How do you guys de-stink-afy a car? My Coug has a powerful funk from when the trunk was bashed in and leaked. I plan the finish painting it in the next few days and the interior, although aired out, has a the distinctive "old man funk." Any tips before I put it all back together.
I was thinking of stuffing drier sheets behind the plastic. :mullet:
Any ideas?
The stink may be in the carpet backing material, not the carpet itself. I have used a walmart "steam" cleaner to take the stink out of a van that was flooded completely. I layed the carpet out, rinsed with clean water, and ran the cleaner over it a few times. I let it dry out in the sun for a day, and it has never come back.
There's also an enzyme spray that will kill the bacteria that creates the smell in any carpet. if you clean the carpet and apply the enzyme when its still wet it should take care of the smell. I use it when basp00gets flood and the carpet gets wet. you have to do it a few times and keep the carpet damp with the spray
Any idea what that enzyme is called or where to get it?
I do have a steam cleaner and thats what I had planned on using.
They usually keep it with steam carpet cleaner stuff. other then that, I don't have an exact name. almost every brand has there own version of it. I know you can get it at anyplace that you can rent steam cleaners.
Hope that helps a little.
I just went through this nightmare with mine. My filler neck bezel was cracked and let water into the trunk.
I ended up pulling all of the insulation off the back that I could, then I took laundry detergent with bleach alternative and washed it and let it sit until it completely dried. Then I took windex with Ammonia, soaked it, and let it dry again.
A couple of weeks later it was smelling musty again.
So I pulled it back out and soaked the back of the entire trunk mat with straight bleach and let it dry.
Then I bought some Meguiar's odor eliminator and sprayed the entire trunk with it.
So far the smell hasn't come back.
http://www.topoftheline.com/odors.html (http://"http://www.topoftheline.com/odors.html")
Unsmoke makes some good stuff. If you can't get the funk out with it, you can't get the funk out. Oh and wear a respirator when you apply it not a dust mask. I used their space spray with the leather scent it kind of smells like new car. Although be warned don't just pour the shiznit in your trunk! All you have to do is dampen a rag or a sponge and wipe it across what stinks.
Pull it out and blast it at the car wash or with a power washer. That will blast the FUNK right out of it. My wifes Jeep had a rusty floor and that thing Stunk horrible. I pulled out the interior to get the carpet out and fix the rust holes. I sprayed it down with Super clean then blasted it with a power washer. I let it dry out completely. When you power wash you blast the stuff right on through and out. That will blast all the nasty out of you carpet too. Try it you will like it. Just don't come complaining to me when you want to freshin up the rest of the interior to make it look as nice as the carpet.
I like your style. I think thats what I will do. I used to have a relative who would wash out the inside of his car whenever it got dirty enough (really dirty....think exploded milk jug). It would take about 10 days before all the electronics were working again. I think that route is a little too radical for me.