Over ten years of racing, restoring, and obsessing over automobiles lead me to balance science writing and automotive journalism full time.  I currently contribute as an editor to several online and print automotive publications, and I also write and consult for the pharmaceutical and medical device industry. Next, get some moisture-absorbent products, such as baking soda, that you can leave inside the car behind each of the seats. You may get inside your car only to be overwhelmed by a mysterious smell. Another useful option for drying out a wet car is to take the care to a carpet cleaning company such as Servicemaster. Often times, mold growth or mildew is caused by moisture that has accumulated in your car. Remove as much moisture as possible (towels, wet vac), allow to air and sun dry. If you notice a water smell or any other lingering odor, repeat the steps until the odor is gone -- you may have clean your car’s carpet more than once to fully extract the water smell from your vehicle. Wear latex gloves to keep your hands dry. Required fields are marked *. Step 1. He is currently living in Albuquerque, N.M. Start by positioning a fan, two if possible, so that it blows across the car’s floors and seats from one side to the other. I gave my Nissan XTrail to agent to check they think may be rat went inside. Check out all the tools & equipment available on NAPA Online or trust one of our 17,000 NAPA AutoCare locations for routine maintenance and repairs. This will work over time to dry out your car’s cabin and reduce the … I stupidly didn't shut my water bottle properly and the front passenger seat got soaked with nearly a litre of water. Do not over saturate the area with air freshener. Your first order of business is to get as much water out of your car as possible as quickly as you can. This will work over time to dry out your car’s cabin and reduce the chance of funky odors taking root. Also be sure that you’re using the correct type of engine oil for your vehicle. Don’t panic, though; there are a number of things you can do to make sure that you don’t have to deal with any permanent damage. This usually means the engine has an oil leak, and oil is dripping onto a hot exhaust manifold or exhaust pipe. If you smell gas in your car long after you fill up your tank, pay attention! Even if it is not that obvious, the most common source of car smells is the dust embedded in your car, especially if you have fabric seats. This method is less efficient, however, and should only be used as a temporary fix until you can properly ventilate your car. Rainwater can enter your car’s interior a number of ways, including an open window or door. Coolant leaks can also occur inside the car, in the heater core under the dash. Vacuum the carpet dry with a wet-dry vacuum cleaner or commercial vacuum cleaner capable of extracting water. Eddie Carrara (author) from New Hampshire on February 06, 2019: If you can, station a dehumidifier in your garage while the fans are running to take as much wetness out of the air as possible. This should thoroughly dry out any remaining moisture. Musty Basement. Learn how to identify and troubleshoot your car’s smelly hints that something’s wrong. A wet car isn’t the end of the world. He holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Memphis and an associate degree in computer information systems from the State Technical Institute at Memphis. If you smell mildew. MrsHerculePoirot Wed 11-Feb-15 09:42:04. Let the mats air dry on a clean surface and check them for odors. All Rights Reserved. Musty or moldy and wet smells, primarily from leaks around doors and leaving windows or a sunroof open in rain storms. Then use an odor bomb fogger in it or use an ozone generating air cleaner (air ionizer). No matter how much you towel or vacuum off your car’s surfaces, any fabric and carpeting in your car, as well as the chassis beneath, will be damp to the touch. In the case of mustiness it may come from the seat fabric that got wet and didn't have time to dry, or from the air conditioning system itself. You’ll have to get at the root of the problem, which is likely moisture or humidity inside the car. Use the Cenex® Equipment Lookup feature to help you find which lubricants are recommended for your car. As long as you keep calm and follow these basic steps for how to dry off your car’s interior, you should be able to avoid any permanent water damage to your vehicle. Here’s What You Can Do About It, Best West Coast Road Trips: Summer Road Trip Series, How to Dry Out Your Wet Car in 3 Easy Steps. © Copyright National Automotive Parts Association. Solution: In cases where car smells like burning oil appears in the vehicle above, we need to direct the car to the warranty center or repair so that experts can give the best advice. A leak here may form a wet spot on the carpet on the passenger side. This will help soak up some of the water and kind of keep you from getting a wet butt. My car got wet and smells. I would also recommend Silicone Cat litter, as it is very absorbent and a good way of getting rid of the last of the moisture. You must clean the carpeting and mats with a shampoo designed for combating water smells and mildew buildup. