How to Get Rid of Mold from Your Car Interior Like a Professional
Mold can occur for a variety of reasons, from spilled milk or other products to general dampness in a car. Any presentation of mold in a car is a cause of concern. Mold is harmful and can cause a wide range of health problems so if witnessed it is important to deal with it immediately. Because of its harmful nature, a lot of precaution is required when getting rid of it.
The best approach to get rid of mold is to have a deep clean and disinfection of the car’s interior so working on all surfaces will be required. An additional suggestion is to replace the cabin filter as this might have mold as well.
What is required
- White vinegar
- Face mask
- Protective suit/Overall
- Disposable Gloves
- Microfiber towels
- Detailing brushes
- Spray bottle
- All-purpose cleaner
- Extractor/Spot cleaner
- Ozone machine
- Vacuum
Table of Contents
Step 1
Safety comes first, put on the mask, gloves, and overall or protective suit. This is to protect yourself from the mold while removing it. Open all doors of the vehicle and drop the windows to aerate the car while working on it.
Step 2
Remove all personal items and place them in a box, and throw away what is not needed. Vacuum all surfaces thoroughly, repeat twice if you have to. This clears the majority of the mold and reduces the chances of inhalation
Step 3
Mix white vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio and spray all surfaces infected with the mold. Vinegar kills the bacteria, let it soak for 30 minutes then we can proceed. There are other products that can be used to kill mold but most contain bleach which might damage the fabric and other surfaces, to be on the safe side white vinegar is the preferred option.
Step 4
Mix the all-purpose cleaner with water in a 1:10 respectively. For plastic trim spray the surface, agitate with a brush and wipe with a clean microfiber towel, the process is the same when cleaning leather. In addition to using an all-purpose cleaner, we can also use a steam cleaner to further detail the cleaning process, if not available white vinegar and all-purpose cleaner will satisfy.
For fabric upholstery, carpet and headliner spray the all-purpose cleaner, agitate with a brush, and use an extractor to suck all the dirt out. Check the results and repeat if necessary. Wipe the surface with a dry microfiber towel to aid in the drying process.
Step 5
When all surfaces are clean and dry apply coatings for plastic trim, rubber trim, leather, and upholstery.
Step 6
The final detailed step is to use an ozone machine in the interior. Close all windows and place the ozone machine in a central place. Turn the car on and let the air conditioner run at room temperature. Turn on the ozone machine at let it run for 40 minutes. Ozone is a naturally occurring gas and effectively kills bacteria and viruses. When done aerate the car for 15 minutes to get rid of ozone. The car is completely clean and sanitized.
