Interior deep clean (older car)

CitizenKane · 03-31-2017, 02:07 AM

Hi

Apologies for the non-BMW related query but I thought I'd ask here given the helpful folk and collective knowledge on this forum generally.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I might go about cleaning an incredibly dirty (and I mean, absolutely filthy, mould growing, etc.) interior of an old 2002 Golf? Non-leather.

The context here is that when I got my e92 about 10 months ago I gave my old car, a 2002 Mk4 Golf GTi, to a mate who was without a car then. He only drove it for about a month before he got a new car, but due to limited space at my apartment I asked him to hold onto the Golf for me in his place.

I will now be without a car for a couple of days next week as I need to drop my car to a body shop for a job that I am told may take up to two days (see my last thread) so I thought I'd use my old Golf in the interim seeing as nobody else is using it.

I called around to my mate's yesterday and opened up the car with my spare key, and I've never seen anything quite like the state of the interior. I'm not just talking general dirt and rubbish, but there is actually mould growing on the seats and floors. In addition to various pieces of rubbish such as crisp packets, etc. he appears to have left a McDonalds bag which probably contained organic material (hence the mould), although I lacked the stomach strength to actually open the bag and verify that.

I'm quite annoyed with the state the car was left in and I'm going to take it back from him this weekend, and my first job will be to clean the fuck out of it. But honestly I have no idea where to start... it's so bad that I would be embarrassed even bringing it to a valet.

If anyone has any thoughts please let me know!

bishbosh · 03-31-2017, 02:12 AM

I'd start with a pair of rubber gloves! Never know what you might find

Once all rubbish is out, hoover up all the cr*p, then wet vac the seats.

Use wipes on the dash and plastic bits.

SlamE90 · 03-31-2017, 02:29 AM

Tel HIM to get it valeted!

Dann · 03-31-2017, 03:05 AM

As above.
I'd tell him that you now want to use the car so it needs to be in the same condition that it was lent to him in.
If this means its need to be valeted then he should be getting it done.

Most places do a wash and vac for like £5, or even a petrol station is £1 for 5 mins vac etc

wallsmk2 · 03-31-2017, 03:09 AM

hire a rug doctor. I've used them on some pretty old and manky interiors. Their spot cleaners are better than anything I've used that's car specific too.

Phil325i · 03-31-2017, 03:51 AM

I would also check all the footwells for the presence of damp in the carpets. Mould normally needs moisture to thrive, and Golf door seals are known to leak.

E90-AMD · 04-02-2017, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wallsmk2

hire a rug doctor. I've used them on some pretty old and manky interiors. Their spot cleaners are better than anything I've used that's car specific too.

Agreed, I have one at home and do occasionally deep clean the whole interior. It really cleans up properly. Especially the dirty carpets.

CitizenKane · 04-02-2017, 09:44 AM

Thanks for the replies guys. For some reasons which I won't go into here, I'd rather not ask him to get it cleaned for me, but will take on board some of the suggestions here and have a go myself. Rug doctor looks interesting!

03-31-2017, 02:07 AM	#1
CitizenKane Lieutenant 137 Rep 413 Posts Drives: 2018 F82 M4 Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Ireland iTrader: (0)	Interior deep clean (older car) Hi Apologies for the non-BMW related query but I thought I'd ask here given the helpful folk and collective knowledge on this forum generally. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I might go about cleaning an incredibly dirty (and I mean, absolutely filthy, mould growing, etc.) interior of an old 2002 Golf? Non-leather. The context here is that when I got my e92 about 10 months ago I gave my old car, a 2002 Mk4 Golf GTi, to a mate who was without a car then. He only drove it for about a month before he got a new car, but due to limited space at my apartment I asked him to hold onto the Golf for me in his place. I will now be without a car for a couple of days next week as I need to drop my car to a body shop for a job that I am told may take up to two days (see my last thread) so I thought I'd use my old Golf in the interim seeing as nobody else is using it. I called around to my mate's yesterday and opened up the car with my spare key, and I've never seen anything quite like the state of the interior. I'm not just talking general dirt and rubbish, but there is actually mould growing on the seats and floors. In addition to various pieces of rubbish such as crisp packets, etc. he appears to have left a McDonalds bag which probably contained organic material (hence the mould), although I lacked the stomach strength to actually open the bag and verify that. I'm quite annoyed with the state the car was left in and I'm going to take it back from him this weekend, and my first job will be to clean the fuck out of it. But honestly I have no idea where to start... it's so bad that I would be embarrassed even bringing it to a valet. If anyone has any thoughts please let me know!
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03-31-2017, 02:12 AM	#2
bishbosh Colonel 851 Rep 2,005 Posts Drives: F30 335d Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Sheffield iTrader: (1) Garage List 2014 BMW 335d [0.00]	I'd start with a pair of rubber gloves! Never know what you might find Once all rubbish is out, hoover up all the cr*p, then wet vac the seats. Use wipes on the dash and plastic bits. __________________ if I've helped - an Appreciate would be, er, very appreciated!
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03-31-2017, 02:29 AM	#3
SlamE90 New Member 1 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 2006 320i Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: England iTrader: (0)	Tel HIM to get it valeted!
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03-31-2017, 03:05 AM	#4
Dann Major 133 Rep 1,381 Posts Drives: E90 LCi 335i Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Portsmouth, United Kingdom iTrader: (0)	As above. I'd tell him that you now want to use the car so it needs to be in the same condition that it was lent to him in. If this means its need to be valeted then he should be getting it done. Most places do a wash and vac for like £5, or even a petrol station is £1 for 5 mins vac etc __________________ My Individual E90 LCI 335i
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03-31-2017, 03:09 AM	#5
wallsmk2 Lieutenant 28 Rep 405 Posts Drives: e91 325i Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: exeter iTrader: (0)	hire a rug doctor. I've used them on some pretty old and manky interiors. Their spot cleaners are better than anything I've used that's car specific too.
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03-31-2017, 03:51 AM	#6
Phil325i Brigadier General 624 Rep 3,201 Posts Drives: E92 325i MSport Coupe Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: UK South East iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 BMW 325i Coupe [6.00]	I would also check all the footwells for the presence of damp in the carpets. Mould normally needs moisture to thrive, and Golf door seals are known to leak. __________________ E92 pre-LCI 325i - Ohlins R&T; H&R spacers; M3 strut brace; Swift thrust sheets; 3 x chassis braces; diff brace; N53 V-brace; 034 subframe inserts; BMS clutch stop; BMS CDV; RE g/box mounts; Delrin shift bushes; Saikoumichi OCC; Cyba scoops; BMW Perf Exhaust; HEL s/steel brake hoses; M3 rear spoiler; Recaro Sportster CSs; M3 white dash LEDs; LED Angels; LED side repeaters; BMW Perf black grille; CSL reps; SSDD carbon diffuser; Monster Wrap black roof/clear front
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04-02-2017, 09:44 AM	#8
CitizenKane Lieutenant 137 Rep 413 Posts Drives: 2018 F82 M4 Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Ireland iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the replies guys. For some reasons which I won't go into here, I'd rather not ask him to get it cleaned for me, but will take on board some of the suggestions here and have a go myself. Rug doctor looks interesting!
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