To get rid of this smell you first need to locate the source.
Wet carpet smell in car.
Soak up all the moisture from your carpet with dry absorbent towels.
You should create a thin coat of baking soda so get a large box of baking soda for each room that you plan to treat.
Add heat mold grows best between 77 f and 120 f and your car is the perfect place to raise a nation of mold and mildew colonies.
So the area was definitely wet before the smell started.
You must clean the carpeting and mats with a shampoo designed for combating water smells and mildew buildup.
Even a cabin air filter clogged with rotting leaves or leaking trunk can become odiferous.
If there is lingering water damage in the area dry out the area as best you can or call a professional water damage mitigation company.
Baking soda absorbs odors and moisture.
Getting a water smell out of your car s carpeting and mats requires more than just masking the smell with a deodorant.
Gently spread the baking soda around the carpet with a broom or sponge working the powder into the carpet as you do so.
Frequent causes for musty smells include mold and or mildew in the vent system carpet or headliner.
Even if it s only water a funny odor can accumulate over time.
Musty earthy or dank smells whatever you want to call it are the result of excess moisture.
Such car smells can usually be traced to excess moisture over 50 percent relative humidity providing the perfect breeding ground for these microorganisms.
The fungi emits an odor that is strong and unhealthy to breathe.
There are several areas you can check where mold can grow.
Continue this procedure until there is very little moisture remaining in your carpet.
Sprinkle baking soda onto the carpet.
If the damp carpet is under a car mat remove the mat after checking to see if it contains any moisture or mold.
When a carpet smells musty or smells like mildew it can be a result of humidity or spills that fell onto the carpet.
Keep in mind that smoking leaves behind tar which is a sticky substance.
Spray a car odor eliminator into the vents as well as through the intake valve under the hood.
A mildew smell is often caused by moisture or humidity that has been built up in your car.
If it clumps in spots use your hand to spread it out.
Often times mold growth or mildew is caused by moisture that has accumulated in your car.
If your home has recently flooded this is most likely the reason for the unpleasant odor.
Sprinkle baking soda onto the carpet.
Wipe down the interior panels with a 50 50 combination of water and vinegar solution.
When moisture gets underneath the carpet a musty odor will form.
Step 3 remove the mold.