaking into your car are completely dry. Now you can put it back together.
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Purchase an odor eliminator for your car. These are NOT air fresheners. You can find them at auto stores or online and they will eliminate the odor, and not have an odor themselves. Normally they use carbon filters to clean the air. Place one of these in your car to finish getting rid of the smell.
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Tips & Warnings
Mildew is not something you should take lightly. Mold and mildew can have damaging effects on your car and your health. Ignoring the smell is a bad idea and can have long-term side effects. Wear gloves and a covering over your face when dealing directly with any mold and/or mildew.
