I only take my Bel Air\u00a0out of the garage a few\u00a0times a year: on the first sunny day of summer, for our anniversary, for a few car shows, and usually on the last sunny day of fall before it goes back under the car cover for its winter hibernation. Because I don’t drive my Chevy\u00a0that\u00a0often, moisture occasionally gets locked in and mold forms. If you’ve found mold in your car, let me share a few tips on how to take care of the moldy situation.<\/p>\n
Step 1 – Inspection:<\/strong> Even if you only see one spot of mold, that doesn’t mean there isn’t more hiding somewhere else. Take a look all over the vehicle… on the seat upholstery and steering wheel, under the seats and mats, under the carpet (if you’re able to pull up a corner or edge), and even under the dashboard. Also look up at the headliner. If you miss any spots, your mold problem\u00a0will only get worse.<\/p>\n Step 2 – Preparation:<\/strong> Once you’ve located all of the problem areas, prepare to treat them. If the carpeting is wet, remove what you can for it to dry outside. Then take a wet\/dry vac with a HEPA filter to the rest. When dealing with more than one spot of mold, I suggest taking out the seats so it’s easier to move around in the car. If the seats also have mold, definitely take them out. I recommend\u00a0wearing an N95 face mask and latex gloves while removing seats\/carpeting and while doing any mold removal. Of course, if your mold problem is really out of control, you may want a respirator mask (the ones with charcoal filters) and long rubber gloves.\u00a0On hot sunny days, park the car outside with the doors open for a few hours to help dry out the interior before doing any cleaning.<\/p>\n Step 3 – Cleaning:<\/strong>\u00a0On\u00a0automotive\u00a0interiors, you have lots of\u00a0options. A bleach and water mix is a common suggestion, but by adding water you add moisture and quite possibly invite mold back in if it doesn’t dry completely. Not to mention bleach may discolor your interior. Instead, try\u00a0straight vinegar in a spray bottle to treat the mold. Don’t just spray the spot. Spread out at least 12 inches around the affected area. For parts with a heavy concentration of mold, such as a steering wheel or seat, spray the whole thing. The deeper the vinegar soaks in, the more likely it is to kill all the mold so don’t be shy with the spray bottle. Just try not to over-saturate the area or\u00a0it will take longer to dry it out.\u00a0Leave the vinegar on for about 15 minutes, then vacuum or\u00a0wipe off\u00a0the remaining vinegar. Dry the car out, either in the sun or with a hair dryer, and sprinkle baking soda on the areas you just treated. Let it sit for five minutes, taking in any remaining moisture from the vinegar, and then vacuum or\u00a0wipe down the area again.<\/p>\n