Mold in carpet -- how do I know if it's gone?
 

I've been checking out another 2007 Fit Sport lately. It's got over 100 grand on the clock. It seems to have been a one-person commuter car, as the passenger seats/carpet/mats are practically untouched.

However, it has the famous door leak, with water pooling in the right-rear floorboard. It seems to have gone unnoticed for a long time, since mold was growing on the carpet there, under the place where the mat would be. The mold was about 1 cm thick in some places, and about 3 inches in diameter in each spot (mixing metric and English!), in about 5 spots.

The auto broker (not dealership) that now owns the car says they've cleaned it up with enzymes and stuff designed to destroy and break down the mold --but-- how can I tell if the smell is permanently gone?

I can fix the door leak myself if need be, by the way.

Do you know the name of the products they used?

I have an ozone generator that I use in cars to kill mold and destroy odors.... You may be able to rent one at a tool rental.... I run it in my car for an hour 0r two with the windows up and the A/C vent in the open position and then start the car and close the vent turn on the fan and let it run for about ten minutes.... The car will smell new again after doing this and the moldy odor will be gone.

I worked @ Munter MCS (Moisture Controll Services) and know that the ozone machine will in fact work great but it also breaks down plastics if over used. check on the $ of a new carpet from Bernadi's.

Bernardi has carpet for $215 + $40 insulation for the front floor pans.

U go binary!! good /fast work!!
and coyotee I have an ozone machine i'm going to use it to get that smell back, Thanks!!

I don't know what chemicals they use, but they said "enzymes that digest and kill mold". We've used that kind of chemical before (cleaning business), and they work, but I don't know how to tell if they got it all.

Ozone generator -- I am intrigued...I like it.

I have used the ozone machine in my wife's 95 GMC pick up a few time over he years with no problem in regards to the plastic breaking down.... She is very good about keeping her car interiors looking good and the old truck looks brand new on the inside.... The outside sure is looking rough though.... I use it in my house to eliminate cigarette, cooking and dog odor and have had it for 10 years.... I said to use it over night, that isn't recommended.... An hour with a window cracked for an hour is the way I remember the directions saying to use it before turning on the A/C for a few minutes an the recirculate setting..... I have used it over night before in a van with positive results and no damage to the plastic parts. `

if you dont mind the stink i would use some bathtub cleaner sprays with bleach. and spray it down real good.

let it sit for a good 10-15min while it works. then use a sponge and bucket to RINSE out the spray. make sure you wear gloves. after about 20 cycles of RINSING, then i would take a shop vac and vac all water out. repeat the rinse cycle another 10-15 times and re-shopvac.

keep the window open as much as you can to ventilate...even keep some moisture eaters on the floor. :)

the good thing about bleach is that it's easy to detect by smell. and if you dont smell it it means it's gone. so keep rinsing it until you get the smell out.