Piston Slap: Two Steps for Mold-Free Winter Storage
Suzanne writes:
Could you discuss cleaning off mold from leather seats? I have had to move my car from heated storage into an aluminum garage. This has resulted in mold on my leather seats. For economic reasons, I can no longer afford heated storage. Also, will a fan, dehumidifier, or something else help? This is the size of a regular-size double-car garage. I could really use some help here.
Sajeev answers:
There are several solutions to your situation, so fear not! Losing climate-controlled storage isn’t the end of the world—you only have to remove the mold and keep it from coming back with a few affordable, easily sourced products.
Step One: Spray It Away
Because mold can grow on places besides the seats, I recommend cleaning everything. This is a two-step process, and the first is using one of the many cleaning and protecting sprays available on the market. There are way too many brands out there to recommend, so I’d choose one that promises an easy way to clean off mold and then protect from future growth for months. (You will need to test the product in an inconspicuous location inside the car to ensure it doesn’t discolor the material.)
Whatever cleaning spray you buy must then be removed from the interior. You can do that with a hand towel, but there’s no better way to eliminate mold than with a steam cleaner. Steam cleaners are easy to operate, but do require a little knowledge to ensure you don’t damage the materials. Here’s a video from one of my favorite car detail YouTubers to show how it works on leather seats (and the rest of the interior).
But don’t fret if a steam cleaning machine (or service) is out of the question, as the aforementioned cleaning sprays will likely get the job done with a clean towel. I am mostly recommending steam cleaning because it is so thorough, leaving nary a streak or trace of residue on your interior. It’s a very effective solution, but it’s not mandatory.
Step Two: The Desiccants Of Modern Society
With a clean interior ready for storage, let’s now address the preventative measures needed to keep mold away. Products from DampRid (or its competition) will protect your car for at least a month, probably longer if you buy the items designed for large rooms, not closets. This is what our resident Hack Mechanic learned when addressing his storage mistakes and removing the mold that came from it.
So fixing the problem is pretty simple, if a bit time-consuming. But once it’s clean, using something like DampRid will keep it dry. You will have to check up on your DampRid, ensuring you haven’t run out of desiccant. It may not last the entire winter, depending on where you live and how much rain you get, but luckily adding desiccant is a snap.
What say you, Hagerty Community? Got a better way to remove mold and keep it from coming back?
