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How do you clean mold off vinyl car seats?

My grandmother has reached the age where she no longer feels comfortable driving and decided to give me her car for my 21st birthday. The car runs great and has been sitting in her garage, almost untouched, for the last year or two. While driving it home, I noticed the smell of mildew and found some mold growing on the seats. How can I clean the mold off the vinyl seats?

avatar
Jack Walsh · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
That was very kind of your grandmother to gift you her car rather than just get rid of it!
Breathing in mold can be harmful, so you should clean the seats as soon as possible. Getting rid of the mold is easy and just requires a few items that you likely have lying around your house or can easily pick up at the store. To clean the mold, you will need:
  • A vacuum.
  • A spray bottle filled with white distilled vinegar.
  • A scrub brush.
  • A mask.
After collecting your supplies, you should:
  • Mask up to avoid inhaling harmful particles and park your car in the sun with all the doors open to let it air out.
  • Remove any trash or personal belongings.
  • Inspect the interior to locate the areas that need to be treated.
  • Break up large clusters using the scrub brush and vacuum the interior.
  • Thoroughly saturate the affected areas with vinegar.
  • Scrub the vinegar into the affected areas, using more vinegar as needed.
  • Let the interior completely dry and leave the doors open to air out the smell. Once dry, the vinegar smell should go away.
Before hitting the road in your new mold-free car, make sure you have an active
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