GOT A CAR FULL OF MOLD THAT SMELLS LIKE MILDEW?
We can help. Given our wet climate, cars that develop mold & mildew problems are quite common here in the Pacific NorthWest. As mold & mildew problems bloomed over the years, we’ve been hard at work developing techniques to safely remove interior mold, mildew, and pesky “wet” odors of every variety from cars great & small. Car mold removal is very labor intensive, but the end result is a vehicle interior that feels as fresh and clean as the first day you drove it off the lot!
MILDEW SMELL, MOLD REMOVAL & REMEDIATION FAQs
How can car mold affect my health?
Driving a moldy car on a regular basis isn’t something anyone should be exposed to. Interior mold growing in your vehicle may be the cause of irritation to your eyes & respiratory system, incite allergic reaction, infection, and further health complications.
How will driving a moldy car affect my asthma?
We advise anyone with asthma or a history of asthma attacks in moldy environments to not drive vehicle with mold to or from our location for mold remediation. Mold sensitivity or even the slightest agitation of spores could trigger an asthma attack, putting the driver, passengers, and other road-goers at risk.
Can you remove mold from my car?
We are well versed in a wide variety of mold removal & remediation techniques. Utilizing a combination of atmospheric testing, labor-intensive deep cleaning & detoxification measures, we can kill the mold in your car with certainty. Additionally, we can facilitate the type of preventative care & material treatment your vehicle needs to keep it completely mold-free for years to come.
My car smells like mildew, how do I check for mold?
If your car’s interior smells damp or “dewy,” chances are mildew & mold may already be growing within the fabrics, carpets, or seat foam. To check for mold, remove all the interior components you can like floor mats or seat covers, and look for any signs of growth, discoloration, or wetness. If you would like a second opinion, we can schedule you for a leak-down test and perform a moisture scan of your interior and really get to root of the mold problem before removal & remediation takes place.
Where is mold commonly found in cars?
Mold can grow almost anywhere in a vehicle interior. We commonly see mold on floorboard carpets, headliners, seat belts, seats, headrests, and even growing in the trunk or rear hatch. If an area of the vehicle is susceptible to moisture, leaking, or collecting standing water, chances are mold will flourish.
I don't want to risk exposing my car's interior to mold or mildew if I don't have to. How do I avoid mold all together?
With the climate we have here in the Pacific NorthWest, it’s nearly impossible to avoid mold all together. Beyond routine interior detailing & reconditioning, garage or car port storage is highly recommended at the very least. For those seeking even more protection against mold due to health complications, it may be worth investing in properly storing your vehicle, using a dehumidifier during storage or use of desiccant in your cars cabin.
What makes mold grow in my car?
In short, car mold is due largely to trapped moisture, stagnant air and organic matter. If your vehicle is showing signs of mold growth, chances are there may be a leaky seal or point of entry for water and environmental contaminates to find their way in. If you haven’t identified the source of the original moisture, there may be a leak in your seals or sunroof somewhere. We suggest having a leak down test performed prior to scheduling your appointment for remediation.
Is car mold really a problem?
Car mold isn’t a life & death issue, but it can pose a risk to you or your passenger’s health if exposure to a moldy vehicle is prolonged. Beyond that, it’s unsightly — it can discolor, stain, and compromise your fabrics, resulting in irreversible damage where the only solution is to completely replace interior components of the vehicle.
I live out of state but have a moldy car. Can I send it to you for removal?
Of course! We have no issues with servicing out-of-state clients who need assistance with mold removal or remediation. Photos of the mold damage & vehicle condition are required. Depending on the severity of the mold, we may ask that you accompany the vehicle to our shop for a proper consultation & evaluation of the vehicle to ensure your mold remediation needs are met to the fullest extent.
Can your provide mold testing for my vehicle?
We are able to provide quantitative test results for those who are interested, or for insurance parties as necessary. Depending on the level and type of testing you would prefer, these tests as wells as the outsourced lab results would result in additional costs. Inquire if interested.
Are there any good car mold killer products that I can buy to remove & remediate the mold growing in my car?
We do not have any recommendations for off-the-shelf mold & mildew removal products at this time. While there are a few advertised, most seem to only remove surface mold but do not address airborne spores, or aren’t designed for deep cleaning. Check back or feel free to contact us directly if you have a handy mold killing solution or short term technique for eliminating car mold.
How do I get rid of the mildew smell in my interior? I don't see any mold growing but it's musty.
