Mold inside car

[4yrton5enna]

I collected my used car the other day and paid for a diagnostic report, the car seems clean.
A day after I collected the car I fell ill, well the mechanic observed this and pointed out the problem. MOLD.

I don't know how I missed it. Anywho, I'm willing to invest an afternoon cleaning.
So when it comes to cleaning the upholstery and ventilation what products/methods do you use?

[ORD]

I too would be pissed off if I found a small Welsh town in my car.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mold,_Flintshire

(Contrast, "mould".)

[littleredrooster]

You have a town in North Wales in your car?? Good grief!

[ORD]

You know when you think "Is this joke too infantile?". The answer on PH is always "Nope", as we can see here.

[vikingaero]

You need to address the underlying cause of the mould - water that is getting into your car somewhere. Most cars will stay mould free even in damp conditions.

[Baryonyx]

Mould inside your car will be related to water ingress somewhere if it's in the cabin. If the car has been standing a while, check the HVAC system, often mould can grow in there when it's not used for a while. It'll be obvious if the HVAC system has mould in it as it will smell a bit stale when you've got the blower running and sometimes it's more or less noticeable with the A/C running, so try it both ways. Most HVAC systems on older cars get a little mouldy, which is why a re-gas and clean of the system is often so refreshing.

If it's not in HVAC system I'm look to the footwells and the rear window. Wet headlining is usually easily spotted as it discolours a lot but wet carpets can hold a lot of water without any noticeable discolouration. The passenger footwell is often a trouble spot, especially if the A/C system runs pipework near it which can leak, or if the heater matrix is leaking out there. Checking the drains in the car shell and engine bay is worth doing in that case, as it's often a blocked drain hole somewhere that leads to water overflowing from the drainage system.

Finally, the rear window area can house a lot of moisture, especially if you've got a saloon and there is no hatch opening to vent it out. This was a pain in my arse a couple of winters ago, after getting into my A8 and finding the back windscreen was frozen over from the inside. I guess I had accidentally dragged quite a lot of snow into the car over the past few days with the treads of my boots and it had condensed on the rear windscreen. I concentrated on venting the back of the car to try and get rid of it, and wiped the screen down after each journey. That did get rid of the excess water, which would likely have formed mould if it had been left. Not an area you'd think would trap moisture and create mould but if water gets in it can stay there are there is little effect from the A/C drying all the way at the back, so open the windows and get some air flowing.

[lufbramatt]

check the bottom of the door cards for dampness which could indicate a failed moisture barrier in the door allowing water in the bottom of the door which then runs under the carpets.

[Escort3500]

ORD said:

You know when you think "Is this joke too infantile?". The answer on PH is always "Nope", as we can see here.

I'll get me Cardigan. Sorry anorak.