How to get rid of mildew smell | FerrariChat

How to get rid of mildew smell

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by yelcab, Dec 12, 2019.

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  1. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
    Consultant

    Nov 29, 2001
    12,662
    San Carlos, CA
    Full Name:
    Mitchell Le
    I am working on a old car that sat for five years in a garage for five years in San Francisco. As you know, SF is a damp city with lots of days of fog. The car sat under a plastic cover that … traps moisture inside the car. The result is there is mold on every leather and plastic surface of the car. There is probably mold in the carpeting too but you can't see it.

    I have wiped off the moldy stuff with vinegar solution, dried it out, rolled down the windows for a couple days now and still smell moldy when I sit in it.

    What to do?
     
  2. flash32

    flash32 F1 Veteran

    Aug 22, 2008
    5,691
    Central NJ
    Full Name:
    Dominick
    First clean everything with vingear and wet vac ..remove seats to get underneath

    Then out in direct sunlight or a dehumidifed garage ..use cat litter or baking soda as well

    Once very dry interior use a ion generator to clean the remaining air

    Use mask of course

    Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk
     
  3. daynyc

    daynyc Karting
    Silver Subscribed

    Aug 5, 2016
    80
    I recently had a similar problem with a newly acquired 308. I recommend trying a product called Puroclenz. I suggest buying two standard tablets and giving your car two treatments.


    Sent from my iPhone using FerrariChat.com mobile app
     
  4. flash32

    flash32 F1 Veteran

    Aug 22, 2008
    5,691
    Central NJ
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    Dominick
    That should have read ozone generator not ion but be aware of how to use and any health concerns

    Sent from my moto g(7) using Tapatalk
     
  5. ridege55

    ridege55 Formula 3
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    May 9, 2017
    1,339
    Manhattan Beach, CA
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    John
    +1 for the ozone generator, but I don’t think you can buy them in California
     
  6. Wade

    Wade Three Time F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Mar 31, 2006
    32,793
    East Central, FL
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    Wade O.
    To me, adding moisture to mold is like fuel to a fire... but would steam cleaning do the trick?

     
  7. Kainedogg

    Kainedogg Rookie

    Jan 5, 2008
    36
    ALDIE, VA
    I've had great success using a diluted mixture of water & peroxide on certain surfaces. Very effective on cloth material for killing the bacteria.
     
  8. PaulK

    PaulK F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Apr 24, 2004
    4,624
    Michigan
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    Paul
    I had this happen on a friend's car (unfortunately my fault). The dealer used some kind of mild bleach solution and a citrus solution. Not sure if that helps but there is no mold and it doesn't smell like it either.
     
  9. Cribbj

    Cribbj Formula 3

    I had a similar issue with a car's carpeting - I pulled it out and power washed it with Odo-Ban & Tea Tree Oil & let it dry in the sun for a couple of weeks. No more odor.
     
  10. 308 milano

    308 milano F1 Veteran

    Jan 15, 2007
    5,257
    Montana
    Full Name:
    Kim
    Will take mold issues any day of the week over having field mice take up residence. Purchased a very nice original Datsun 280Z that I thought would be a fun project but let it sit for about a month outside the shop next to the field. Little bastards found a small area of the center driveshaft tunnel that they could get in to. Never smelled something so rancid in all my life. Ended up tearing the carpet out all the interior panels and finally just gave the damn thing away.
     
  11. fatbillybob

    fatbillybob Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Aug 10, 2002
    26,430
    socal
    Mold is health hazard be careful
     
  12. yelcab

    yelcab F1 World Champ
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    Nov 29, 2001
    12,662
    San Carlos, CA
    Full Name:
    Mitchell Le
    308 milano likes this.
  13. johnk...

    johnk... F1 World Champ
    Owner

    Jun 11, 2004
    10,667
    CT
    Full Name:
    John Kreskovsky
    Once it's in the leather it's next to impossible to get out. Been trying on a car for years with every commercial product I could find, home made remedies and an ozone generator.

    I can get so it doesn't smell too much but if you spend any time in the car any clothing in contact with the leather absorbs the odor.

    Good luck.

    Nice speedster.
     
  14. SCKOMS

    SCKOMS F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Oct 21, 2011
    3,849
    Lake County, IL
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    Spiro

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