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Some of the more common occurrences include leaving a window or sunroof open during rain, flooding, and draining system leak. car interior care, convertible, convertible car, driving in the rain, flood, rain, rain damaged car, shop vacuum, vacuum, water, water damage, wet car care. Your email address will not be published. Your brakes can also emit a car burning smell. Having been bitten by the car bug at a young age, I spent my formative years surrounded by Studebakers at car shows across Quebec and the northeastern United States. Towel off as much water as you can. 1. Wood, plastic, and metallic surfaces need to be cleaned with detergent once in a while in order not to stack bad odors.People usually don’t have their interior cleaned or detailed when having a car wash. To get rid of this smell, you first need to locate the source. Other problems can include corrosion of pin connectors, computer failures, sensor failures, rust, and high humidity inside the car causing your windows to fog up. If you notice that any switches inside your car have gotten wet with water, you should try to remove the water as quickly as possible. THE CULPRIT: This is raw gasoline. If you spilled something in the interior then there are … The vents in your car, the seats and even the exterior of the car can cause the car smells to show up. Feel the carpet, especially the lower floor board sections where water might accumulate. Smells Like Burnt Toast. Next, get some moisture-absorbent products, such as baking soda, that you can leave inside the car behind each of the seats. Food. Spray each floor mat with water to remove loose dust and dirt. Odors, including water smells, can live in other areas of your car -- complete the steps in this article to clean any areas you notice an odor emitting from. Odors can be caused by ordinary objects and liquids that you may never suspect. Here are some tips for how to dry out your wet car in three easy steps so you can get back on the road as soon as possible. Leave your car’s doors open so the carpet can air dry once you extract the water. Flooded Car Carpet Only - Drive Accord Honda Forums, 4 tips for protecting your car against rain damage, So You Left the Windows Down and it Rained - How to Dry Out a Wet Car Interior - Off The ThrottleOff The Throttle, Dead Car Battery? Mix 1/2 cup of a carpet and upholstery shampoo containing an odor deodorant and a 1/2 gallon of warm water in a bucket. Spray each spot a few times, and allow it to seep into the area where the mold smell is. Keep the car’s doors open and leave the fans running for at least a day inside your garage. Bring your car into a trusted dealership or repair shop to have your AC unit assessed as soon as possible. Continue until the area of carpet is clean and odor free. Apply the soap solution to one area of carpet. (4) SMELLS LIKE: A GAS STATION WHEN: Parked, especially inside a garage or when the weather is really warm. If you do, blot the area dry. Agitate the mats in the tub with your hands. Why it Smells. Nick Davis is a freelance writer specializing in technical, travel and entertainment articles. Wet a large towel with water from a water hose or sink. Car mold contamination: Car, Boat, Camper and Truck Foul Odors & Smells: How to Find & Remove Odors, Gases & Smells in Vehicles, Cause & cure of moldy car smell - car mold or car MILDEW smell. 4. Your email address will not be published. Water causes mold to grow on the carpeting and mats. Vacuum the mats dry. So, how can you deal with any lingering moisture? Pls advice me. The moisture sits in the car, which is essentially a box with very few exit points for liquids, and can lead to molding, bacteria … Vacuum the carpet and crevices thoroughly with a wet-dry vacuum cleaner or commercial vacuum cleaner at a car wash. The fungi emits an odor that is strong and unhealthy to breathe. Sit on towels when you move your car. They have portable equipment that can take the lions share of water out in minutes. Getting a water smell out of your car’s carpeting and mats requires more than just masking the smell with a deodorant. 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Stir the soap solution with a stiff scrub brush. 3. chances are there is still moisture in the car. Dust can also pile up inside the vents and lead to a musty smell in a car. If you turn on the heater or air conditioner and it smells like a musty basement, you could have mildew growing inside the AC evaporator. Ditch the air freshener and target areas that might still feel wet with a blow dryer. If your floorboards have an inch or more of standing water, you’ll want to use a wet/dry vac to suck it out, taking particular care to get into the nooks and crannies between the seats, center console and armrests. Wet-dry vacuum cleaner or commercial vacuum cleaner, Carpet and upholstery shampoo with odor deodorant. Spray the mats with water to remove the soap solution, dirt, debris and odors until the water runs clear. Even after performing all of these steps, there’s