Sour milk smell in car, any way to get rid of it?

PrettyBoy

This happened a couple of days ago, milk spilled in car boot after I went shopping, the lid on the bottle was loose and a small amount of milk spilled on the floor of the boot (Mk4 Golf). It wasn't much - maybe about half a cup. I took the floor of the boot out and washed the spot where the spill occured with soapy water on both sides.

Couple of days later and there's a strong smell of sour milk in the car, are there any ways to get rid of smells like this?

Esel

Try sprinkling it with Bread Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate). Leave for a day, then vacuum. Repeat a few times.

randy hickey

If you don't have baking soda to hand, you could try biological washing powder worked into the area with a damp cloth and left for a while before rinsing.

Apparently white vinegar also works.

Alternatively, you could try a professional product like Autosmart Brisk or the following;

http://www.cleancar.ie/valetpro-heavy-duty-carpet-cleaner.html

HTH.

Dingle_berry

I've heard that diluteilton also works. No idea how that would affect the colour of the material though!

miller50841

Get a full interior valet and let the pro's do it with the equipment they have it's well worth doing.

PrettyBoy

miller50841 wrote: »

Get a full interior valet and let the pro's do it with the equipment they have it's well worth doing.

Think this is the best thing to do, any recommendations for a South Dublin valet that are capable of getting rid of bad smells (sour milk in this case)?

miller50841

PrettyBoy wrote: »

Think this is the best thing to do, any recommendations for a South Dublin valet that are capable of getting rid of bad smells (sour milk in this case)?

Basically any place that has the equipment to deep clean I've used the place in Clonskeagh/ Roebuk Road and a very god job bit dear but do specials if you leave the car between 8pm and 8am if I recall right.

The car I got done had been owned by a serial smoker for 10 years the tar was everywhere and sold it on and everyone thought a smoker never sat in it.

shooter88

Esel wrote: »

Try sprinkling it with Bread Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate). Leave for a day, then vacuum. Repeat a few times.

Try bread soda first and dampen lightly,if this fails hover it off and blot white vinegar to the area..

ION08

Get another floor board from a scrap yard?

vectra

PrettyBoy wrote: »

Think this is the best thing to do, any recommendations for a South Dublin valet that are capable of getting rid of bad smells (sour milk in this case)?

Speak to Brian @ http://www.spiritdetailing.com/

Techno_Toaster

Bread soda left overnight and then vacuumed works...happened to me and this is how I got rid of it!

ClyAnna

Buy a new car, Don't spill again.

Fey!

You could also try a professional steam clener; I had to do it after I broke eggs in the back of the car. Worked brilliantly, despite the eggs having sat for several weeks (they broke the night before we went on holidays, which we only found out when we got home!)

miller50841

vectra wrote: »

Speak to Brian @ http://www.spiritdetailing.com/

Looks pricey but am sure a very good job.

BubbleBalls

Bread/baking soda +1

vectra

miller50841 wrote: »

Looks pricey but am sure a very good job.

Possibly the only man in Ireland I would give my car to.

Solair

You'd need to do a proper valet with a carpet washer as it will actually remove the milk.

Anything else is really just a cover-up job.

JohnBoy26

I had the same issue just after christmas. Instead of getting someone to valet the car for me I went and bought a carpet/upholstery washer and cleaned it myself.

It was bought for not much more than what a good valet would of cost me and at the end of the day il always have it if the same thing happens again.

BubbleBalls

Half cup of milk on a removable mat. You don't need a valet. You have washed it. Wash it again and rub in baking soda, don't sprinkle, rub it in and leave it as long as you can. It will work.

JohnBoy26

BubbleBalls wrote: »

Half cup of milk on a removable mat. You don't need a valet. You have washed it. Wash it again and rub in baking soda, don't sprinkle, rub it in and leave it as long as you can. It will work.

You'd be surprised at how difficult it is to remove the smell of sour milk from a carpet.

BubbleBalls

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

You'd be surprised at how difficult it is to remove the smell of sour milk from a carpet.

I do know. Have kids and there's also been pets in the car. Sour milk, vomit, damp, beer, yoghurt - elbow grease, then bread/bacon soda (lots) has just worked for me. I've caked the stuff on though. It does work.

AndyTheDude

BubbleBalls wrote: »

Half cup of milk on a removable mat. You don't need a valet. You have washed it. Wash it again and rub in baking soda, don't sprinkle, rub it in and leave it as long as you can. It will work.

Nonsense.
All he did was soaking the carpet and then he just rubbed the milk in. No way you can properly clean a carpet without an extractor machine.
My advice is to clean the metal parts underneath yourself and take the carpet part to a valeting company to do a proper cleaning. It's a 10 mins job once the machine is set up. No need for a full valet at all.

BubbleBalls

AndyTheDude wrote: »

Nonsense.
All he did was soaking the carpet and then he just rubbed the milk in. No way you can properly clean a carpet without an extractor machine.
My advice is to clean the metal parts underneath yourself and take the carpet part to a valeting company to do a proper cleaning. It's a 10 mins job once the machine is set up. No need for a full valet at all.

