Mould removal

OldmanMondeo

My car has been sitting up for the last few months. Apart from being started ever now and then, it hasn't been used for the guts of months. Anyway, I am putting it back on the road, tax posted off, new tyres and a service in the pipeline. But the interior is destroyed with mould. Seats, seat belts & I am afraid to look at the headlining incase it is there as well. I have been quoted €100 approx to deep clean and remove the mould, the car would also get a clean outside as well.

Since money is tight enough in getting car back on the road, does anyone know a cheaper way for removing the mould, that won't damage the fabric?

I am going to vacuum the car later and try using some warm damp water to remove the bad stuff.

A Law

You'll need a lot of elbow grease for one. I use bleach for mould but thats around the house. There is actual mould removal producs, aldi or lidl had some a few weeks ago. Definitely use it somewhere you won't see it for as a test patch. A nail brush might also help. In dealz a dehumidifier will help take the moisture from the air which is one of causes of the mould I think.

joujoujou

I fought against the same last year.

Took seats and seatbelts off, disassembled them and washed upholstery as well as belts (without rolling mechanisms) in washing machine. Look like new.

If you're afraid of machine washing belts or don't want to pull them apart from winding thing - remove them from a car, unwind completely, block in unwound position, throw them into a bucket (or something similar) full of water and some washing liquid (make sure winding mechanisms are outside), use sponge or brush to clean'em, rinse and dry afterwards.

Stavros Murphy

Park it down on Galway prom for a night - the salt water kills the mould. Then use somthing else to remove the salt-water. Thats a whole nother question though. Or use a dehumidifier - that will remove an awful lot, then clean up the dried remains with a dry cloth.

OldmanMondeo

Cheers, me arse is out scrubbing. Tried scrubbing it out, but it is in the fabric well and good. I will try and get my hands on a dehumidifer in dealz, see if that helps.

Notch000

a hoover will take a load of it off, that and leave a little air into it

JohnBoy26

A carpet/upholestry washer would be the best bet for the seats and carpet IMO.

The Backwards Man

Babywipes and a lot of sweat. Babywipes are the best car-cleaning product ever invented in my opinion.

MuppetCheck

I'd look at the cause of this mould too. There must be a leaky seal or something. I've parked a car up for months on end and never encountered this.

dantastic

Dettol Mold & Mildew remover will the the job.

Stavros Murphy

MuppetCheck wrote: »

I'd look at the cause of this mould too. There must be a leaky seal or something. I've parked a car up for months on end and never encountered this.

He's a mouldy old mondeo man tho.

OldmanMondeo

MuppetCheck wrote: »

I'd look at the cause of this mould too. There must be a leaky seal or something. I've parked a car up for months on end and never encountered this.

I know where the damp is getting in. I left the roof bars on the car for a month or 2. Because of the way they are fitted, screwed inside the door seal, moisture can get in. Normally I remove it, but it was cold and I was lazy.....

OldmanMondeo

Stavros Murphy wrote: »

He's a mouldy old mondeo man tho.

Ahh no, I wash at least once a decade...

shamwari

There's an aircon cleaner which is basically something like a small can of tear gas which you can set off inside the car with the blowers going, and it cleans the entire ventilation system. If you've got mould inside, I'd recommend using this to ensure the ventilation system gets sorted too. Those mould spores are absolutely lethal for causing nasty chest ailments, especially if you've already got asthma or other breathing difficulties.