Winter Lay up worst nightmare

[graeme4130]

Hi all
My car's been laid up over the winter, and although I've given it a quick drive up and down the road every couple of weeks to ensure it doesn't seize up solid, I've never really given it thorough inspection.
However, this weekend I got a wiff of a slightly musky smell, so pulled the mat up in the drivers footwell to discover it'd got wet at some point (I guess before it's lay up when it may've been left out over night) and grown some horrid mould ;



Now I've checked all the seals around the door and all the carpet on the sides is bone dry, so I'm struggling to know where the water could've come from. Anyone got any suggestions or had something similar ?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Cheers
Graeme

Edited by graeme4130 on Tuesday 21st February 21:36

[SILICONEKID340HP]

No air circulation ,I got this with another car under a water proof cover,best to leave both windows slightly open.

[graeme4130]

SILICONEKID340HP said:

No air circulation ,I got this with another car under a water proof cover,best to leave both windows slightly open.

Good point, didn't think of that.
I've tried to see if I can get some Silica Gel from work to put in there too, that should help take any moisture out of the air I hope

[tonys]

The following worth a check, ie water running in from the inner front wing area, if the car was left out or washed before it was put away.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=20&...

[SILICONEKID340HP]

tonys said:

The following worth a check, ie water running in from the inner front wing area, if the car was left out or washed before it was put away.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=20&...

You don`t need water leaks to get mildew. That is poor air circulation.Is your car under cover or in a garage ?

[Ozmira]

i took my carpets and underlay up last winter because of this.

[clarkmagpie]

Same here, carpets and underlay up and windows down slightly.

[Getragdogleg]

bung a load of cat litter in there and leave it for a few days, then vacuum it all up. it ought to soak up any damp and dry the carpets a bit.

Air it well after.

[graeme4130]

A few weeks on with the windows down an inch under the cover, we have no more damp
Perfect
Only a few more weeks and it'll be out of hibernation anyway

[scotty_d]

Get a dehumidifier in to it for a few days to start with that will help lots.