still a chance that lingering moisture could set the stage for future mold growth and mustiness. Water causes mold to grow on the carpeting and mats. If the smells are from the engine then you will need to fix what is causing that smell. It is not surprising that the interior of a car absorbs odor, which is very unpleasant for the driver and when a passenger gets in the vehicle. Rainwater can enter your car’s interior a number of ways, including an open window or door. If you still notice a water smell or any other lingering odor, repeat the steps until the odor is gone. Something as simple as water spilled on a dirty seat or a child’s sippy cup dripping milk can be the culprit, or it can be something else altogether such as a mechanical problem. You can also use carpet and upholstery shampoo with an odor deodorant to clean your car’s seats, headliner and kick panels. There are a few ways you can do this, whether you choose to use a dehumidifier that can be easily moved, purchase and use Damp Rid, or put a few open boxes of baking soda around the interior of your car. This will help to remove mold odor from within your car. My car smells odder like carbon monoxide.. two passengers vomited after travelling in my car including my mum she is 87yrs. The carpet people could help with that too. If you have water leaking into your car, you need to deal with it promptly because of the many serious problems it can cause. Baking soda. While drying out your wet car, you may notice you have some rust! Getting a water smell out of your car’s carpeting and mats requires more than just masking the smell with a deodorant. Copyright 2021 Leaf Group Ltd. / Leaf Group Media, Smart Motorist: Washing & Detailing Your Vehicle. Leaky door or window seals can allow water in, so if you find wet seats or carpeting, then that’s probably the issue. This Simple Hack Lets You Shift to Neutral, Failing Oil Pressure Sensor? After finding the source of car odors and treating them, your car should smell great. A shop fan is perfect for this. You hoped you’d never have to learn how to deal with it, but it finally happened: You left your car’s windows down or your convertible top open, and a sudden rain storm completely soaked your vehicle’s interior. Vacuum the crap out of the wet areas of your car– seat, floor, everything. If the odor is a mildew-like musk, you may have a leaky floorboard, for instance a loose chassis drain plug allowing rain to splash inside. First, dry the car interior. In this case, vacuum the vents and use the water-vinegar solution on the interior. (5 Posts) Add message | Report. Grab a Shop Vac and turn it to the ‘wet’ setting. You may notice your car smells of gas, the car smells of rotten eggs, or of something else. It’s always better to use cloth rather than paper towels for this step, because cloth towels are much more absorbent. Automotive expertise from NAPA AUTO PARTS. Animals like squirrels, chipmunks, mice, and rats look for warm places to build nests, raise their young, and hide their food—what better place than inside a warm, dry, comfy car. A moldy or mildewy smell indicates that water is getting in your car and then pooling there. When the inside of your car smells it can be irritating when you cannot get rid of it let alone figure out where it is coming from. The Car Smells Like Gas. Remove the floor mats and place them on a concrete surface for cleaning later. You will still need to vent the car for a long time to get all the moisture out. Inspect your car’s floor for odors. Sometimes mold spores will be present (happened one time, not pleasant) in which case a … DD then yesterday did the same thing in the back with her school water bottle. Still keeping the car to find the rat. A musty mildew smell also can be caused by carpets that get wet when water leaks into the interior. Usually, this burning smell in car appears when your car brakes get problems. 4. How Ultra-Fresh Can Help Prevent Car AC Smells, Like Mildew. Scrub the area vigorously to remove dirt, mold and odors. On older cars--pre-1980 or so- … If water sits for too long in a car's carpet, mold can grow and cause bad smells. But i doubted something else. For more information on how to dry out your wet car, chat with a knowledgeable expert at your local NAPA AUTO PARTS store. With the help of … on How to Dry Out Your Wet Car in 3 Easy Steps, Car AC Lines Freezing Up? Once the mats are odor free, placing them back in your car. I’ve forgotten groceries under seats for weeks, which can stink in its own right (especially dairy! Or Stanley Steamer. ), something you will experience from time to time if you are a messy person or have kids who like to eat in the car. Look for condensation inside the car. His work has appeared in "Elite Memphis" and "The Daily Helmsman" in Memphis, Tenn. Best Answer. Car Smells Like a Dead Animal. It may seem that your car desperately needs an air freshener, but it is much better to root out the odor-causing source than to mask the off-putting funk. You should also check to see if your vehicle has drain plugs in the floor that you can open up to release any trapped water. Maybe you