What to do if the car gets moldy and the leather seats inside become moldy?
3 Answers
First, use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust and mold from the surface of the interior, then clean it with a specialized car interior cleaner. Leather seats are relatively easier to clean; wipe the interior with a cloth and cleaning agent. Genuine leather interiors require regular maintenance. Use neutral or alkaline cleaning agents when washing. Avoid using highly irritating mold removers to prevent corrosion of the interior. After cleaning, let it dry naturally.
Mold spots appearing on the leather seats inside the car is something I've encountered several times during my years of driving, mainly caused by prolonged moisture accumulation, such as parking in damp, shaded garages or water leakage from rain. Handling it isn't difficult: first, wear disposable gloves and a mask, as mold spores can easily trigger allergies; then prepare a mixture of warm water and white vinegar (1:1 ratio), gently wiping the moldy areas with a soft cloth. Vinegar effectively kills bacteria and removes mold—remember to be gentle to avoid damaging the leather. After wiping, immediately use a dry cloth to absorb the moisture and open the car doors to ventilate for a few hours, or turn on the air conditioning at a low temperature to dry the interior. To prevent recurrence, it's advisable to place moisture-absorbing packets or bamboo charcoal bags in the car regularly and apply leather conditioner to protect the seats. If the mold roots are too deep or the affected area is large, don't hesitate to seek professional car cleaning services—they have deep-cleaning tools, costing a few hundred yuan, saving both hassle and effort.
Our car also had moldy seats before, probably due to forgetting to ventilate after parking or moisture buildup during the rainy season. For treatment, I used household items: mix white vinegar with warm water, add some baking soda, dip a soft-bristled toothbrush in the solution to scrub the mold spots—baking soda helps remove stubborn stains. After scrubbing, wipe with a damp cloth and then dry with a clean towel. Remember to ventilate by opening windows to speed up drying, but avoid direct sunlight to prevent leather from cracking. Regular maintenance is crucial: minimize wet items like umbrellas in the car and place some activated charcoal packs to absorb moisture; clean the seat surfaces monthly with a damp cloth and plain water. To prevent future mold, you can spray some eco-friendly leather care spray available at supermarkets—affordable and safe. If DIY isn’t feasible, professional treatment at a 4S store is an option at a reasonable cost.
