How to Dehumidify a Car to Prevent Mold & Mildew

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A step-by-step guide to keeping your car mold & mildew free
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If you left your car windows open during a rainstorm or forgot to take out your bathing suit after going to the pool, your car may need to be dehumidified. If your car is soaked, dry it out. You may be even able to prevent musty smells and mildew from forming! If you’ve already got a mold problem, clean out the mildew and take care of any lingering dampness. Then make sure you prevent mildew from invading your car ever again by checking for leaks and removing sources of dampness right away.

How to Get Moisture Out of a Car

Vacuum any standing water from your car, then use towels and fans to dry the interior. Sprinkle baking soda on the seats, mats, and carpet to remove musty smells. Use distilled white vinegar to kill any mold. Absorb any moisture by keeping a container of baking soda in your car.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Drying out Your Wet Car

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  1. If your car is soaked or if there’s a lot of standing water, you’ll want to start by getting that out. Use a wet/dry vac to remove the excess water. Take off the top of the vacuum and remove the dry filter. Then plug in the vacuum and start sucking up the water! [1]
    • If you don’t have a wet/dry vac, you can rent one from a hardware retailer or an appliance rentals center.
  2. Take out all the carpets and put them in the sun to dry. Using the wet/dry vac, vacuum up any water that was hanging out under the mats. Leave the mats out overnight. Run the vacuum over them if they’re still damp in the morning. [2]
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  3. Put several thick towels on the upholstery. This should absorb most of the water. Check back in a few hours to switch out damp towels and replace them with new ones. Remove the towels before you go to bed. [3]
  4. If you can, leave all the doors open for at least 8-12 hours. Aim several large standing fans at the interior of the car. Focus especially on the seats. Let the fans run on their highest setting for at least 8 hours, or preferably overnight. [4]
  5. If you managed to dry your car out quickly, you shouldn’t get any mold growth or musty smells. Just in case, sprinkle some baking soda all over the seats and mats. Leave this on for 24 hours, and then vacuum it up with the wet/dry vac. [5]
    • Baking soda can be used on all types of car interiors, including leather.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Cleaning Mildew out of Your Car

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  1. If you can, take advantage of the sun and outdoor air. This will help dry out any dampness that’s causing mildew to form in your car. You’ll also want to dry out your mats in the sun. [6]
  2. Since you’re dealing with mold, it’s a good idea to protect yourself. Wear a mask and latex gloves. After you’ve finished cleaning the car, thoroughly wash your hands and change your clothing. [7]
  3. Mildew often grows in storage areas or on the floors of your car. Check the spare tire compartment, then look under all the mats. Don’t forget the trunk. You should also see if your air conditioner is leaking by feeling for damp spots on the mat that sits underneath the filter. [8]
    • Leave the mats out and put them in the sun to dry.
  4. Once you’ve found your mold spots, tackle them with a nylon brush. [9] You don’t need to use any soap or water, as this could actually make the mold problem worse. [10] Just scrub at the mold until it’s removed from all the surfaces in your car. Then vacuum up all the broken-down mold particles.
    • If the mold has left stains, use a carpet and upholstery stain remover. Follow the instructions on the bottle.
    • If you’re cleaning leather, you may want to use a soft-bristled brush to avoid scratching it.
  5. Fill a spray bottle with white distilled vinegar. Spray it on the seats and any affected mats or carpeting. This will kill the mold. Leave it on there to soak in for about 10 minutes. [11]
    • Vinegar can be used on leather and cloth interiors. If you’re concerned that it’ll damage your car, however, spot-test a small area of the interior by putting a little vinegar on it and letting it sit for 10 minutes.
  6. Go over the entire interior with the wet/dry vac. Vacuum up the vinegar and any remaining dampness. Pay special attention to the areas where you found mold. [12]
  7. Go to your local hardware store to find an anti-mold powder. Sprinkle it on the seats, carpeting, floors, and mats. This will kill off any remaining spores. Let it sit for about five minutes, then vacuum it up. [13]
  8. The baking soda will absorb the rest of the moisture. Allow it to sit on the surfaces of the car for about 12 hours or overnight. Then use the wet/dry vac to vacuum it up. Replace the mats and enjoy your mildew-free car! [14]
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Preventing Mildew and Mold Growth

