Mold in a car - A WTF Moment

[Arthran]

ok so for the last 4 months i've been driving a company car rather than my own. I'd parkede my car at my mothers and left it there.

Came to check it today to find the small leak in the sunroof has caused more of an issue than i thought, there is mold EVERYWHERE inside the car, on the seats, steering wheel, seatbelts, even on the dash in places.

so really my post is this:

WTF...

anybody got any suggestions on best thing to do, car wont start so cant move it anywhere, apart from just spending a weekend with many buckets of warm soapy water and a sponge, im not sure what the best course of action is.

[Funkstar]

This doesn't help, just an observation.

If the mould is severe, it can burn holes in synthetic material. I've seen this on old velour seats, looked like cigarettes had been dropped on it.

[Shad]

That 'ought to do it.

[jim]

That 'ought to do it.

Exactly the thought that crossed my mind

[Arthran]

That 'ought to do it.

it is a french car... so fire may be needed

[Funkstar]

it is a french car... so fire may be needed

Even more reason to...

[Fortune117]

What car is it? Could pick up a new interior for quite cheap if its something like a Citoren Saxo.

[Singh400]

Soapy water won't work according to the women in the house. A very weak solution of bleach + water will clear up the mould and kill the bacteria.

Got pics?

[Arthran]

its a 52 reg clio.

will do pics tommorrow

[Funkstar]

Soapy water won't work according to the women in the house. A very weak solution of bleach + water will clear up the mould and kill the bacteria.

That's true actually. Be careful with the bleach, that can have a nasty effect of upholstery and plastics.

[G4Z]

Can't believe you posted a thread like this without pics... get it sorted!!

[Tonka777]

Try some of that mould remover spray stuff that comes in a green squirty bottle. It should remove it and prevent it from coming back for a while, make sure you try it somewhere inconspicuous first though!

[kalniel]

anybody got any suggestions on best thing to do, car wont start so cant move it anywhere, apart from just spending a weekend with many buckets of warm soapy water and a sponge, im not sure what the best course of action is.

Jump start from another car?

[Zak33]

Right... mould isn't unusual actually... many valeted cars aren't dried out properly and get a bit of funghus growing

Long and the short of it... GET THE CAR STARTED AND GET IT HOT INSIDE>.. REALLY HOT..... for a long time. If it won't start.. get an electric heater in the foot well (CAUTION>>> FIRE POTENTIAL,, so I use an oil filled delonghi radiator) and leave it on.. until it's stifling hot in there.. for HOURS!

then, ONCE it's all dried out.. THEN vacuum the mould off as best it will go.. and THEN.. and only then.. clean it with something like Multi Purpose Surface Cleaner (Flash) diluted.. and then GET THE CAR HOT AGAIN!!

It's aint the end of the world... if it gets warm enough in there for long enough.. the mould will bugger off.

But VACUUM it up ONCE dry.. thats the trick.. catch those spores when bone dry

[Arthran]

huge thanks zak, will get the electric heater out tommorrow

[shelley bda]

That happened to me when my old Clio was left standing....Hot water with washing up liquid with a tiny bit of bleach mixed in, sorted out the plastics and seatbelts... I used upholstery cleaner on the seats, but did what Zack sugggested first and made sure it was dry before hoovering it off then cleaning later. Looks alarming but quite easy to remove