Fighting mildew

[Trilapis]

Sorry guys, i've posted this on "ask mike" forum too but i'm a bit desperate to get an answer, i'm fighting this smell since march...

So first of all let me tell you that i am no professional detailer, but i am closely working with the best in my city to solve my problem.


So i own a 1997 Jaguar xk8 that had a strong mildew smell when bought this february. So i started a project of trying to get rid of that horrendous smell.


Let me tell you from the beginning that the interior of the car looks perfect. So no visible traces of mold or mildew.


Long story short, i've went into dismantling the dashboard, seats, leather and foam from the seats skeletons, door panels, rear seats, flooring. The only part i haven't touched (yet) is the roof.


So i found a lot of mildew under the rear seat, in the hvac system filters and the "spongy" material that covers the ventilation fans. Those were replaced. The detailer used Leatherique for cleaning the seats and for the rest of the parts we used Vital Oxide, a strong but mild mold killer.


So the smell is 80 percent gone...but not 100 percent. Trusting my nose i would say that the carpets still smell. So do the seats (after a hour long drive for example, the back of the tshirt smells like mildew.


So my questions are: are there any chances to save the carpet flooring - cleaned several times, treated with vital oxide and other detailing odor eliminator but still smells. How about the seats? Should we use something different than leatherique? I would do anything to save that leather, it is in amazing state and they don't make leather like that anymore...


Thank you so much

[wn1998]

Have you tried an Ozone machine. I have seen great results in a smokers car or someone that dropped a latte that baked in the heat for a few days. They simply run the Ozone machine in your car with the AC on recirculate for 30 minutes and then you need to air out your car with the windows down for 15 minutes and the Ozone kills any mold or bacteria.

You may also want to use a steamer to clean your leather as it will disinfect it.

[Trilapis]

Have you tried an Ozone machine. I have seen great results in a smokers car or someone that dropped a latte that baked in the heat for a few days. They simply run the Ozone machine in your car with the AC on recirculate for 30 minutes and then you need to air out your car with the windows down for 15 minutes and the Ozone kills any mold or bacteria.

You may also want to use a steamer to clean your leather as it will disinfect it.

Thank you for the tips. we used ozone several times. we also steamed the ventilation tubes. not sure he steamed the seats. Will try that too.