How to Completely Eliminate Odors After a Car is Flooded?
3 Answers
When the car interior gets flooded, it's not just about cleaning but also disinfecting. This step is often easily overlooked. It's best to wash seats and seat covers with bleach, and the absorbent cotton must be replaced to prevent bacterial growth. It is recommended that car owners drive the flooded car under the sun on a clear day, setting the air conditioning system to warm air mode. Leave it to dry for more than ten minutes with all doors and windows fully open.
As a professional who frequently deals with such issues, I've found that the musty odor in water-damaged cars primarily comes from mold and bacterial growth. To eliminate it completely, thorough drying is essential first: park the car in a well-ventilated area, remove the seats, carpets, and floor mats, and use fans or dehumidifiers to blow-dry for several days. After drying, perform a deep clean: vacuum up any residue, then spray professional mold-removal spray and wipe down interior surfaces. Don’t forget the air conditioning system, which can harbor a lot of mildew—use an AC cleaner to disinfect it. If the odor persists, it may indicate mold under the carpets, requiring timely replacement of affected parts. To prevent recurrence, crack the windows slightly when parking to allow ventilation. Avoid masking the root cause with air fresheners during the process—targeting the bacteria is the only way to solve the problem permanently.
As an average car owner, after my car got flooded last year and developed a foul smell, I figured out a simple solution. First, use towels to absorb as much moisture as possible, then sprinkle baking soda on damp areas to absorb moisture and eliminate odors, leaving it overnight before vacuuming. Next, spray diluted white vinegar solution on the upholstery and carpets to disinfect. Place several packs of charcoal or orange peels inside the car to absorb odors, and keep the windows open for ventilation for three to five consecutive days. If the weather is sunny, exposing the interior to sunlight enhances the effect. These household methods are low-cost, and the odor is mostly gone within a few weeks. Be sure not to delay treatment for too long, as the smell becomes harder to remove.
