Many odors often indicate the need for a car’s upkeep. These scents either indicate a problem with the car’s function or that you need serious cleaning. One type of this odor is the mildew smell.
Similar to burning rubber smell from car, mildew smell in cars is particularly bothersome. So, it’s always best to know sources and how to eliminate them. Better yet, practice prevention methods.
Introduction to Mildew Smell
One of the many types of lousy car odor is a mildew smell. This mildew odor results from the condensation build-up or trapped moisture within the car. Musty and mildew smell results from colonies of fungus forming from excess water.
Moisture and heat are the typical requirements that favor mildew growth. Mildew usually grows on non-porous materials such as vinyl and plastic. Forgotten food, trash, and clothes in your car may provide a breeding ground for mold.
Origin of Mildew
Mildew is a visible mass of white threadlike matter that consists of hyphae and their fruiting structures. As briefly mentioned above, they thrive in moist and warm environments. So, mildew is commonly associated with damp clothes, fibers, leather, and several plant diseases.
Similarities between their characteristics cause mildews and mold to be often referred to interchangeably. Mildew is known to cause respiratory irritation in people with allergies or sensitivities. Molds, however, are associated with more severe effects on human health.
How to Get Rid of Mildew Smell in Car
In the elimination of any foul odor in your car, there are two crucial things that you need to do: remove and deodorize. The best and most typical way to eliminate the smell is by vacuum and steam cleaning. Removal methods are then followed by deodorizing using everyday home care products that might already be at your disposal. Such items include baking soda, mild detergent, white vinegar, and fragrance or essential oils.
Mildew can grow in different parts of your car as long as it’s moist enough. Having said that, how can you ensure you eliminate all the sources of moldy smell? Here are the best methods for removing a foul odor in your carpet, dashboard, seat, and the corners near the car door.
1. Vacuum and Steam Clean
Preliminary vacuuming is essential to eliminate the other garbage around the car. In addition, the presence of other trash might get in the way of removing mildew later on. So, vacuuming all interior areas must be done before steaming.
Not wholly getting rid of other possible sources of the foul odor could only make them reappear. Therefore, it would be best to deal with all sources of odor earlier to remove a potential breeding ground for mildew.
When cleaning the engine bay, remember to clean the engine bay. The grime build-up can easily migrate through vents and allow mildew to thrive. Therefore, the most efficient and best way to eliminate odor, such as mildew, would be to steam clean.
Steam cleaners eliminate the smell by blasting away unwanted debris and microscopic particles. They remove the smell by blasting away unwanted debris and the odor. Some areas of your car might still need to eradicate the mildew smell.
2. Use Baking Soda
Baking soda is a great home care product that can remove odor and stains. It’s also a good deodorizer, especially when dealing with bothersome odors like mildew.
Sprinkle it on the surface of your car door, carpets, seats, or any other parts where the odor is present. Allow it to sit for about 15-20 minutes, but if the smell is stubborn, you might want to let it sit overnight.
3. Use Mild Detergent
Mild detergents made of natural components are best done alongside steam cleaning. It’s a great product that removes and deodorizes the mildew smell. It could make your car smell a lot fresher. Spray these to the surfaces that cause the foul odor. Using car freshies are also helpful.
4. Apply White Vinegar
White vinegar is an inexpensive yet excellent deodorizer. Use only a tiny amount and blot it to the affected surface. However, be careful in adding too much.
The sour smell of the vinegar might end up lingering inside your car. This odor can last up to weeks to completely disappear. So, always remember to dilute your vinegar in a 1:1 ratio before spraying it on surfaces with a lousy odor.
5. Apply Essential or Fragrance oil
A drop or two of either fragrance or essential oils such as Egyptian musk oil and Lick me all over might do the trick if the mildew lingers. Although they won’t necessarily eliminate the bothersome odor, they can mask it with their pleasant scent.
However, take caution with the amount you use since they can overpower the car’s scent. Likewise, you can place a few drops of it on a handkerchief and tuck it anywhere to circulate. You may also create your car air freshener using your favorite scented oil.
Eliminating Mildew Smell From Different Materials
Two critical steps in eliminating mildew are removal and deodorizing. Removing mildew odor from tiles, carpets, closets, and the like requires the same materials as the previous section.
If the foul odor still lingers, how do you remove the musty smell in your house? Apart from the suggested methods in the previous section, you may also opt to use a canned air freshener. Of course, nothing beats a general house cleaning to remove places where mildew thrives.
Prevention is Key
Avoid inspecting every nook and cranny. Prevention is the best way to eradicate mildew and other unpleasant odor—prevention methods for such odors. You could easily incorporate these into your cleaning schedule or daily routine.
One practice is to avoid storing wooden items, damp clothes, and uncleaned food waste. These items can trap moisture, after all.
Dehumidifiers or air purifiers are also a good idea to lessen the surrounding moisture altogether.
Regular cleaning and inspection would be the best method to prevent mildew growth, why does my car smell like rotten eggs, and also get rid of weed smell. After all, having a clean environment will not allow mildew to grow and imbue such a foul odor.
Bye-bye Musty Odor
Understanding the source of the issue is essential in finding the perfect solution. Likewise, it is vital to know how mildews grow, what environments they thrive in, and the risks and hassles that come with their presence. It’s the first step to getting rid of them properly.
Most things needed to remove the irritating mildew odor are available at home. However, remember that prevention is the best way to deal with vexing issues like mildew smells.
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