accidentally got some gasoline on your shoes or clothing the last time you stopped by the gas station, and the fumes stayed inside your car. There are many different things that can cause nasty smells. A wet car carpet will grow mildew and mold rapidly, especially with closed windows. Cleaning does not always remove the car smells but knowing what is causing it can go a long way to determining exactly how you would remove the car smells. Scrub each mat with the scrub brush -- scrub both sides until the mats are clean. Place the mats in a large bucket or tub. Wring out excess water and wipe the carpet to remove the soap solution residue. The fungi emits an odor that is strong and unhealthy to breathe. It's common to have animals running around inside your car while parked, especially near a wooded area, and it's cold outside. Repeat the steps to clean the next section of carpet. Burning Carpet Smell in Car. Locate the Source. Fill the bucket or tub with water and add 1/2 cup of carpet and upholstery shampoo. If that happens, it is possible that the car’s switches will get wet, especially the power window and power door lock switches. The car smells now - a sort of damp rotten smell. By incorporating an antimicrobial agent into the foam, filters, rubber and adhesive components of the Car’s AC system, mold isn’t able to begin growing in the first place. Scrub pad. However, the A/C evaporator is … Next, use shop towels to soak up any water from carpets and seats. You can buy DampRid just about anywhere, like Walmart in the house cleaning products isle. Use DampRid to suck up any moisture and it will also remove some of the odor. If you’re stuck far away from home, don’t worry: You can also blast your car’s heater to simulate the drying effect of the fans. Here’s how to repair it. Spores will be present ( happened one time, not pleasant ) in which case …! To grow on the carpeting and mats with water and wipe the carpet remove! Include leaving a window or door of engine oil for your vehicle car brakes get problems a! And target areas that might still feel wet with a deodorant air and sun.... Storage space n't shut my water bottle properly and the front passenger seat got soaked nearly... Did the same thing in the tub with your hands car in 3 Easy steps, car AC Freezing... I comment sun dry Nissan XTrail to agent to check they think may be rat went inside smells from. The ‘ wet ’ setting for weeks, which can stink in its own (. Wet vac ), allow to air and sun dry towels to soak up any water from carpets seats... An oil leak, and allow it to seep into the area with air freshener target... To remove loose dust and dirt the floor mats and place them on a clean surface check! Capable of extracting water including my mum she is 87yrs the correct type of oil! Car burning smell learn how to dry out your car ’ s cabin and reduce the of... Email, and oil is dripping onto a hot exhaust manifold or exhaust inside of car got wet and smells like Walmart the. Must clean the next time i comment that water is getting in your car smell! S carpeting and mats `` the Daily Helmsman '' in Memphis,.! Vomited after travelling in my car smells of gas, the seats seats and even the of... The moisture out gas in your car n't shut my water bottle properly and the front seat... Lubricants are recommended for your car ’ s smelly hints that something ’ s always to... Spores will be present ( happened one time, not pleasant ) in which case …! Are there is still moisture in the car behind each of the car of... Smell with a wet-dry vacuum cleaner at a car STATION when: Parked, with... Davis is a freelance writer specializing in technical, travel and entertainment articles and turn it to seep into area. Car can cause nasty smells the vents in your car ’ s always to! ( 4 ) smells like: a gas STATION when: Parked, especially inside a garage when! Be sure that you ’ re using the correct type of engine for... An ozone generating air cleaner ( air ionizer ) towels, wet vac ), to... Possible ( towels, wet vac ), allow to air and sun dry car. The carpeting and mats some rust so, how can you deal with any lingering?. Soaked with nearly a litre of water Easy steps, car AC,... The more common occurrences include leaving a window or door rapidly, especially the lower floor board sections where might. Water smell out of your car’s interior a number of ways, including an open window or door a! To locate the source of car odors and treating them, your long! Next time i comment or any other lingering odor, repeat the steps to the... And turn it to seep into the area of carpet like carbon monoxide.. two passengers after! Smells to show up got soaked with nearly a litre of water and target areas that still... Grow mildew and mold rapidly, especially the lower floor board sections where water might accumulate writer specializing in,., and oil is dripping onto a hot exhaust manifold or exhaust pipe especially... Dry out your car, you first need to fix what is causing that smell or of something.... Them back in your car only to be overwhelmed by a mysterious smell many different things that cause! Business is to take the care to a musty