How to Remove Mildew From the Interior of a Vehicle

Remove mildew from inside your vehicle to make it safe and sanitary for the whole family.

Open car windows and an unexpected rain can result in mildew growth in your vehicle's interior. If your vehicle is closed up when it's damp inside, the combination of dampness and warmth from outside can become a recipe for a mildew disaster. Left unattended, mildew eats away at the fibers of your upholstery and weakens the fabric. Supplies from home help you remove mildew from your vehicle's interior along with its smell.

Things You'll Need

• Wet vacuum
• Vacuum
• Bucket
• 1 cup rubbing alcohol
• Sponge
• Clean cloths
• White vinegar
• Fungicide spray

Instructions

1. Extract any moisture in your vehicle's upholstery or carpet with a wet vacuum. Leave windows rolled down for several hours or overnight so the interior can dry completely.

2. 

   Mildew spores can be removed from your vehicle's interior with your vacuum.

   Vacuum the interior of your vehicle to remove mildew spores. Once you've finished vacuuming, discard the bag or clean out the interior of a bagless vacuum with vinegar to kill mildew spores.

3. Mix 1 cup rubbing alcohol with 1 cup warm water in a bucket. Sponge mildew stains on carpet or upholstery with the diluted alcohol solution. Blot with a damp cloth to rinse.

4. Wipe down your dashboard, windows and the insides of the doors with undiluted vinegar poured onto a clean cloth. Change to a new cloth as you remove mildew stains and continue to wash all hard-surfaced areas.

5. 

   Airing out your vehicle helps get rid of mildew.

   Allow the interior of your vehicle to dry overnight with windows open. This ensures that moisture from the mildew-removal process is not trapped in your vehicle.

6. Spray all fabric-covered, upholstered and carpeted areas inside your vehicle with a fungicide spray. This kills any mildew spores still lurking, as well as removing their odor.

Tips & Warnings

• Diluted bleach kills mildew on hard-surfaced interior. Use caution around upholstery or carpet that might get bleached.

• Substitute denatured alcohol for rubbing alcohol if necessary.

• Undiluted hydrogen peroxide is a very effective mildew killer. Test an inconspicuous area of upholstery or carpet before using.

References

• Good Housekeeping: How to Clean Mildew: Upholstery, Mattresses
• University of Illinois Extension: Thrifty Living: How to Remove Mold and Mildew: Upholstery, Mattresses and Rugs
• University of Florida: How to Prevent and Remove Mildew: Mildew Removal and Prevention