Suggestions for Dealing with Musty A

S

sellerby

Member
I'm guessing that others here have dealt with the old, musty smell that accompanies many old vehicles that haven't been restored from the frame up. Are there any products folks have had success using, or other homemade remedies? I think that some of the smell is coming from inside doors/window wells where the prior owner installed old carpet as insulation. I'd rather not tear the doors apart.

One concern with the typical auto fresheners that one hangs from the rearview mirror is that warnings have been issued advising of potentially harmful chemicals. Manufacturers don't need to prove their product is safe. Rather, the burden is on regulators/public to prove that the product is unsafe.

Best regards,
 
My advise would be take everything apart , remove the old carpet together with the mildew etc .( Chemicals may or may not be harm full I don't know). Any other method I concern as band aid with only temporarily success.
 
Some sheets of Bounce under the seats will work. BUT: if the carpet is really wet, them mold organisms will kill ya. Remove and replace the source of the smell.
 
My dad always said there were at least four ways to do something: "Your way. My way. The wrong way. And the right way. You decide."

That advice has many times helped me make the right decision.
 
4 suggestions........

assuming there is no mold present, embrace the "old car smell" as part of the ambiance.

if there is mold, stop the source of moisture that caused it and clean it up. water + liquid dish detergent work best for remediation. bleach is neither neccessary or advisable.

we once used an aerosol product called Ozium to get cigarette stink out of a late-model car. get it at PepBoys or O'reillys.

if the car smells musty, it just hasn't been out in the fresh air and sunshine enough. that's easy & fun to cure ;)

-Chris in cool, rainy WNC
 
Re: 4 suggestions........

I'm working up the courage to remove the door panels on my Tudor to get at the old carpet remnants used by the prior owner as insulation. I'm guessing that the interior door panels are held on by some type of clip that pushes into recesses in the sheet metal (like modern cars). Is this correct, and are there any tricks to removing the door panels? I'd rather not damage the upholstery, which is why I wasn't crazy about tackling this job. But I'm persuaded by the advice here that removing the likely source of the odor is the best course. Thanks for the help to all who responded!
 
Re: 4 suggestions........

sellerby said:
I'm guessing that the interior door panels are held on by some type of clip that pushes into recesses in the sheet metal (like modern cars). Is this correct, and are there any tricks to removing the door panels?
Click to expand...

The panels have clips around the edge that go into holes in the sheet metal. It's the same basic setup that was used for decades afterward. You want a broad thin tool like a forked putty knife that will fit between the panel and the metal, on either side of the clip, that will let you pry upward without bending or cracking the panel. You can find plastic version from places like Harbor Freight, or you could make one from a 2" wide putty knife by cutting a 1/2" groove down the middle of the blade.

And don;t forget to remove the window cranks, etc. first...

Doug
 
Definately wear a mask. I'm one of those guys that NEVER wears a mask, or eye protection, but mold is something you don't want to mess with. In this case it is worth the uncomfortable, sweaty, I can see right and my nose itches feeling.
 
Here's a problem I just encountered while trying to remove the interior door panels. The pin holding the window crank on the first door I've worked on will not budge after a lot of pounding and swearing. I'll try some penetrating oil, but I'm not hopeful that will work. Applying heat isn't practical given the risk of damaging the door panel fabric. Help!
 
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