My son has taken a liking to tossing his bottle around the car when he gets bored and the result has been this awful sour milk smell coming from my car’s carpet. How should I get rid of this smell? Everything I’ve tried so far hasn’t worked.

Chloe Jenkins · Updated on Oct 29, 2021

Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.

I’m sorry to hear that you’re not having much success getting rid of the sour smell in your carpet. It’s likely that whenever you discovered the spill was long enough after it actually happened that the milk soaked into your carpet giving you the sour smell. You will need:

Carpet cleaner

Charcoal air purifying bags

Clean white cloth/paper towels

A sponge

Stain remover (only if there is a stain)

A steam cleaner (if you want to be really thorough)

Using the items listed, complete a deep clean of every surface in your vehicle that may have come in contact with milk:

Seats

Carpet

Floor mats

If the spill or smell is very significant, rent a steam cleaner to get the job done or have your car professionally cleaned and save yourself the aggravation. If you use the steam cleaner, be sure to allow your car at least 12 hours to dry completely.

After the cleaned areas are completely dry, ensure that the smell doesn’t return by using any of the following methods.

Baking soda. Shake a layer of baking soda over the affected area and let it sit for at least a few hours before vacuuming it up. Some say it’s best to leave the baking soda for multiple days, but this may not be the best idea for everyone. If the smell persists, repeat this as many times as necessary.

White vinegar. Spraying vinegar on the affected areas will break down the enzymes in the milk that cause the sour smell and is a chemical-free, safe solution to use around children. Be sure to dilute the vinegar with significantly more water and allow it to soak in for about five hours. Be sure to properly air out your vehicle.

Enzyme sprays. These work in a similar fashion to the vinegar, working to break down the enzymes in the milk to kill the smell. Spray on the affected area and let sit for a day or two before going back to clean up.

Do not use enzyme sprays on your leather seats!

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