Mold Growing in Car!!!

[mshipon]

I'm a forum member with a Pontiac SSEi, but this is a general question about the interior on my 1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Jeep has been in the garage over the winter and not driven at all. My wife opened the door yesterday and, low and behold, the fabric seats have mold spots all over them and mold is growing on plastic/vinyl dash and center console parts also. Now, being a '98, we had hoped to keep it for another year or two. Is this something that I can remedy without completely replacing the interior? Would a good
steam cleaning help (from a detail shop)? What about potential mold in the vents?

Looking forward to your feedback.

Thanks,

Martin

[Gumball]

must have has moisture in it when put away, take it outside and let it air out,use fans.

wear a properly fitted N95 or HEPA respirator mask.and gloves.

1,Wash contaminated surfaces and objects with warm, soapy water then 2,disinfect with a bleach and water solution - 1 cup of bleach per 1 gallon of water. not stronger.. <this would be on plastic parts, not cloth. test in a area not seen for color change.

if you can get/rent an extractor I would use that on the carpets and cloth seats. mild soap solution.

let car air out to dry, use fans if possible.

wash your cloths right away, do not put them with others in a hamper. or wear old cloths and throw them away.

[sandrock]

After doing all that, follow up with some Vinylex (Lexol for vinyl) or any other quality vinyl cleaner/conditioner. That mold will have at least dried out some portions of where it was growing. Also be prepared for some possible discoloration where it was at.

I heard from somewhere...and I can't remember for the life of me where...that if you put a few packets of rice in the car when you store it, it helps keep the moisture down. Makes sense, though I've never tried it.

[John Deere Boy]

This happens to all our tractors in the summer. They sit in a cool, dry, insulated and cemented shop but they still mold. Luckily the mold hasn't ever done any permanent damage. I think I'll try the rice too.