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  1. Fill a small container with baking soda. Put it on one of the floors of your car to continuously absorb moisture. Check the container every few days and replace the baking soda when it gets damp. [15]
  2. Ask a buddy to sit inside your car while you spray it with a hose. They can see if any water leaks through windows, doors, sun and moon roofs, or even the floors. If you’ve got leaks, go to a repair shop to plug them up as soon as possible. [16]
  3. Leaving wet clothes, towels, or even a cup of water in your car could cause the air inside the car to become damp. This might lead to the growth of mold and the return of that dreaded musty smell! To keep your car dehumidified, remove sources of dampness when you leave the car. [17]
  4. If your car does get damp on the inside, dry it out quickly. Vacuum the carpets and leave the windows and doors open overnight. Sprinkle some baking soda. Addressing moisture quickly will keep you from having to do a deeper clean. [18]
  5. Clean your car every two weeks. Remove all trash. Wipe down the hard surfaces of the interior. Vacuum the mats and seats. Use upholstery cleaner to address any stains or dirt on the seats, then re-vacuum them. [19]
    • If your seats are leather, use saddle soap to clean them.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Can you use a dehumidifier in a car?
    Victor Belavus
    Air Conditioning Specialist
    Victor Belavus is an Air Conditioning Specialist and the Owner of 212 HVAC, an air condition repair and installation company based in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to HVAC and air conditioning units, Victor also specializes in furnace repair and air duct cleaning. He has over 10 years of experience working with HVAC systems.
    Victor Belavus
    Air Conditioning Specialist
    Expert Answer
    There's no good reason you can't. Just park near an outlet, plug the dehumidifier in, and leave it running in the car. You probably won't be able to do this all the time, but it may be an easy way to suck some moisture out of your vehicle after the interior got wet.
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      Tips

      • Wet/dry vacs can be used on all types of car interiors. If you’re worried about scratching leather interiors, just put less pressure on the vacuum attachment when you’re vacuuming the leather.
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      Things You’ll Need

      • Wet/dry vac
      • Thick bath towels
      • Standing fans
      • Baking soda
      • Nylon or soft-bristled brush
      • White distilled vinegar
      • Spray bottle
      • Carpet or upholstery stain remover
      • Anti-mold powder
      • Small container
      • Saddle soap for leather interior

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      References

      1. ↑ Victor Belavus. Air Conditioning Specialist. Expert Interview. 6 May 2020.
      2. ↑ http://thenewswheel.com/drying-out-a-wet-car/
      3. ↑ http://thenewswheel.com/drying-out-a-wet-car/
      4. ↑ Victor Belavus. Air Conditioning Specialist. Expert Interview. 6 May 2020.
      5. ↑ http://thenewswheel.com/drying-out-a-wet-car/
      6. ↑ https://wheelsguide.net/remove-mold-car-seats-interior/
      7. ↑ https://wheelsguide.net/remove-mold-car-seats-interior/
      8. ↑ https://www.carsdirect.com/car-maintenance/how-to-get-rid-of-a-car-mildew-smell
      9. ↑ https://www.carsdirect.com/car-maintenance/how-to-get-rid-of-a-car-mildew-smell
      1. ↑ http://www.moneycrashers.com/clean-detail-car-interior-tips-tricks/
      2. ↑ Victor Belavus. Air Conditioning Specialist. Expert Interview. 6 May 2020.
      3. ↑ https://wheelsguide.net/remove-mold-car-seats-interior/
      4. ↑ https://www.carsdirect.com/car-maintenance/how-to-get-rid-of-a-car-mildew-smell
      5. ↑ https://www.carsdirect.com/car-maintenance/how-to-get-rid-of-a-car-mildew-smell
      6. ↑ https://knowhow.napaonline.com/learn-how-to-get-rid-of-car-mildew-for-good/
      7. ↑ https://axleaddict.com/auto-repair/How-to-prevent-condensation-inside-your-car
      8. ↑ https://axleaddict.com/auto-repair/How-to-prevent-condensation-inside-your-car
      9. ↑ https://axleaddict.com/auto-repair/How-to-prevent-condensation-inside-your-car
      10. ↑ https://www.meineke.com/blog/how-often-should-you-wash-your-car/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      If your car is damp inside or smells musty, you may need to dehumidify it. Sprinkle baking soda on your seats and carpets, leave it there for 24 hours, then remove the baking soda with a vacuum cleaner. If your seats have traces of mildew, spray them with distilled white vinegar, let them soak for 10 minutes, and wipe them clean. To dry out damp floor mats, hang them out in the sun for a few hours. If you have a garage, you can also leave your car doors open with a fan aimed into the car overnight. This will help dry any damp and get rid of the odor. For more tips, including how to prevent mildew and mold in your car, read on!

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