Deoderizing....URGENT!

[98LowRanger]

So a customer dropped off his 2002 Explorer with me this afternoon and it has a very STRONG moldy/wet dog smell in the interior. I have never had to rid a car of a foul odor before so all I have is Chemical Guys New Car smell spray. I fear that even after I deep clean the interior and use the CG spray, this odor will still remain. I went ahead and ordered the Dakota 3 pack odor bomb from AG, but it probably won't get to me till Friday and I have to return the car Thursday evening. You also can't upgrade the shipping to air (overnight) due to it being an aerosol.

So I am leaving all the doors open tonight (it's in the garage) and I threw 3 fabric softener sheets on the carpet. Is there anywhere local that sells odor bombs? I simply do not have the time to run to different stores trying to find one.

[KMdef9]

Masking the smell doesn't fix. GC claims to have "odor elminators", so it may help some. The dryer sheets won't do anything but cover it up too.

Shampooing all the fabric is your best bet. Removing the odor is best way to get ride of it. Kinda of like swirl marks, wax=air fresheners as polish=shampooing(cleaning). It gets to be a PIA when the headliner needs cleaning, that's my least favorite part of fabric cleaning.

Leaving the doors open will help if there's moisture that needs to be dried. But if mold if growing, it won't help.

[Rsurfer]

So a customer dropped off his 2002 Explorer with me this afternoon and it has a very STRONG moldy/wet dog smell in the interior. I have never had to rid a car of a foul odor before so all I have is Chemical Guys New Car smell spray. I fear that even after I deep clean the interior and use the CG spray, this odor will still remain. I went ahead and ordered the Dakota 3 pack odor bomb from AG, but it probably won't get to me till Friday and I have to return the car Thursday evening. You also can't upgrade the shipping to air (overnight) due to it being an aerosol.

So I am leaving all the doors open tonight (it's in the garage) and I threw 3 fabric softener sheets on the carpet. Is there anywhere local that sells odor bombs? I simply do not have the time to run to different stores trying to find one.

You will need an enzyme to kill the odor. Try calling some janitorial supply stores in your area.

[crxdx]

Pet stores usually carry a solution in a gallon size that have the enzymes to rid the smell for good.

[scrubs147]

About the only success I have had is to do a complete interior detail, floor mats come out and scrubbed, headliner wiped down with Folex, everything steamed, and this is VERY IMPORTANT: Replace the "In-Cab Filter". After all that, run the air with a Ozone Generator in the car (windows cracked about a half inch) for up to 20 minutes.

If necessary, grab some tools and start removing seats, don't forget to do the trunk as well. Take the spare out, open compartments, don't forget the seat belts - I mean everything.

[parttimer]

I believe megs has an odor bomb, or check lowes/home depot for odo-ban. Here is the AG megs odor bomb: Meguiars Air Re-Fresher Odor Eliminator

Where are you at, maybe a fellow geek has some to spare.

[PiPUK]

You will need an enzyme to kill the odor. Try calling some janitorial supply stores in your area.

The enzyme/biological approach is but one option. There are chemical solutions which can do the job every bit as well. If I am not mistaken, car pro used to do one (though I appreciate this will not help the OP).

The first step you should take is to ensure that you kill any bacteria which may be causing the problem. This is easily done but you need to get a bactericial product, not just an APC (most detailing APCs are not bactericidal at all).

[atgonzales]

I think this what you want,
http://www.odobanpet.com/ available at Home Depot


Anything in life worth doing is worth over doing, moderation is for cowards

[rbss]

Last smelly car I had I steam cleaned, Dakota odor bomb and duragloss 371(absorb it). Customer contacted me a couple weeks later stating the car still smelled great! You can buy the Megs odor bomb and DG 371 locally.

[BillE]

I believe megs has an odor bomb, or check lowes/home depot for odo-ban. Here is the AG megs odor bomb: Meguiars Air Re-Fresher Odor Eliminator

Where are you at, maybe a fellow geek has some to spare.

I have used the Meguiar's product. After about a month and half...all odors are still gone.

My 'smell' came from an old chunk of fabric (was clean, but had a 'grandmothers house' smell) in the back of my truck over a winter 'sleep.' Never could get rid of the smell, but seems the Meg's stuff has worked as advertised.

Just my 2¢...

Bill