Topic: What's this smell inside my car?

[safristi]

man Gas and mildew are noses apart.....................see an ENT specialist  SOON............

[dr_spock]

How about sniffing the seats, headliner, etc.?   Did the Golf ever carried children?

[jewels007]

I tried that and nothing. Nope, no children ever sat in my Golf. The smell is first thing in the morning. It goes away after I've been driving it all day.

[dr_spock]

Is your car parked inside or outside overnight?  Hmm, could be tough to figure out without physically sniffing your car. 

[jewels007]

It's in a garage which I share with three other people, but the garage itself does not smell.

[barrie1]

Might be wise to stop in at a good mechanic for him to smell this odour early in the day when its the stongest as he just may know what it is by the smell of it. 

[jewels007]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to let you know that the mystery of the mildew smell has been solved! Turns out some of the posters were right: I HAD indeed spilled something and the carpet had gone mouldy. The spill was in the TRUNK of the car -- I never considered checking the trunk, how silly of me. I had spilled car wax and it had seeped through the carpets. There is literally spores of mould all over the carpet. It's gross.

Any suggestions on how to clean up this mess are welcome. I figure I will just shampoo and dry but if there are better suggestions please share.

Thanks.
Jewels007

[mmret]

My admittedly uninformed inclination would be 99.9% rubbing alcohol if only to kill the stuff.

[safristi]

"rubbing alcohol" wotta waste gate.....................maybe stay outta yer car fer 3 days and see if it goes away............ ....early signs of diabetes is  "FRUITY BREATH".....i speared a MINT........................

[dr_spock]

You could try killing the mold with a vapour steam cleaner, I suppose.

[Max439]

My mother's Sunbird had a moldy smell in the car as well, most likely from wetness under carpet.  Press down and feel with naked hand on floor carpet for water everywhere. Use vacuum cleaner to suck out any water at a low place where water might accumulate.