If you come across a little mold in your car, then it is best not to neglect it. Mold should be removed as soon as you find it, and you should always take extra steps to ensure that it does not come back into your car, as soon as possible.
If you have found mold in your car, then you are in the right place, as we are here to tell you exactly how to get rid of it for good, and why you should!
Mold is a disgusting thing. It can smell, be furry, or even grow other microorganisms, the longer it is left there. If you find some mold in your vehicle, you will want to work to remove it straight away.
Luckily, there is a wide variety of different options you can use, some with just natural products that you will find in the home, and others that are designed to attack and destroy mold in seconds.
With our guide, we will show you exactly what causes mold, why you need to get rid of it, and the best methods to remove it, so that you never have to sit in your car looking at those nasty mold spots again.
What causes mold in your car and why should I get rid of it?
Mold will occur in many moist, warm environments, which is why this will often happen in your car. Mold is basically just a type of fungus that grows in many different places, and spreads quickly.
Sometimes, mold can grow and develop a strong, unpleasant scent, that is not only disgusting, but also dangerous for your health if you inhale it.
For instance, many types of mold such as black mold can be very hazardous for your health, and can cause problems such as shortness of breath, fatigue, headaches and allergic reactions. This is why it is so vital that you remove any type of mold that you come across, as you may have struggle breathing.
The main reasons that mold may grow in your vehicle is because there is excess moisture inside, or it has become warm inside the car. This could be due to leaving wet or damp clothing in your car, or spilling food or drinks on the seats, and not cleaning it up, or even if your window or windshield is not sealed properly.
All of these things will allow excess air and moisture into your car, which can create the perfect environment for some mold to begin growing and festering in your vehicle.
The main issue with mold is that it can grow and spread so easily, and very quickly. Therefore, you will want to remove it as soon as you see mold forming, as it will be much harder to remove once it has spread.
How to Get Rid of Mold in Your Car
If you are unfortunate enough to find mold in your car, then there are a few methods that you can use to remove it. All of which, we have gathered and prepared for you here. However, before you start with a cleaning solution, there are a few steps that you should take first.
For example, if you are trying to get rid of mold from your car, then you should first try to remove the cause of the mold. This could be wet or dirty floor mats, a sweaty gym bag, damp sporting gear, or stained seat covers.
Try to remove anything from the vehicle that could be causing the moisture, and therefore causing the mold to grow in your car.
Once this is done, you will then need to park your car in an open space, typically where there is a lot of direct sunlight, and then open all of the doors and roll the windows down. This should work great to air out the vehicle completely, and remove any mold spores from the air inside your car.
You should aim to leave the vehicle to air out for a little while, the longer the better, but as long as it is aired for at least 15-20 minutes, you should be okay.
Then, you will need to put on some gloves, protective eyewear and a facemask, to ensure that you do not inhale or ingest any mold spores. Once you are suited and booted, you are ready to tackle that mold!
All you have to do then is decide on a method that you want to use to remove the moldy patches in your vehicle.
Methods to Remove Mold from Your Car:
Salt
One of the best and simplest methods to remove mold is with a little non iodized salt, a bucket of water and a spray bottle.
For this one to work, you will need to start by vacuuming the area with the mold on it, and remove any surface mold that may be just sitting there.
Then, you are going to need to mix the non iodized salt with a bucket of water, and add the solution to a spray bottle ready to treat the mold.
Morton Salt Regular Salt
With your cleaning solution at the ready, you can then spray the affected area, and around the surface to remove all signs of mold from the surface.
Then, you can scrub at the mold to remove it with some normal water, or finish by vacuuming up what was left of the mold. Keep in mind that you may have to repeat the process a few times to completely remove all of the mold in the car.
Salt is an excellent solution for removing mold because it works to dry out and dehydrate the mold, which starves the fungus and stops it in its tracks.
Once you have treated the moldy patches with the salt, it is best to leave the area and the car to dry out in direct sunlight, which should effectively dry out the mold completely.
White Vinegar
You could also utilize white vinegar to neutralize the mold in your vehicle. White vinegar is an excellent cleaning solution that works on almost anything!
All you need for this method to work is again, a bucket of water and a spray bottle, along with some white vinegar.
Lucy’s Family Owned – Natural Distilled White Vinegar
In the same way as the salt method, you are going to need to vacuum the area first to remove surface mold, and then you can use this cleaning solution to dig deeper into the area and remove all signs of mold.
With your distilled white vinegar, you are also going to need to mix it with the water, and add to a spray bottle. We recommend using 8 parts vinegar and 2 parts water for this method to work the best.
All you have to do is apply the white vinegar solution to the affected moldy area, and lightly scrub at it for about 30 seconds.
Then, leave the area to dry out in the sun for about 15-20 minutes, with all of the windows of your car down, and the doors open. This will effectively air out the vehicle, and you won’t be smelling of vinegar the next time you drive it!
Once it has been left to drym, you can use the vacuum to pull up the excess, or dab with some baking soda and then vacuum to get rid of any lasting signs of vinegar.
Using white vinegar is a great way to remove mold because it is naturally very acidic, which will burn away at the mold, killing and removing it.
Clove Oil
You may be surprised to hear that you can also use clove oil to get rid of mold in your car. This is largely due to the fact that clove oil is a natural antiseptic, which will attack the mold and prevent it from growing any more inside your car.
For this method to work, you will need a spray bottle, along with a 1 liter bottle of water, and a quarter teaspoon of clove oil.
Clove Essential Oil
Once you have all of your ingredients, mix the clove oil and water together, and place in a spray bottle. Again, you will need to vacuum the mold first and then spray a small amount of your solution onto the moldy area.
Then, you will need to use a cloth to remove the mold, and do this just by blotting the area lightly. Leave to dry out for 15 minutes, and then vacuum up the excess when you are done!
Cleaning Products
Our final solution for removing mold is simply by purchasing a cleaning product specifically designed to tackle tough mold and fungus.
There are so many of these available, so just ensure that you have one that is non toxic, and suitable for spraying on the surface of your car seats, such as ones that are okay for leather, fabric or vinyl materials.
Summary
As long as you tackle it as soon as possible, removing mold from your car is not so difficult a task.
With our cleaning methods, you can get rid of all signs of mold from your vehicle in just a matter of minutes.
Just remember never to leave damp items or the causes of mold in your car again, and clean up any spills promptly and efficiently!