Informational Guide

How To Get Rid Of Mold In Car (Complete Removal Guide)

Mold can be dangerous to your health. Read our guide to learn how to get rid of mold in your car.

Mold isn’t just annoying; it can be dangerous to your health. Because of this, you don’t want any mold lurking in your vehicle. We will show you how to get rid of mold in a car. Our complete guide touches on numerous subjects, including how to get rid of mold in the car air conditioner, as well as how to get rid of mold in the carpet of a car.

Why is there Mold in my Car?

If you’ve been wondering how to get rid of mold smell in car, you might also be trying to figure out how it got there in the first place. Several issues can cause mold to grow in the vehicle, plus it is capable of growing across many different surface types. Here are some of the main causes of mold growth in a vehicle.

  • Liquid spilled or left on the floor
  • A leaky structure that allows water into the cabin
  • Windows got left open, allowing the rain to penetrate the cabin
  • Sunroof left open during a rainstorm
  • Parking in a humid or damp storage facility
  • Leaving damp or wet clothing in the car
  • Flood damage

All of these factors can lead to damage, leaving you to figure out how to get rid of mold in your car.

How Dangerous Is Mold to Your Health?

You want to know how to get rid of mold in the car because of how dangerous it can be to your health. If the mold isn’t removed right away, it can lead to the following symptoms, according to the CDC.

  • Allergies, creating a runny nose, sneezing, and rash
  • Coughing or wheezing
  • Asthma

Additionally, black mold can be toxic. If left untreated, it can cause:

  • Continual fatigue
  • Bleeding in the respiratory system
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Headaches

With most mold patches appearing black, you wonder what is the difference between black mold and regular mold? Regular mold can appear very quickly, while black mold takes weeks to form. Additionally, black mold is much more dangerous to your health, as illustrated in the above symptoms.

How To Get Rid Of Mold In Car

How to Get Rid of Mold in Your Car (Step by Step Guide)

Before you learn how to get rid of black mold in car, you want to take some special safety precautions.

  • Wear protection over your mouth and nose. You might consider using an N-95 particulate respirator.
  • Wear protective clothing that you can throw away or wash when you are finished.
  • Put on eye protection and gloves.
  • Avoid cleaning mold if you are pregnant.

You also want to have some materials on hand when you are wondering “how to get rid of mold in my car.”

  • Salt (8:2 ratio with water)
  • Vinegar (8:2 ratio with water)
  • Clove Oil (1/4 tsp. to 1 L of water)
  • Commercial mold cleaner
  • Wet/dry vacuum

Car’s Interior

If you want to know how to get rid of mold in the car interior, you can follow these steps. Not only can you learn how to get rid of mold in car carpet, but how to also remove it from the floor and upholstery.

  1. 1
    Test your chosen product on a small area first. Make sure the product won’t have an adverse effect on the material.
  2. 2
    Scrub the area with your chosen cleaner.
  3. 3
    With salt or clove oil, you can leave the solution to sit on the area until it becomes crusty.
  4. 4
    Vacuum up the area and allow it to air dry.
  5. 5
    Exposing the site to sunlight will help dry it and kill any remaining mold.
  6. 6
    Take steps to prevent the regrowth of mold in that location.

Car’s Trunk

The same steps can be followed if you want to know how to get rid of mold in the trunk of a car.

  1. 1
    Test out your product on a small part of the trunk first.
  2. 2
    Scrub the affected area.
  3. 3
    Vacuum up the solution and allow the area to air dry.
  4. 4
    If you can leave the trunk open, the sunlight will help dry it faster. Don’t close the trunk lid with a wet interior unless you have to. This will only lead to the regrowth of mold.
  5. 5
    Take steps to keep mold from growing in your trunk again.

Car’s AC Vents

To learn how to get rid of mold smell in car vents, consider purchasing a commercial automotive odor removal product. If the odors aren’t severe, you can also use Lysol or vinegar and water.

  1. 1
    Turn on the vehicle and put the A/C on max blast.
  2. 2
    Spray the disinfectant into each vent.
  3. 3
    Spray some into the recirculation vent.
  4. 4
    Allow the A/C to run several minutes on full speed.
  5. 5
    Replace the cabin air filter, which should be done periodically per your service schedule anyway.

If the odors come back, you can retreat the system with the same steps.

How to Prevent Mold Growth in Your Car (Long Term)

If you don’t want to follow the steps of learning how to get rid of mold in car AC or figuring out how to get rid of mold on the carpet in a car again, you should follow these maintenance tips.

  • Store your vehicle away from moisture.
  • Keep windows up, and doors closed when not in use.
  • Don’t eat or drink in your vehicle.
  • Spray the inside of the car with an antimicrobial cleaning product.
  • Clean or detail the car regularly.
  • Replace the cabin air filter as outlined in the maintenance schedule.
How to Prevent Mold Growth in Your Car

People Also Ask (FAQs)

How much does it cost to get mold out of a car?

If you don’t want to figure out how to get rid of mold and mildew in a car but would rather trust the professionals, you are looking at an average cost of around $1,200. Of course, the price depends on the severity of mold and how much work needs to be done.

How do you get mold spores off car paint?

The steps are similar to when you learned how to get rid of mold on a car floor. Use a little olive oil and a rag to wipe down the area. You could also wipe it off with white vinegar. Just make sure you wash the area off when you are finished.

Does alcohol kill mold?

Yes, you can use alcohol if you want to learn how to get rid of mold in car upholstery. However, you will need a high concentration of alcohol, and it could discolor the fabric.

Will mold die if it dries out?

The mold could become inactive when dried out. However, it never fully goes away unless it is completely removed from the environment. You must learn how to get rid of mold in car trunk if you want to be sure it is gone.

How do professionals remove mold?

Professionals have all the tools to get your car looking like new, anything from car polishers to cleaning tools. Unlike the steps where you learned how to get rid of mold in carpet in a car, a professional will follow the same path, but using commercial equipment, such as dehumidifiers, vacuums, air scrubbers, and cleaners.

Conclusion

Not only do you know how to get rid of mold smell in car AC, but you should also be able to remove it from the interior after following our guide. It’s time to take charge of your car’s appearance and your health by riding the area of mold once and for all.

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