How to Remove Mold from a Car Interior (and Stop It Coming Back)

Step by step

1. Wear gloves and a mask, and open the doors so the car airs out.
2. Find the moisture source: a leaking seal, a clogged drain, a wet carpet, a spilled drink or snow tracked in.
3. Vacuum loose growth, ideally with a HEPA filter vacuum, and empty it outside.
4. Clean hard surfaces with a diluted white vinegar solution or an interior cleaner. Use an upholstery cleaner on fabric. Do not soak the carpet.
5. Dry everything: use fans, a wet-dry vacuum and open doors on a dry day. Moisture left behind lets mold return.
6. Replace the cabin air filter if the vents smelled musty.

What to avoid

• Do not use bleach on fabric or carpet.
• Do not mask the smell with fragrance before the source is fixed.
• Do not leave wet mats or floor liners in the car.

When to call a pro

If the mold covers a large area, sits deep in padding, or returns, a deep clean with extraction is the better route. Anyone with asthma or allergies should leave the cleanup to someone else.

In Spokane

Melting snow and slush get tracked in all winter, and in a closed car on a cold day that moisture can linger. Use rubber floor liners, shake out mats and run the heat with the windows cracked now and then. For a deeper clean, see our carpet and upholstery shampoo and interior detailing.

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