Moldy cars, what to do

Blaze

Blaze

The Jeeper Reaper
Joined
Aug 9, 2005
Location
Wake Forest, NC
So I live in a rainforest. Like, I'm only missing the monkeys and colorful birds. Very wooded, heavy canopy, humid as fuuuuuuuu. Every summer it gets like this. I have an air conditioned shop, so not a huge deal when I'm working......but the cars at my shop get moldy. Like, MOLDY. For no real reason. None of them leak, they just get moldy.

I have four cars that sit outside down at my shop and every one of them is disgusting right now. Green fluffy mold. If I clean the snot out of them and drive them regularly, no problem at all. But leave them for a week and they turn into penicillin central.

My 2015 Malibu has been sitting in my driveway for two weeks. Like, only two weeks parked there and I just noticed it is disgusting. This was a daily driven car up until about two weeks ago.

Is there anything I can do about this? I'm in the process of thinning out my fleet here so about 4 of these cars are going to be gone soon, but it is so damn annoying. Fall and winter when the leaves are off the trees I have no problems. I can't let a car sit for more than two weeks at the shop while it waits its turn in.
 
StretchASU said:
When you say they don’t leak. Are we talking interior molding or exterior? Or both.
Click to expand...
Interior molding only.

In my camper I run a dehumidifier year round and it keeps it from molding, but I don't want to run humidifiers in all my cars. :lol:
 

Desiccant Silica Gel maybe?​

www.talasonline.com

Silica Gel Bulk Pack

A water absorbent chemical that reduces humidity in closed containers thus reducing the possibility of rust, corrosion, mildew, mold and other damage dependent upon ambient moisture. Silica dust can cause respiratory complications, appropriate care should be used. Available in:Blue Indicating...
www.talasonline.com www.talasonline.com
 
Maybe try an ozone generator.

Amazon.com: Ozone Generator 45,000mg/h, Industrial/Home O3 Air Purifier Deodorizer for Areas of 2500 Square Feet - High Capacity Ozone Machine Air Ionizer Odor Clean for Rooms, Smoke, Cars, Pets (Green) : Home & Kitchen

Buy Ozone Generator 45,000mg/h, Industrial/Home O3 Air Purifier Deodorizer for Areas of 2500 Square Feet - High Capacity Ozone Machine Air Ionizer Odor Clean for Rooms, Smoke, Cars, Pets (Green): Air Ionizers - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
www.amazon.com
 
Desiccant alone won’t do the trick. You need to kill the mold spores. Not just wipe them away. I would really recommend going through the whole car with a mix of 50/50 water and white vinegar. The mild acidity of the vinegar will kill the mold spores and keep them from regenerating. You could go as far as putting a few inches of water in the bottom of a shop vac and vacuuming the car before applying the 50/50 solution. Water in the bottom of the vac will help trap the spores.
 
@Blaze are you talking like this, but more:
1753818193223.png


My truck had this happen after I busted the 3rd brakelight and water unknowningly got in the cab and was hanging out under the rear seats. Same deal with heat and humidity helping it. I cleaned it with something but I don't remember what. Fast forward to this year and the windshield getting busted while the truck was parked, same thing happened again. This time I hit it with Mold Armor and let it soak for a bit. It's been in my air conditioned shop since, so I don't know if its gonna come back, but I feel better about it this go round. Are you 100% sure there's not a leak somewhere? I know my Volkswagens have been bad about having clogged gutter/drains causing water to accumulate under the front floor, and if the vehicle is driven frequently enough, it sloshes around enough to dry it out and you won't know it.
 
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Tom@Hilltop_Machine said:
Maybe try an ozone generator.

Amazon.com: Ozone Generator 45,000mg/h, Industrial/Home O3 Air Purifier Deodorizer for Areas of 2500 Square Feet - High Capacity Ozone Machine Air Ionizer Odor Clean for Rooms, Smoke, Cars, Pets (Green) : Home & Kitchen

Buy Ozone Generator 45,000mg/h, Industrial/Home O3 Air Purifier Deodorizer for Areas of 2500 Square Feet - High Capacity Ozone Machine Air Ionizer Odor Clean for Rooms, Smoke, Cars, Pets (Green): Air Ionizers - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
www.amazon.com
Click to expand...
I have a super powered ozone generator that is deadly. Might try that afterwards.
StretchASU said:
Desiccant alone won’t do the trick. You need to kill the mold spores. Not just wipe them away. I would really recommend going through the whole car with a mix of 50/50 water and white vinegar. The mild acidity of the vinegar will kill the mold spores and keep them from regenerating. You could go as far as putting a few inches of water in the bottom of a shop vac and vacuuming the car before applying the 50/50 solution. Water in the bottom of the vac will help trap the spores.
Click to expand...
That's a good idea. I'll do that. A couple of the cars I am getting ready to sell so I need to clean the hell out of them and I want to do it right. I hate dumping busted shit, I want it to be something that I'd feel ok buying.
jeepinmatt said:
@Blaze are you talking like this, but more:
View attachment 442682

My truck had this happen after I busted the 3rd brakelight and water unknowningly got in the cab and was hanging out under the rear seats. Same deal with heat and humidity helping it. I cleaned it with something but I don't remember what. Fast forward to this year and the windshield getting busted while the truck was parked, same thing happened again. This time I hit it with Mold Armor and let it soak for a bit. It's been in my air conditioned shop since, so I don't know if its gonna come back, but I feel better about it this go round. Are you 100% sure there's not a leak somewhere? I know my Volkswagens have been bad about having clogged gutter/drains causing water to accumulate under the front floor, and if the vehicle is driven frequently enough, it sloshes around enough to dry it out and you won't know it.
Click to expand...
Yeah, just like that, but way more. I think one of the cars does have a leak in the trunk, but it is literally every single car I park down there. I have a lot of junk, but no way they all suck that bad. :lol:
 
StretchASU said:
Desiccant alone won’t do the trick. You need to kill the mold spores. Not just wipe them away. I would really recommend going through the whole car with a mix of 50/50 water and white vinegar. The mild acidity of the vinegar will kill the mold spores and keep them from regenerating. You could go as far as putting a few inches of water in the bottom of a shop vac and vacuuming the car before applying the 50/50 solution. Water in the bottom of the vac will help trap the spores.
Click to expand...

Would you recommend this same solution for mold on the outside? Had a truck that was parked under trees for a few years. Now that its parked in the sun, itll still get a green film growing on it over time.
 
paradisePWoffrd said:
Would you recommend this same solution for mold on the outside? Had a truck that was parked under trees for a few years. Now that its parked in the sun, itll still get a green film growing on it over time.
Click to expand...

Yep. Depending on the severity of the mold and the condition of the paint I might go leaner. 1 Part white vinegar, 3 parts water. Then go back with some kind of a sealer wax. You'll likely remove any remaining wax during the mold removal process. Or if its a shitbox, just send it.
 
Jumped in my tow rig / rolling shop to go help a friend tonight and the leather, steering wheel, and all hard surfaces were moldy. Its been sitting under my back deck for the past month with this extreme heat then weeks of rain. I guess I know what I get to do tomorrow...
 
Its been vinegared, shampooed, and fogged. Sitting in the garage for the night with all the windows open and fan blowing through it. Hopefully that knocks it out.
 
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