Yikes! How Do You Clean Mold Out of Your Car?
June 10, 2022
You've stepped outside, unlocked your car, and opened the door only to discover your car's interior resembles a petri dish. Mold growth has overtaken your vehicle! But, how did the mold get in your car, and most importantly, how do you remove it?
Use this guide to find out how to get rid of mold in your car and get your vehicle looking (and smelling) good as new.
What is Mold, and How Did it Get Into My Car?
There's always fungus among us. Mold travels through the air all around us in microscopic pores and acts as nature's primary decomposer. When conditions are just right, these opportunistic spores "fruit" into visible mold in as little as 24 hours.
For mold to start growing in your car, it'll need moisture and food. Mold feeds on organic materials like wood, plant material, paper, dust, leather, and cloth. Hence, it's most likely that the fuzzy stuff is present on your floor mats, seats, and seatbelts. Mold may begin growing due to spills or other moisture. If you don't see a noticeable spill, water may have found its way in elsewhere. Common causes of excessive moisture in your vehicle include leaving your windows open in the rain, a leaky sunroof, compromised seals, or a cracked windshield.
How to Get Rid of Mold in Your Car
Before you start cleaning mold out of your car, you'll first need to assess the size of the mold growth and your risk.
Do not do the work yourself (even with protective gear) if your mold growth exceeds 10 square feet or if you have any health conditions that mold exposure could aggravate. You'll also want to leave certain tasks ‐ like mold in your car AC unit ‐ to a local mold remediation specialist or trusted mechanic.
Step One: Find the Right Protective Gear
You can clean smaller areas of mold growth yourself. But, you'll need to use the proper personal protective equipment. Cleaning stirs up mold particles, resulting in irritation to the eyes, skin, lungs, nose, and mouth. Wearing the correct protective gear can help limit your exposure.
Here's the protective gear you'll need to clean mold out of your car:
- Rated mask or respirator to protect your eyes, nose, mouth, and lungs
- Gogglesfor eye protection
- Rubber gloves for hand protection
- Long sleeves and pants to cover your skin
- Rubber boots to cover your feet
After assessing or cleaning your vehicle, you'll want to promptly dispose of your rubber gloves, clean the rest of your gear, and take a thorough shower.
Step Two: Find and Address the Moisture Source
Before you can get rid of mold in your car carpet or elsewhere in your vehicle, you'll need to find and stop the moisture source. Moisture can seep into your car for various reasons, but common causes include leaving your windows open in the rain, spilled food or drink, a leaky sunroof, a blocked drain tube, or a crack in the windshield. If you do not see any visible damage, it may be that you need to replace some seals or gaskets in your doors, sunroof, or windows.
Depending on how moisture is getting into your vehicle, you may need to order replacement parts. Shop with your OEM for the right fit.
Step Three: Gather Your Cleaning Supplies (Don't Reach for Bleach)
You'll need the right products for the job. A generic spray cleaner or cleaning wipes can work well on hard inorganic surfaces, but most experts recommend removing mold with a 1:1 mixture of water and white distilled vinegar or a 1:1 mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide. Prepackaged hydrogen peroxide cleaners can be found online and at most hardware stores, and you can easily create a vinegar solution at home.
In addition to the right cleaning products, you'll also need:
- Paper towels for wiping hard surfaces and drying affected areas
- Cleaning brush for carpets and upholstery
- Spray bottle if using a 1:1 vinegar solution
- HEPA rated vacuum cleaner *optional but preferred
- Fan for air circulation
- Garbage bags
Pro Tip #1: Always follow your cleaning product of choice's manufacturer guidelines. Do not mix products.
Pro Tip #2: Be mindful that hydrogen peroxide products can oxidize ‐ resulting in a bleaching effect. Before you tackle your entire vehicle, do a spot test in an obscured area to ensure your carpets and upholstery are not negatively affected by your product of choice.
Step Four: Clean the Mold Out of Your Car
Because mold thrives in moisture, don't use plain water to clean your vehicle. Only use your cleaning solution, and use it as the manufacturer directs.
Now don your protective gear, gather your cleaning supplies, and follow these steps to clean car mold.
- Open your car's doors and back hatch to allow air circulation
- Start by vacuuming the area with a HEPA vacuum. If you don't have a HEPA vacuum, skip this step.
- Thoroughly saturate the mold growth with your cleaning solution of choice. Let your solution sit for 10 minutes.
- Refrain from vigorously scrubbing and rubbing. Wipe the area gently but thoroughly. Use caution as mold particles escape into the air when aggravated.
- If you have a wet vacuum, vacuum up the solution until 70% dry. If you don't have a wet vacuum, skip this step.
- Dry the affected area. Then allow the area to ventilate and dry out completely.
- Vacuum the area once more to remove any remaining mold spores or particles.
Step Five: Eliminate Moldy Smells & Keep Mold From Reoccurring
After cleaning your vehicle, you may find that your car still has a lingering ‐ and unpleasant- odor. Leaving a new, open box of baking soda in the back of your vehicle can help absorb some of the remaining moldy smell. You can repeat regular interior cleanings as necessary to help with the smell. Take care to ensure the area is thoroughly dried each time.
If the mold smell persists after thorough cleanings, consider taking your vehicle in for an inspection. There may be mold growth in areas that you won't be able to see from within your cabin ‐ like your AC unit, cabin air filter, or within your door panels.
Prevent mold recurrence by keeping your vehicle dry and performing regular interior upkeep. Regularly check in on your vehicle's seals and promptly clean up any spills. Keep your vehicle's humidity levels between 30% and 60% and circulate airflow often ‐ this may mean running a fan, venting your windows, or parking in an enclosed moisture-free area (like your garage) whenever possible.
Find Replacement Parts and Accessories with Nissan Parts & Accessories
Is mold growing in your car? Moisture leaks are a common cause of mold issues ‐ you'll want to stop the leak as soon as possible. Whether it's a cracked sunroof or a warped seal, shop for the replacement part you need at Nissan Parts & Accessories. Ensure you have the right part and avoid further moisture issues by shopping OEM. Our parts are designed to best fit your Nissan's year and model.
Don't forget to browse accessories like seat covers and floor mats that can help make your next car cleaning day easier.