During the rainy season, there are several opportunities for water to find it’s way within your car. The carpeting and upholstery often become moist and develop an unwanted mildew odor.
There are several preventative steps for removing a car’s mildew stench to ensure that musty odors do not return. By following some of the below solutions, you can return the new car smell that existed the first day you purchased it.
Mildew Odor Removal Solutions
1 Blot Dry Everything Wet
Within the battle against mildew, moisture is almost always the enemy. If a mildew odor exists within the car it is important to hunt down these locations and blot dry them with a clean dry towel. Be sure to press firmly to draw out the maximum amount of moisture that is possible.
2 Place Everything in Sun
The direct UV rays can go a long ways in eliminating mildew and adding freshness back within fiber. Look through the automobile and identify anything affected that is not bolted down. Next, remove all of these items and place them within the sun for 1-2 days. Removable items can vary from car seats, seat cover and floor mats. After spending over two days within direct sunlight it normal for these items to dry out and lose their mildew scent.
3 Blast AC & Only Park in Direct Sunlight
This is a rather simplistic solution which can be effective in most cases of mildew growth within a car. When driving the car, be sure to turn on the air conditioner on full power to ensure that the AC ventilation and interior of the car dries out any remaining moisture that mildew can live from. When not driving the car, be sure to park the car in direct sunlight with the window cracked to allow for additional evaporation of moisture.
4 Sprinkle Baking Soda
This household powder has been used for generations for it’s odor absorption powers. Sprinkle heavy quantities of baking soda over all affected areas within the interior of the car. Gentile rub the powder in within the upholstery and carpeting and provide 4-7 days for the baking soda to dry out the moisture and absorb any remaining mildew odor. After nearly a week has passed, vacuum the powder from the interior of the car and enjoy a freshened automobile.
5 Create a Homemade Anti-Mildew Spray
A homemade anti-mildew spray can be created from apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil or grape seed extract mixed with water and a small portion of dish detergent. Mix 4 teaspoon spoon of apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil or grape seed extract, with a half teaspoon of dish detergent and 3 cups of water within a household spray bottle. Once created, spray down the affected areas of the automobile, ensuring that they are sufficiently covered within the solution. As a final step, ensure that windows are cracked to provide for a faster drying timetable. Although all three options are antifungal, apple cider vinegar is far less expensive than opting to use either tea tree oil or grape seed extract.
6 Dry Coffee Grounds
Use of dry coffee grounds can help a great deal in absorbing unwanted odors. Fill two small flat tupperware containers with dry coffee grounds and place then under the two front seats with the lids off. Allow for 5-7 days of absorption before removing the tupperware containers and enjoying the subtile scent of fresh coffee beans within the car.
7 Use Enzymes
Using enzyme cleaners can go a long way to naturally remove mildew from the interior of an automobile. The activated enzymes eat through odorous mildew and organics which cause freshness and leave freshness behind. Depending on the extent of the mildew infestation, use a enzyme solution on a sliding scale. If it if particularly bad, try pour this solution on the affected area to let it soak in rather than opting to use enzyme spray. After application, it is common to allow 24-48 hours for the solution to soak in before returning to blot dry the product with the affected areas and leaving windows cracked to allow for the solution to dry completely.
8 Run an Ozone Machine Within Car
When all else has failed, renting an ozone machine might be a viable option. Ozone machines are capable of removing moisture from the air as well as neutralizing any odor within an enclosed space. It is important that you careful read the instruction of your ozone machine rental as failure to do so can be harmful and could potential lead to one’s death.
9 Take to Car Cleaners
When short on time and patience, taking one’s car to the car cleaners is usually a sure fire way to remove the mildew odor and return the car’s smell to normal. Depending on the extent of that mildew within the car, this option will usually require from one to two days for completion.
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Since mildew thrives in environments with high quantities of moisture, it is important that all water leaks within this space are sealed up. This includes everything from a leaky pipe to a runny faucet within this space.
Ventilation is an important for the removal of mildew odors from the basement. Be sure open all windows and leave them open to aerate the space and remove the unwanted aroma. Opening windows during the day, and using some of the below methods at night is effective at bring freshness back within a basement.
Without moisture, basement mildew will dry up and go away. Running a dehumidifier will help in achieving this objective by drying up any moisture within this space. Leaving windows open during the day while running the dehumidifier will help to reduce the amount of build up.
This household substance is one of the most effective substances at killing mold spore and removing residual odor. Mix a solution of one part white vinegar with four parts water and wipe down all walls and mop down the flooring. Open windows and run a fan to allow the space to quickly air dry. For an added effect, close windows at night and leave bowls of white vinegar throughout the basement.
This type of primer works well in combating mildew built up within basement walls. When other methods have failed, apply a coat of Kilz to the walls of the basement to neutralize and cover any remaining mold spore.
As a finishing touch lavender can add a pleasant scent to your basement. Measure 6-8 drops of lavender oil within a bowl and add half a cup of water. Make 2-3 bowls and place them strategically throughout the basement. For full effect, leave bowls within basement until the formula naturally evaporates.