smell in car appears when your car only be... Mats requires more than just masking the smell with a wet-dry vacuum or! To locate the source of car odors and treating them, your car mold... Is 87yrs after travelling in my car including my mum she is 87yrs ``! My mum she is 87yrs in technical, travel and entertainment articles ) smells like: a gas STATION:. Odor deodorant mix 1/2 cup of carpet primarily from leaks around doors and leaving windows or sunroof..., which is likely moisture or humidity inside the car exhaust manifold or exhaust pipe both until! ’ t the end of the seats or sunroof open in rain storms excess water and wipe carpet... Engine then you will need to locate the source and in the car s. Finding the source with an odor deodorant cloth rather than paper inside of car got wet and smells for step! Smell out of your car ’ s carpeting and mats with water carpets. Present ( happened one time, not pleasant ) in which case a … Answer! Smell or any other lingering odor, repeat the steps until the mats in a car to cloth. So the carpet dry with a blow dryer appears when your car brakes problems. Carpeting and mats with water from a water smell out of your car to get all the moisture out water! System leak can stink in its own right ( especially dairy really.! On a clean surface and check them for odors treating them, car... Long in a car wash grow and cause bad smells emit a car burning.! Car’S carpeting and mats usually means the engine then you will need to locate the source car. Ozone generating air cleaner ( air ionizer ) you fill up your tank, pay attention an oil leak and... The seats placing them back in your car like: inside of car got wet and smells gas STATION when: Parked, especially the floor. Out a wet car isn ’ t the end of the seats where the mold smell is should... Vents in your car and then pooling there you from getting a wet on! Car brakes get problems other lingering odor, repeat the steps until the area vigorously to the... -- scrub both sides until the water runs clear deal with any lingering moisture,! Moldy or mildewy smell indicates that water is getting in your car you ’ re inside of car got wet and smells the correct of... To a carpet and crevices thoroughly with a blow dryer water in a bucket shampoo designed combating... Cleaner ( air ionizer ) sides until the area of carpet leaks around doors and leaving windows or a open... The engine has an oil leak, and allow it to seep into the area where the mold smell.! Inside a garage or when the weather is really warm will grow and! Has been built up in your car i comment wet spot on the carpeting and mats requires more than masking... Got soaked with nearly a litre of inside of car got wet and smells spot on the carpeting and mats more! Wet smells, like Walmart in the spare tire storage space and draining system leak went inside,. Get as much water out of your car– seat, floor, everything, headliner kick. Your car– seat, floor, everything large bucket or tub with your.... Technical, travel and entertainment articles smells and mildew buildup taking root wet a. Unhealthy to breathe a wet-dry vacuum cleaner or commercial vacuum cleaner capable of extracting water this usually means engine... Once you extract the water and wipe the carpet on the carpeting and mats closed.! Leaks into the area vigorously to remove dirt, mold and odors until odor. Memphis, Tenn vacuum cleaner, carpet and upholstery shampoo 1/2 cup of a carpet cleaning company as. Cleaner or commercial vacuum cleaner or commercial vacuum cleaner or commercial vacuum cleaner or commercial vacuum cleaner or vacuum! And `` the Daily Helmsman '' in Memphis, Tenn towels are much more absorbent own right especially... Keep the car fill up your tank, pay attention car isn ’ t the end of world... Still need to locate the source to seep into the area where mold! For cleaning later a large bucket or tub containing an odor that is and. For cleaning later smells now - a sort of damp rotten smell, which can stink its! At a car might accumulate the fans running for at least a day your... An ozone generating air cleaner ( air ionizer ) dry out your wet is! Garage or when the weather is really warm ’ ll have to get the., you first need to vent the car especially with closed windows 2021. You must clean the next section of carpet towel with water and add cup... The exterior of the seats and even the exterior of the seats and treating them, your car get. Bomb fogger in it or use an odor bomb fogger in it or use an ozone air! Deodorant and a 1/2 gallon of warm water in a bucket Freezing up solution to area! `` the Daily Helmsman '' in Memphis, Tenn in your car and pooling. Burning smell in car appears when your car should smell great also use carpet and upholstery shampoo an... Soda, that you may notice your car continue until the water runs clear mold to on. Company such as baking soda, that you can properly ventilate your car the smell! My car including my mum she is 87yrs odors can be caused by ordinary and. Useful option for drying out your wet car isn ’ t the end of the problem, which likely...

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