We’ve all been there. Your toddler throws a cup full of juice or milk in the floorboard, and it spills without you even knowing it. Or maybe you left the window down, it rained over the weekend, and you didn’t get back until Monday morning. In either of these situations, you see it: The mold. If you need help dealing with this type of mess, then check out these three top tips for removing mold from your car.
Clean Out the Inside of Your Car
The first thing you should do if you notice mold is clean out the inside of your car. Gather anything that is wet, such as clothing, toys, or floor mats. Clean these things thoroughly to make sure no mold is left on them. You should then vacuum the interior of your car. Vacuuming helps to suck out the mold spores and remove any other debris before you get into the messy stuff.
Try White Vinegar
An easy and chemical-free way to clean and kill mold inside your car is to use white vinegar. This acid helps to kill mold and keep it from returning by essentially burning it. You just need to pour the vinegar into a spray bottle and mix it with some water. A good ratio is eight parts vinegar to two parts water. You can also mix it in a container and soak some rags in it.
You can choose to either spot clean or spray and scrub the larger areas. You do need to let the solution soak for no less than 15 minutes to ensure the mold is penetrated. If you are worried about the vinegar smell, roll the windows down and let it air out for a few hours. After it’s dry, you can apply some baking soda and vacuum to get the rest of the smell out.
Use Clove Oil
Essential oils are all the rage these days, and they have proven to be pretty effective in many situations. For example, one of the best ways to eliminate mold is to use clove oil. You can buy it at your supermarket or health food store. This oil can irritate the skin of younger kids or dogs; you need to dilute it to avoid this. Simply mix the oil with some tap water and you are set.
To destroy the mold with clove oil, you have a couple of options. You can mix it with some baking soda and vinegar and form a paste that you apply to the mold with a toothbrush. After it dries, you just need to brush it off and vacuum. This option works best on hard surfaces. For softer surfaces, you can mix hot water, vinegar, baking soda, and clove oil. Put it all into a spray bottle, and saturate the mold-covered surfaces for at least 20 minutes. Then wipe and wet-dry vacuum the mess away.
Next time you find yourself in a stinky, moldy situation, try these helpful tips and tricks to remove the pesky substance from your car.
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