Left my windows down

and it rained!

[SEOMike]

Ok, I left my windows down in my car last night and of course it rained HARD. I don't know what to do to prevent the stink that will probably follow. Any suggestions on preventive things I can do?

[KeithDouglas]

First, clean everything you can with something that will kill microbes. An amonia-water mix or bleach-water mix and a sponge should do. Dry well.

Then lots of baking soda. Give everything that got wet a good dusting. Leave windows open as much as possible. (Park under a roof if you can.)

After a few days, vacuum well.

Even after all that, you may still get a bad smell.

[KeithDouglas]

one more thing: An electic fan can do wonders. Position it so as to change the air in the car as much as possible. Maybe rig it up in one window to blow air into the passenger compartment.

[SEOMike]

Keith-

Thanks a ton for the advice. I'm going to get right on that when I get home.

It's my wife's car and she's not very happy with me haha

[lawman]

Blow dryer.

[Rugles]

Send it out for detailing. It should be cleaned and shampooed before the mold starts.

[vkaryl]

Ground coffee straight out of a fresh can. Sprinkle it EVERYWHERE. Leave it a day or so, then vacuum. Repeat as needed.

I advise Yuban. Nice and strong, LOVELY fresh when you pop the top on the can....

This really works. People who redo old wood case furniture swear by it.

[Warren]

A good car detailer will be able to clean the seats for you. This will get rid of any smell.

I was spilt an entire bottle of Kaluha in my brand new car. It was well worth the $100.00Aus to get the entire inside of the car cleaned professionaly. No smell what so ever - and it was the middle of summer, with the car spending 12 hours a day closed up in 100+ degree heat.

For the wife: I would suggest flowers and lots of presents for her to get over it!

[SEOMike]

I would suggest flowers

Haha.. Flowers brought a smile back to her face! Good idea!

Ground coffee straight out of a fresh can.

Coffee + water + light carpet.... I've seen what coffee does to my shirts and ties... not to sure she wants her interior darkened.

Thanks for all the suggestions everybody! I got some good ones, and some great products I'm going to try via sticky.

I left the car out all day in our nice warm Kansas sun (windows down) and it's all dried out now. A little smell that I'm sure will be terrible tomorrow. But... thanks to all the advice, I'll have that smell out of it by the end of next week.

Even though I gave her flowers, I was still informed that I would be driving her smelly car until I rid it of the stink. She sure knows how to motivate me :)

[loanuniverse]

....that I would be driving her smelly car until I rid it of the stink.

Yeahhh, but how does her car rank for "Smelly car" on the top SEs?

[mivox]

Go to a pet store and get "nature's miracle" enzyme liquid if it does start to smell. It helps break down tough odors (like pet messes ;-), and works pretty darn well too.