Mold tends to grow in warm, dark, and moist conditions.

So guess what, the interior of your can can provide the perfect habitat for mold growth.

Cars are the perfect place for mold to develop and flourish. As a result, many car owners should learn to recognize and remove mold smells from car.

How does mold infiltrate a car?

Mold spreads by growing spores. Those spores are most commonly found in damp areas, like the floorboards of a car where moisture tends to accumulate.

If your car has been flooded recently, there’s a big chance that it’s riddled with mold. Especially if the car remains locked and the moisture is trapped in the vehicle.

What causes this smell? Mold emits specific compounds as part of its metabolism process.

These compounds are called microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs). When we inhale these MVOCs from certain mold species, they can cause a reaction.

These reactions may include nasal stuffiness and eye irritation, as well as wheezing and difficulty breathing for people with asthma or other respiratory conditions. Exposure to higher amounts of these moldy MVOCs may also cause hay fever like symptoms.

Even if MVOCs are in low amounts, people may still be able to smell them easily. As you would expect, mold smells like mold!

There is no need to worry though because this guide will teach you several effective methods that can help you get rid of those pesky smells!  

Tip #1: Give your car a good’ole wipe down

The first method you should try is simply wiping down any visible areas of mold with a wet sponge or cloth.

Washing hard surfaces such as window seals can be a great way to remove some mold spores and also keep your car clean at the same time.

You should never use harsh chemicals when cleaning your vehicle because they can damage the materials inside of the car.

Tip #2: Try to locate the source

If you are able to locate the source of a mold smell in your car, you should remove it.

For example, if mold is growing on one of your floor mats you can simply take it out and have it washed to remove any possible mold growth. .

After doing this you may want to place the mat in direct sunlight so that any remaining spores are killed by the sun’s UV rays. This process can be repeated with anything that holds moisture such as seat cushions or door liners.

Tip #3: Use activated charcoal

The best way to get rid of any mold smells inside of your vehicle is by using activated charcoal.

Next, buy a small package of activated charcoal. You can usually find this in the fish tank section of your local pet store.

This will help clear out any unwanted smells by trapping them between two layers of activated charcoal which acts like a sponge.

Tip #4: Bring the car to a detailer

If you have tried everything but are still struggling with mold smells in car, it is possible that there is too much mold for these methods to work effectively.

In this case, the best thing you can do is bring it into an auto repair shop so that they can look over the problem and attempt to fix whatever needs fixing.

Of course, you should also check to make sure that you have no leaks in your car because pooling water is one of the top causes of mold growth.

In some cases where the mold growth has been removed from the car and the smell still remains, detailers will apply an ozone treatment to eliminate any lingering odors.

Frequently asked questions about mold in cars

How can you test your car for mold?

One way to test for mold is to use a black-light flashlight, which can be found in most home improvement stores.

The ultraviolet light from the black-light will cause any potential mold to glow a bright white color on surfaces that are not carpet or fabric (for example: plastic and glass). 

If you see any areas where the black-light causes a moldy material to glow, then that surface is likely moldy.

Can mold in your car make you sick?

Yes, if someone has allergies then mold spores can make them sick.

There is also a chance that mold can cause health problems to anyone who breathes in large amounts of it for an extended period of time.

What does mold in car smell like?

Mold in car smell is often compared to the smell of dirt. It can also be musty or earthy smelling.

Why does mold grow in cars?

There are several reasons why mold tends to grow in cars.

One reason is because there is a lot of moisture which makes it an ideal place for mold spores to develop into mold growths.

Another reason is that if your vehicle has been exposed to water, the air conditioner and heater will circulate damp and muggy air inside of the car which encourages more mold growths.

Finally, if you have ever smoked weed inside of your car then this may provide food for future mold growths since they like eating the leftover resin from smoking substances such as cannabis or tobacco!

What is the best odor eliminator for cars?

Febreze is the best odor remover for cars. For some reason, other car air fresheners just don’t fill up a vehicle with as much fragrance as Febreeze does!

Does insurance cover mold in car?

No, insurance will not cover mold in car because it is a type of biohazard.

How do you stop condensation in my caused by cold weather?

If your windows are fogging up inside your car even though it’s warm, there is one problem that could be at least partly responsible: humidity.

Warm air holds more moisture than cool air. Since outside air is usually cooler than the interior of your vehicle, that means it probably contains less moisture.

When you bring the two together – hot cold air mixing – they push and pull each other and the warmer air can’t hold as much moisture. The result is condensation, or water droplets, on your windows.