Easy Steps to Completely Remove Mold from Your Car's Interior

You could have a variety of problems if you smell gym socks when you go in and out of the car. You could have mold growth in your car, or perhaps your children left old clothes in there. For your health and the sake of passengers riding with you, it’s essential that you figure out how to fully remove mold from your car interior.

There are many home remedies that can be used to get rid of mold. Use a salt solution or white vinegar on the areas affected. You can also use clove oil if you don’t want to invest in specialty products, although there are several good commercial-grade options available. 

We will be discussing the risks of mold growth within your vehicle in this article. It is possible to eliminate it by following these steps. 

Mold in Cars: Is it a Danger?

Mold, a form or fungus, is one that can grow over time. Mold can develop from an increase in temperature and moisture. Certain people can become very ill from being around mold. Mold can cause serious health problems if you are suffering from a skin condition, lung disease or allergies, as well as if your immune system is compromised. 

Mold can trigger allergic reactions even if there are no medical concerns. Mold can cause symptoms such as nasal congestion, wheezing and shortness of breathing. 

How to remove mold from your car's interior

1. Salt

Use a spray bottle and non-iodized sea salt. For cleaning the mold you'll also need to have some water on hand and a vacuum. The salt is a great way to clean the mold because it starves it and dehydrates it. 

1. The affected area should be vacuumed. Make sure to remove any moldy material from your surface.
2. You can make salt by mixing some salt with a bucket full of water. This water mixture can be added to a spray bottle, or you could dip a sponge inside the bucket.
3. The moldy areas should be lightly scrubbed. In the event that mold grows without you being aware, get rid of the affected area.
4. The salt mixture should dry completely on the surface. The process can be accelerated by placing the vehicle in direct sunlight.
5. The salt mixture should be vacuumed up to the surface. 
6. If mold remains, you can repeat the procedure.

Using a salt mixture is best if the surface area isn’t too large. One of the alternatives might be better if there is a large amount of growth. 

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2. Vinegar White

You will also need some distilled vinegar and a spray can. A vacuum cleaner and water bucket are also required.

1. First, vacuum the area.
2. To your bucket of water, add distilled white vinegar. Mixing two parts water and eight parts vinegar is the ideal mixture. If your area has severe damage, you may also want to use pure vinegar.
3. Use a spray bottle to apply the mixture or dip a sponge into the bucket. 
4. Rub it for 15-20 seconds. 
5. Let the area dry for fifteen minutes in the sunlight. To ensure that the vinegar smell disappears, keep the windows closed. 
6. You can vacuum the affected areas. You can use a tiny amount of baking soda to mask the strong vinegar smell if it persists. You can vacuum it again after it has sat for a while. 

Vinegar is an acidic substance that will burn the mold and destroy it. Vinegar is safe to use on all surfaces. It’s also handy if you are dealing with larger areas. 

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3. Clove Oil 

This method requires a vacuum cleaner, spray bottle and water. Instead of using salt and vinegar, however, it is going to be used a little bit of clove oil. The antiseptic nature of this oil makes it a great choice for treating many health problems. However, it’s also effective at getting rid of mold and preventing any future growth. 

1. Cleanse the area.
2. Apply a ¼ teaspoon of clove oil to a bottle of water. Apply a little oil to the affected area.
3. Blot the affected areas with a clean cloth and gently scrub them down. 
4. Let it dry for 15 minutes.
5. Clean the area again.

Use clove oil mixed with baking soda to turn the mold into a paste, if it is extremely severe. You can scrub it with a toothbrush. Then, let the mold dry completely before vacuuming. These products can be used on many surfaces such as leather or vinyl seats. 

4. Cleaning products for special occasions

If you aren’t looking to come up with a natural remedy for your mold situation, you can opt to purchase a special product instead. Most products can be applied to mold with a spray bottle and then wiped off in a matter of minutes. 

Most products will have some degree of toxicology, so you should be cautious when using them. It’s also important that you only use it on appropriate surfaces. Make sure it’s meant for your vinyl, fabric or leather surfaces before you apply it. Make sure you follow all manufacturer instructions. 

Mold growth in cars can be prevented

1. Avoid Moisture

The main causes of mold growth are humidity and moisture. You can prevent mold growth by taking measures to reduce moisture.

You can avoid water by being careful where your vehicle is parked. Avoid leaving your car out in the open. Instead, park it in a garage. 

2. Keep Windows & Doors Closed

Dust, dirt and other debris can get into your cabin if the doors are left open. Mold spores, along with dirt and debris can also get into the cabin.

Roll up the windows. Also, ensure that you seal the doors tightly so as to prevent contamination. 

3. Don’t Eat in Vehicle

Your car is not a restaurant and it shouldn’t be treated as such. You should not eat or drink on the way to work. 

You open the door to tiny creatures by allowing food crumbs and spills to collect in your cabin. Food debris and spills can lead to excess moisture that encourages mold and mildew growth. 

4. Make sure to keep your car clean

Car owners should ensure that your vehicle is well maintained. It doesn’t take a lot of work to keep the cabin in pristine condition, it just takes a commitment. Every week, clean the vehicle.

You should also disinfect the surfaces. To kill mold growth and spores, use a disinfectant with an antimicrobial ingredient. You should pay particular attention to door handles, window buttons and lock buttons as well as the steering wheel, information screen, dashboard, gauges, buttons for navigation, buttons for navigating, buttons for adjusting volume, buttons for transferring data, buttons to adjust your display, buttons that control how you use it, buttons on the glovebox, console and armrests.