It's a boot carpet - it's removable. When it is washed/rubbed the water can cycle so the spill does not need to remain - this is not a sitting room carpet. You are right that a full valet is not needed but it's still a DIY job.

AndyTheDude

BubbleBalls wrote: »

It's a boot carpet - it's removable. When it is washed/rubbed the water can cycle so the spill does not need to remain - this is not a sitting room carpet. You are right that a full valet is not needed but it's still a DIY job.

Wrong. Rubbing/agitating a soiled carpet doesn't do much, it actually makes things worse as the particles are being forced even deeper into the fabric.

BubbleBalls

AndyTheDude wrote: »

Wrong. Rubbing/agitating a soiled carpet doesn't do much, it actually makes things worse as the particles are being forced even deeper into the fabric.

I am happy in my car, after many spills.

AndyTheDude

BubbleBalls wrote: »

I am happy in my car, after many spills.

ok, I am not looking for an argument here.

All I say is that the job can be done in 10-20 mins at a very low cost.

BTW, you've only masked the smells in your car, you wouldn't like to see all the bacteria growth in those spots, mate :eek:

AndyTheDude

Solair wrote: »

You'd need to do a proper valet with a carpet washer as it will actually remove the milk.

Anything else is really just a cover-up job.

^this

BubbleBalls

No bother. I have kids so the car is regularly anti-unsafe things. Still can't kill those 0.01% f-ckers

ION08

Seriously, all this valeting business and cleaning it with bread soda seems expensive and a lot of hassle.

Why not just go to a local scrapyard and get a replacement boot panel/liner, 20 quid max and 2 seconds to replace!

Would seems like the easiest, cheapest and most logical solution to me

keithclancy

BubbleBalls wrote: »

I do know. Have kids and there's also been pets in the car. Sour milk, vomit, damp, beer, yoghurt - elbow grease, then bread/bacon soda (lots) has just worked for me. I've caked the stuff on though. It does work.

Dude ... stop partying in your car, sounds like a Diageo ad.

BubbleBalls

keithclancy wrote: »

Dude ... stop partying in your car, sounds like a Diageo ad.

Misses don't let me party in the house:-( and I should stop the kids from getting to the beer. Must be what's making them throw up.

Jesus, if I got pulled by the cops! Drunk kids and white powder all over the car!

PrettyBoy

What about soda water? Someone told me that would get the smell out but don't think it's been mentioned here yet so I'm guessing it would be no use..?

seven_eleven

Happened to me before. Power hosed the ****e out of the mat and scrubbed it yard brush, cilit banged it, used soapy and water, used fabreeze, everything!

None of them worked. Just put up with the smell and it will go away after about 2 months :pac:

JohnBoy26

ION08 wrote: »

Seriously, all this valeting business and cleaning it with bread soda seems expensive and a lot of hassle.

Why not just go to a local scrapyard and get a replacement boot panel/liner, 20 quid max and 2 seconds to replace!

Would seems like the easiest, cheapest and most logical solution to me

Because the liner you'l get in the breakers yard will most probably be all mould or damp due to being exposed to the elements and will have to be washed anyway.

BubbleBalls

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Because the liner you'l get in the breakers yard will most probably be all mould or damp due to being exposed to the elements and will have to be washed anyway.

If it has mould or damp use some bread soda. It works wonders.

PrettyBoy

Went to the 24 hour valeting center in Clonskeagh today with the intention of leaving the floor of the boot with them to have it cleaned properly. The said he could get rid of the smell, I asked how much it would be and he said €25. I asked what way they were going to clean it and he said he'd just spray it with the power hose and leave it to dry. I questioned if that would actually get rid of the smell of sour milk and he said it probably would and that it would be €25.

I decided not to leave it in with them, I wasn't confident that they would be able to get rid of the smell and in any case I wasn't going to pay this lad €25 to spray the thing with a power hose.

PrettyBoy

Got a packet of bread soda and used it all, hopefully it works. I just put it on, evened it out and have left it sitting there. Is there anything else I need to do?

Not sure how long I should leave it for..a few days to be safe?

randy hickey

OP's car tomorrow morning;

BubbleBalls

randy hickey wrote: »

OP's car tomorrow morning;

Lmao.

Very good.

Prettyboy,
You still smell the milk?

PrettyBoy

BubbleBalls wrote: »

Lmao.

Very good.

Prettyboy,
You still smell the milk?

Unfortunately, yes. I left the soda on the carpet for 4 days and then removed it with a vacuum cleaner. There is still a noticeable smell of sour milk. Not sure what to do now, will probably have to get it professionally cleaned.

BubbleBalls

PrettyBoy wrote: »

Got a packet of bread soda and used it all, hopefully it works. I just put it on, evened it out and have left it sitting there. Is there anything else I need to do?

Not sure how long I should leave it for..a few days to be safe?

C harlie Sh een is on his way to your house.

Woodey

Scrub the affected area clean & then place an opened bag of charcoal (not the per fuelled stuff) in the boot. Charcoal soaks up smells!!!