Auto body repair & detailing: dunked Pathfinder in a lake - carpet smells, mold and mildew, hook ups

Question
how do i get that smell out of the carpet after its been in lake water? cut it out? steam clean it?

Answer
Peter,

Cleaning well not rid you of the smell. There is about a 48 hour window to clean this type of problem before mold and mildew start to grow. Past the 48 hours and nothing will properly clean the carpet.

Your only way to correct this type of problem would be to replace the carpet. If you look on line you can find replacement carpet at half the price of the dealership cost. Make sure you buy custom molded to your exact vehicle. Expect to spend a full day removing all the seats and trim. Consoles are tricky and patience is needed. Be very detailed so that you know where all the bolts and wire hook ups go back. If it sounds like to much work, interview some people and see what they say about the job.

If your seats have are bag sensors, you might have to take the truck back to the dealership to have the light reset.

Good luck