Just because surface mold isn’t visible doesn’t mean your vehicle is mold free. If the musty, mildew smell is present in your interior, chances are there’s mold hiding underneath carpet padding or growing in your headliner. It might be worth considering a Smoker’s Remedy with OZONE or similar deodorization procedure to see if the smell subsides. Alternatively, schedule a mold removal & remediation consultation at your earliest convenience.
Where did this mold come from anyways?
Prior to our work taking place, we insist our customers identify the source of moisture and address the point of entry if it had to do with a leak on your vehicle. This service is available to be done by most glass repair shops in the area to help you identify and fix any necessary seals. We often see clogged sunroof drains which moisture will backup and enter the car at the footwells of the front seats as well as windshield replacements gone bad or even door and window seals which have failed. In rare instances, we have seen vehicles without a leak, that have been stored for months without being driven, which can develop mold. This generally results in pine needle or organic matter clogging necessary drains or seals from storage outside. Once you have identified and fixed the moisture problem, we would be happy to complete our mold remediation process on your vehicle.
Do you guarantee your work? Do you offer a warranty?
We are unable to warranty our work after it leaves our shop, especially if you have failed to fix the water leak prior. We do guarantee at pickup, that the mold has been sterilized, sanitized and killed to the highest standards possible, especially if weve recommended and you have complied with any requests for removal and installation of new interior components. Every case and every vehicle is different. However, if you are able to identify and fix your water leak, prior to your appointment after our work is complete mold shouldn’t return as long as new moisture, organic matter or long term storage takes place. We also recommend desiccant or dehumidifiers for people forced to store their cars long term in the future.
Do you work with insurance companies?
We do not deal directly with insurance companies, however we would be happy to assist you in the process. We would be happy to provide you an estimate and send any necessary correspondence to your insurance company in regards to costs/billing. However, we operate on payment upon pickup and often times our customers will pay for the work to be done personally and seek reimbursement from their insurance companies during or after the process has taken place.
What do you need in order to schedule me and get me on the books?
In order to provide the best possible estimate (of which is subject to change upon inspection and work commencing due to not knowing what we may find that needs replacement) we require customers send us their contact name, phone number, year, make model of their vehicle as well as the VIN# required for quoting any potential interior replacement items. Upon approval of our estimate, we would require a 20-50% deposit for the work to be completed and parts would be ordered to be available upon the dropoff date of your vehicle as necessary. The process takes us anywhere from 3-7 business days to complete depending on the severity.
THIS PAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
Please check back for more information on car mold & mildew smell removal in the near future. Have mold problems of your very own? Check out our Mold Remediation & Removal services in the interior detailing section above, or contact us with more information about the extent of your car’s mold. We’ll do our best to ensure your future commutes remain completely mold free!
OUR STANDARD MOLD REMEDIATION INCLUDES:
- Seat removal
- HVAC system cleansing
- OZONE treatment
- All interior surfaces cleaned & prepped including door cards, dashboard, center console and vinyl / plastic surfaces
- Windows cleaned & wiped
- Carpets / upholstery will be spot treated & scrubbed
- Carpets / upholstery will be steam cleaned & shampooed
- Leather surfaces cleaned & conditioned using entry-level products
- No oily / shiny residues left – dash, trim, etc. will have a factory matte finish if it were “like new”
- Highly effective deodorization process and air-scrubbing
- Surface treatment with a safe antimicrobial/antifungicidal and photosynthesizing neutralizer which continues to work well after our work is complete.
- Includes a complimentary exterior hand wash
NOTE: Depending on moisture or mold damage, we may recommend you replace the air cabin filter and even the carpet padding in your vehicle depending on the severity of mold damage. All part replacement part installations will be billed at $125/HR for labor.
We reserve the right to sanitize and clean seat belts in a safe manner as to not compromise their structural integrity. Polyester webbing (their material) holds onto the staining of some black mold which can permanently discolor the seat belts beyond cleaning. If you are interested in having this cosmetically fixed, it would require replacement.
Depending on the type of mold present and its age, it may not be possible to fully remove discoloration, staining, or conditions which may have occurred due to long-term mold/moisture damage ( ex: black mold stains, rust stains as a result of water damage, etc. )
LOOKING FOR EXAMPLES OF CAR MOLD & MILDEW REMOVAL?
Have a look at one of our most extensive mold remediation details from 2011 on a Chevy Suburban.