If your car has been in a flood or suffered water damage, then your auto carpet is likely to have mildew. If you leave the mildew and wetness alone and don't try to remove it, your car will likely retain an unpleasant stench. A thorough cleaning will most likely get rid of the mildew and wetness without the need to pay an auto detailing company to complete the job for you.
Get rid of the residual wetness on your auto carpet. The best way to do this is to use a wet vacuum cleaner on the area that is affected by the moisture and mildew. Any excess water on the mildewed carpet can be removed with dry towels.
Remove the carpet from the car, if possible. Place it upside down in a sunny spot in order to completely dry the carpet fibers. If the carpet is not able to be removed from the car, leave the windows open to help it dry.
Locate the mildew stains after the carpet has dried. They will appear as small white spots on the fibers of the auto carpet.
Clean the carpet with diluted carpet cleaner to remove the mildew stains from the exterior of the carpet. Spray a mixture of half water and half carpet cleaner. Scrub at the stains until they are no longer visible.
Use a solution of ½ percent of hydrogen peroxide. Placing a light coating of hydrogen peroxide over the mildew-affected carpet and allowing it to dry in the sunlight will help kill off any remaining mildew. Keep your car windows open for as long as it dries in order to keep your car well ventilated.
