Has It Rained Inside Lately?
How To Handle Interior Water Damage
“Holy soggy seats Batman!”
OK, that’s probably the sanitized version of what comes out of your mouth when you go out to the driveway the morning after that dark and rainy night and see the car windows wide open. You think, “Well, maybe it’s not that bad. I’ll just sop things up with my trusty ol’ Sham-wow.” Then you stick your head in the cabin of the car and get the dry heaves as last night’s chili quickly tries to add to the mess and stench. The musty, moldy odor is simply revolting.
Dealing with interior water damage is something that you can deal with yourself, but as we’ll illustrate below, is probably a job (a huge one) that’s best left to your friendly neighborhood auto detailing shop. If you’re super ambitious, have a workbench stocked with all of the tools anyone can ever hope for, and have a ton of spare time, here are the steps you’ll need to take if you’ve got an interior water damage problem.
Stopping the Stench
First, yes, sop up whatever visible water you can. But understand that by the time you’ve stumbled onto the scene, there’s water much deeper than you’ll be able to get to with a towel – or that sham-wow. The odor you’re smelling is due to mold and mildew caused by the water. Febreeze won’t do the job.
Extract and Clean
As mentioned, the water will have soaked deeply into the fabric, carpet and seat cushions. This is something the sopping simply can’t resolve. You’ll need to remove the seats and carpeting from the car… yes, we said “remove” them. After you’ve got those things out of the car, you’ll need to rent a water extractor. A shop vac will only be a half-measure. This step isn’t recommended for anyone who’s never done this type of thing – removing the seats and carpet – and if not done with the right tools can cause more harm than good.
Dealing with Mold and Mildew
When dealing with mold, always use a mask and rubber gloves. Use a mildew remover or vinegar to wipe down the seats. You’ll need to turn them upside down to dry thoroughly, and bring into house (or someplace warmer than the garage) if you can so that they dry quickly in a warm room. Let dry thoroughly and paint the bolts to prevent rust.
Of course, if the seats were too wet, you may be fighting a losing battle and need to just buy new ones. Check on eBay or with your auto dealer. You might also consider having the seats and interior reupholstered. You can buy new carpeting through an online source, or at the local dealer.
Lingering Odors
After all of this and before re-installing, check to see if the odor is lingering. You may need to hit things again with a second mildew treatment.
Before Reinstalling
Before reinstalling the seats and carpet make sure the flooring of the car is not rusting. Only when you’re sure you’ve got all the water and moisture removed should you reinstall.
The Path of Least Resistance and Cost
So, there it is. Pretty easy… OK, not so much. This is why auto detailers do what we do. By the time you add all of the solvents, equipment, tools, rentals, not to mention the hours you’ll need to commit to this project, the cost of letting us handle it far outweighs the cost of doing it yourself. And, you’ll have the peace of mind that things were done professionally. Depending on the extent of the damage, you may need to leave your car overnight. Not a problem with Fresh Start as we can line you up with a loaner vehicle.
This fall and winter, things’ll happen. If you go out to your car and have a “Holy soggy seats Batman!” moment, save yourself a lot of time, money and headaches and call Fresh Start Detail and we’ll get you dried out the right way.
