How to Remove Mold From a Cars Interior

Mold can accumulate in a cars interior and spread quickly if the correct conditions are present. If the interior is left damp due to cold or wet weather mold may form. If there has been a food or drink spillage which has been left uncleaned this can cause mold growth, or if a car has been left sitting and unused for any substantial amount of time then mold may begin to appear. Mould is a living organism that releases spores as it grows, these spores are not good for your health and so it's important that it's cleaned and dealt with in the correct way. In order to effectively remove mold and prevent it from reappearing a designated biological cleaning product should be used which contains active ingredients and enzymes that kill the spores, preventing the mold from spreading. If a non biological cleaner is used, it may well appear to have removed all of the mold but the spores may not have all been killed which could lead to a reemergence of the mold. When dealing with mold it's advisable to wear some latex type gloves to prevent you from contaminating your hands with the mold residue, and depending on how badly affected the area is, you may want to wear a mask to protect you from breathing in any spores during the cleaning process. First, the affected area should be pre sprayed with either a designated biological upholstery cleaner or a diluted all purpose cleaner which can be used at this stage. After dampening the area, a wet extraction machine, or vacuum cleaner should be used to extract as much as the surface mould as possible. Once this surface mold has been removed then you can then begin to thoroughly clean the area using the designated biological cleaner. You should spray/treat the area generously and work in with a damp micro fibre towel. For more stubborn areas and to ensure the cleaner is properly worked in, a stiff bristled detailing or nail brush can be used to agitate the cleaner, just be sure not to overwork the area as you could inflict unnecessary wear onto the upholstery. After working the cleaner in you should ideally use a wet vac extraction machine in conjunction with clean warm water to draw out all of the residue. If you do not have access to a wet vac extraction machine you can use a vacuum cleaner with a crevice tool type attachment. If using a vacuum cleaner you should ensure any excess moisture is initially soaked up with a micro fibre towel to prevent your vacuum cleaner from taking in too much moisture. If you need to clean mold from hard areas such as plastics and trim a damp micro fibre towel should be used along with both a designated biological cleaner and a diluted all purpose cleaner. You can use a biological cleaner initially to wipe over the surface to ensure the mold is effectively killed, but ensure you follow up with a diluted all purpose cleaner or a designated plastic/trim cleaner to remove any of the biological cleaner and mold residue. A stiff bristled detailing or nail brush can be used to thoroughly work the cleaning product into the grain and lift mold from awkward areas. It is advisable that the whole interior is cleaned even if only one area seems to affected because there could be other less obvious areas that the spores may have contaminated that if left uncleaned may start to produce mould again. To finish you can use an air freshening product on the interior as mould tends to give off an unpleasant musty odour. Visit Car Cleaning Guru Today and Discover How to Clean Your Car to a Professional Standard Yourself.