Smell of rotting cabbage in car

Tiny
KB81
  • MEMBER
  • 2019 SEAT AROSA
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 1,000 MILES
Hi,

I had a car accident and the car wasn't watertight and had water sitting in it for 3 weeks. A smell like rotting cabbage has developed. I've tried silica cat litter, dehumidifier boxes, bicarbonate of soda, and Clobberizer which releases Chlorine Dioxide in the car, and leaving the windows open a small amount every day for 2 weeks. The smell just keeps coming back. What can I do?
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2020 AT 11:29 AM

1 Reply

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,574 POSTS
Because of the water in the car it is likely mold and mildew growing in the padding and carpet and other places. There are not many ways to clean it all out other than removing the seats and trim, pulling the carpeting and cleaning the chassis floor and wiring it all with something like Clorox or other mold and mildew killer. Then shampooing the carpets and seat padding very well and drying that all out. A bigger concern with the water is what electronics or controls and wiring may have gotten wet. Modern cars run a lot of that under the carpets and in the door sill areas. That would also need to be dried out and checked. Because that car has never been sold in the US we have no real information on how it comes apart, but that is about the only way to kill off the things that are growing in it.
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Wednesday, April 22nd, 2020 AT 12:29 PM

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