How to Remove Mold Odors From Inside Automobiles

Mold odor forms when moisture seeps into a surface and lingers for a certain period. This moisture often come from not drying the car well after washing. As the mold begins to grow it leaves an unpleasant musky scent that can make driving your car a very difficult task. By following these helpful tips, you can neutralize mold odors and have a fresh smelling car that is mold free.

1.  Inspect the inside and interior of the car. 
Look at the floor mats, remove the floor mats and see if there is any evidence of mold in these spots inside the car. If the floor mats are moist, place these in the dryer with a few fabric softener sheets or allow them to dry in the sun.

2.  Check underneath the seats.
Feel the carpet underneath the seats with your hand. See if the carpet feels moist. If it does, take a clean rag and blot the excess moisture. Then take a blow dryer and aim the blow dryer at this spot inside the car. Allow the hot air to dry up the moisture underneath the seat.

3. Examine the upholstery on the front seats and the back seats. 
Make sure they are mold free and are not moist when you touch them. If they are, take the hairdryer and allow the heat to dissipate the moisture on the seat.

4. Leave the car doors open on sunny days to let the car air out. 
This is a helpful tip to consider when there is too much moisture for you to get rid of on your own. The heat from the sun will warm up the inside of the car and work to evaporate some of the moisture left behind on seats, the floor and anywhere the mold smell originates.

5. Sprinkle baking soda on the spots inside the car where the moisture and mold is. 
Allow this to seep into the carpet. After an hour or 2, vacuum the excess baking soda with a portable handheld vacuum. 

6. Spray the designated areas with Febreeze. 

Spray each spot a few times and allow it to seep into the area where the mold smell is. This will help to remove mold odor from within your car. 

**While it may be tempting to spray the inside of the car with perfume or air deodorizers, this only masks odors and does nothing to neutralize or prevent odors from coming back. This is why it is essential to find the source and eliminate it.