Getting Rid of Mildew Smells

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71GSSDemon

71GSSDemon

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Hello all,

I trying to remove the musty/mildew smells from my interior. The car sat in various garages untouched for 30+years. I cleaned all the seats and interior panels, removed the carpeting, washed the floor and trunk floor, but still has some smell to it. It is very much better than it was. Anyone have any luck ridding the smells after long storage? Will time and fresh air take care of the rest?
 
It's likely soaked into the panels. The board used tends to hold the smell. I've sprayed bleach on the backs of my panels and it helps. Over a year, mine have reduced in odor.
 
Thanks. I hadn't thought of taking the door cards off and cleaning the back sides. I will try that. Thanks.
 
ozium.
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I would invest in a small ozone machine. I use them for other purposes but you can pick one up for 25-50 bucks. Throw it in the car and let it run for a few hours or over night.

Ozone can be harmful so do not drive around with it running and the windows up and also do not over use it because it can damage rubber materials.
 
I have heard just leaving the windows open on the cold windy winter day will help, weather permitting. My Dart had sat for many years, the mice decided to move in and build condos using the material from my headliner insulation. Used varies spray cleaners and vacuumed but little could be done with the lingering smell. Made a trip to smoke shop and pick up some incense put some sand in a coffee can for the sticks and let it burn, had a smoke filled car. After a few sessions all was well, cover a stink with a stink............
 
Buy a loaf of cheap white bread. Open the package & leave it in the car windows up parked in the sun for a couple of days.

I was told this by an old school bodyman years ago after a small car fire. It worked...
 
If you try the bread use mouse poison first.

My last dart sat five years with a horse blanket in the trunk. Ugh.

I poured febreze into a baking sheet and set that on the seats with the Windows up, parked in the sun on a hot day. Repeat for three weeks.
 
doogievlg said:
I would invest in a small ozone machine. I use them for other purposes but you can pick one up for 25-50 bucks. Throw it in the car and let it run for a few hours or over night.

Ozone can be harmful so do not drive around with it running and the windows up and also do not over use it because it can damage rubber materials.
Click to expand...
I have one of these. Works pretty good. I need to hook a battery charger up and let it go for a day or so. Mine does cycle on and off after a while.
Scent Crusher Ozone On The Go : Cabela's
ozone.png
 
Try steaming to clean, if you haven’t, and use a closet moisture absorber (the ones with beads) to suck all the smell out.

There might be an ongoing mildew issue. It sounds like you cleaned a lot but maybe you missed something? Headliner? Package tray? Visors? Headrests? Arm rests?

Short of getting those dampener removers, a sock with rice or those silica (do not eat) bags should absorb any humidity inside the car and kill off the mildew. Just leave them under your seat or where you suspect there’s moisture coming in.

Mildew happens when there’s moisture: Mildew - Wikipedia

Read the environmental section.

I had a white powdery mildew on my package tray cardboard so I steamed it and then hung a closet absorber in my rear seat (it had a lavender perfume which was obnoxious). The steamer cleaned it well. Wear a mask if you are sensitive to particles (I didn’t, and it was gross). I think it might have been a slow window seal leak in my car or just never cleaned. After the closet absorber drew all of the moisture out, my Dart sat and smelled better (like an old car). It filled the entire bag with water within a few days. I bought it at a Walmart and there’s a plastic hook. The beads are on the top section and the bottom one shows how much moisture it draws out. Mildew never came back and it didn’t smell stuffy. After the first bag, I put in another and it didn’t catch any humidity. A few years after, and sitting around, and it’s still not back and smells ok.
 
Put raw leather hides in the trunk. Read that here the other day. A guy left leather hides in his trunk for years had that new car smell.
 
An ozonator works really well, but the ozone air needs to get where the smell is coming from. This can be hard to do if the smell has soaked into upholstery and carpet. I bought one off Amazon for about $100. Ozone is dangerous in high concentrations, so read the warnings.

Ozium also works good, but same problem as above. I taped the valve down on a can and threw it in the car with the widows up like a bug bomb. I did both a few times. Still just takes some time for it all to go away.
 
Contact your local funeral home, they have chemicals that will kill just about any odor.
 
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