Cleaning Mildew from seats?

Foogie

Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2018
Location
Maryland
TDI
03 Jetta TDI
I’m not sure if this is the right forum for this but I just need help from somebody! I recently purchased an 03 Golf as a project car. The exterior is absolutely mint, however the seats have mildew all over them and the car smells terrible. Any idea of how to clean the mildew out and get some of the smell away?
 

itsmejerry

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 6, 2002
Location
Birmingham, AL
TDI
2015 Passat SE TDI Nav, 2015 Passat SE TDI, 2015 Beetle Convertible TDI, 2015 Golf Sportwagen TDI All Phase 2 Emission Modified complete. 50 State Legal Diesel!
It's do-able, but please do it right.



Tools: A pump spray bottle (or recycled 409 cleaner/ Windex/Etc type of bottle) Bleach, Water, New Pollen Filter.



The simple answer is to spray a pump spray bottle with 50/50% water/bleach solution and let it sit until it dries. SPRAY EVERYTHING. Seats headliner, Carpet, Trunk Carpet, Vents, Under the dash board, as far into the dash as possible from underneath, Remove the trunk carpet. Spray it front and back, the spare tire wheel well, Remove the spare tire, clean out all the gunk in there, check for water accumulation. Is there water or a lot of condensation? You have a leak in the car. Spray inside the air vents, CHANGE the pollen filter, it's full of mold spores at this point



The more complicated "if you don't want to get sick from mold" answer is to start by finding where the water that caused the mold/mildew is coming from and make sure it's not still coming in the car. Sunroof drains may be clogged. Water (or water marks) on the rear floor or in the spare tire area? Yep- Your sunroof drain is clogged.


Also make sure the door and window seals aren't leaking. High pressure automatic car washes are good for this.



Cleaning technique- "Do it right and don't get sick from mold" method:



1. Remove the front seats (you Tube)

2 Remove the carpet. Clean it outside the car. The carpet has mildew in it, not just the seats.

3. Flip the rear seat lower cushions forward. Clean. Spray the bottom of the seat cushions with the 50/50 solution and let it dry. Flip the rear seat back down- Spray with solution.



Remove the seats, carpets, and the vent tubing and clean each surface with a 50/50 bleach water solution (You Tube is a great source for VW "How To's". Rear floors are catch basins (on any car) for water from open or leaking windows. Check there.

Flip the rear seat cushions up and flip them forward. Spray under/behind them and the carpet that is there as well.



Step 3: Vents and AC System. The vents pull apart, take this time to spray/ clean inside them. Otherwise you may just be blowing mold spores on yourself with the AC.

Change the Pollen filter on the AC system.



Step 4. Take out the trunk carpet, spray with solution, and maybe even shampoo it. Leave it to dry in the sun.



Leave the doors and trunk open for several hours to properly dry the car. Open windows (only), wont allow proper air flow to the carpets.



Avoid using a smell blocker like Fabreeze as it only masks the smell, and wont kill the mold/mildew.



Good Luck!!
 

garreth5

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2015
Location
GA
TDI
jetta
What he said. You can also use a dedicated product like Shurhold Moldaway Cleaner and Stoner Xenit Citrus Mold Cleaner.



Also, don't forget to wear face mask because you don't want to inhale those molds.
 

Foogie

Member
Joined
Jul 9, 2018
Location
Maryland
TDI
03 Jetta TDI
It's do-able, but please do it right.



Tools: A pump spray bottle (or recycled 409 cleaner/ Windex/Etc type of bottle) Bleach, Water, New Pollen Filter.



The simple answer is to spray a pump spray bottle with 50/50% water/bleach solution and let it sit until it dries. SPRAY EVERYTHING. Seats headliner, Carpet, Trunk Carpet, Vents, Under the dash board, as far into the dash as possible from underneath, Remove the trunk carpet. Spray it front and back, the spare tire wheel well, Remove the spare tire, clean out all the gunk in there, check for water accumulation. Is there water or a lot of condensation? You have a leak in the car. Spray inside the air vents, CHANGE the pollen filter, it's full of mold spores at this point



The more complicated "if you don't want to get sick from mold" answer is to start by finding where the water that caused the mold/mildew is coming from and make sure it's not still coming in the car. Sunroof drains may be clogged. Water (or water marks) on the rear floor or in the spare tire area? Yep- Your sunroof drain is clogged.


Also make sure the door and window seals aren't leaking. High pressure automatic car washes are good for this.



Cleaning technique- "Do it right and don't get sick from mold" method:



1. Remove the front seats (you Tube)

2 Remove the carpet. Clean it outside the car. The carpet has mildew in it, not just the seats.

3. Flip the rear seat lower cushions forward. Clean. Spray the bottom of the seat cushions with the 50/50 solution and let it dry. Flip the rear seat back down- Spray with solution.



Remove the seats, carpets, and the vent tubing and clean each surface with a 50/50 bleach water solution (You Tube is a great source for VW "How To's". Rear floors are catch basins (on any car) for water from open or leaking windows. Check there.

Flip the rear seat cushions up and flip them forward. Spray under/behind them and the carpet that is there as well.



Step 3: Vents and AC System. The vents pull apart, take this time to spray/ clean inside them. Otherwise you may just be blowing mold spores on yourself with the AC.

Change the Pollen filter on the AC system.



Step 4. Take out the trunk carpet, spray with solution, and maybe even shampoo it. Leave it to dry in the sun.



Leave the doors and trunk open for several hours to properly dry the car. Open windows (only), wont allow proper air flow to the carpets.



Avoid using a smell blocker like Fabreeze as it only masks the smell, and wont kill the mold/mildew.



Good Luck!!
Thanks for the reply and thanks so much for going into great detail!
 
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