As of: February 23, 2024, 9:29 a.m
By: Marco Blanco Ucles
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Various unpleasant smells can arise in the car - including mold.
You can stop and prevent this with simple tricks.
Have you been noticing an unpleasant smell in your car - regardless of whether it is a diesel, petrol or electric car - more and more often lately, but you can't identify it and can't remove it even with extensive ventilation?
Well, if there is no trash left under your driver's seat, it could be that mold or fungus has formed in your car.
Then you are required to do something about it.
In addition to the smell, the bacteria can also be harmful to health.
Moisture in the car as a cause of mold formation
The reason why mold develops - similar to that in your home - is that you have moisture in your car.
This can get into the vehicle through broken seals, rusty areas or open windows.
Wet clothes also release moisture, so don't leave them in the car for too long.
But what are the signs of mold in the car?
“There are several signs that indicate mold in the car.
A clear sign are car windows that are fogged up on the inside and cool, damp car seats,” explains
verivox.de
.
A musty smell in the car can be an indication of mold - action is needed.
© Panthermedia/IMAGO
Mold is often found in the air conditioning system.
An indication of this is if the smell only starts when you start it.
If the fungal spores have settled there and spread, you urgently need to clean the clogged drain pipes, explains
kfzteile24.de
.
Chemical disinfection must then take place to kill the bacteria and fungi.
In many cases it is advisable to get a professional to help you with this.
In order to avoid germs in the air conditioning system in the future, it is advisable to always turn off the air conditioning system three minutes before parking the car, but leave the fan running - this way the remaining moisture is blown out of the system.
In principle, it is always advisable for drivers to park in dry conditions to prevent mold.
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Mold also often forms on fabric fibers
But mold can grow in more than just the air conditioning system.
The bacteria also like to settle on fabric fibers, such as car seats, floor mats or headliners.
If mold has formed on your car seat, anti-mold agents developed for textiles can help.
“These usually use special organic ammonium compounds that do not harm the sensitive upholstery,” explains
verivox.de
.
However, products with other ingredients should be avoided, as chlorine, for example, can cause the upholstery to fade.
Special anti-mold sprays help against mold on plastic surfaces.
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However, a bad smell in the car does not necessarily have to be caused by mold.
If the smell is not musty like mold, but rather in the direction of the exhaust gases, it may well be that your car's exhaust system is leaking.
In such a case, instead of exiting the tailpipe, the exhaust gases penetrate through the pipe and rise upwards due to their heat.
Kfzteile24.de
advises: “In this case, visit a workshop as soon as possible to clarify the problem and eliminate the cause.
A leaky exhaust system not only harms the environment and your health, but is also a serious defect in the general inspection.”