I think my bird has a fungal infection?
 

SoI have 5% tint on my windows. Haven’t opened my doors in quite a while.
Here is what I was shocked to find when I opened doors and see what’s inside.
Help?

Yup I had that taking place in one of mine once from snow melt off thru the seal on my front windshield,in fact I had a 4 inch tall Musroom growing up / on my drivers front floor mat!

Wash it down hot water, soap, maybe quickly spray with superclean

Definitely looks like mold spores.

I would start by getting some ventilation in the car. roll the windows down even just slightly. You need to get it dried out in there.

I've never dealt with anything quite that bad, but you want to try and remove that mold/fungus without just spreading it around, as it'll come back. Hit your local car store and try an interior carpet cleaner. Those are a bit harsher as it's meant to deal with the crap on your feet etc. Work sections of the interior at a time and get this up as by doing it as dry as you can. Get some towels and scrub pads that you don't mind throwing away after. Instead of spraying the surface directly, spray the pad and whisk it out before applying to the interior. Spraying the material directly will just spread that stuff around.

You'll want to clean the carpets as well and you may need to take a peek under the carpet as you may have moisture buildup underneath that is contributing.

If you live in a humid climate, you can try a couple dehumidifiers made for guitar cases.

When I was running a kerosene heater in my shop most of a winter, with my car doors closed tight I got a minor amount of fungi also. It did clean up rather easily and never returned. I blame it on the constant change in temperatures and a by product of an un-vented heater is moisture. In addition, the constant temperature cycles and not allowing it to breath is bad, it forms dampness on surfaces. I have since always left the windows cracked a bit. That seemed to solve the problem and lets it breath. Not sure if that is your case, but it was in mine. Clean it up, repeat as needed, use a good vinyl cleaner to recondition. If it comes back repeat. Dont use a chlorine based disinfectant for obvious reason. Something like Clorox Broad Spectrum Quaternary Disinfectant Cleaner may work and is bleach free (Amazon).

1funride brings up a good point about the windows. If the car is in a shelter of some sort where it's not open directly to the outside, it's good to keep those windows down a bit. Even in the winter, my windows are left partly down while the car isn't being used. Although we don't really have mold issues in Colorado as it's so dry, I always keep the windows at least cracked and typically put some dryer sheets on the floor boards.

AND make sure you protect YOURSELF while you clean that crap out.
 

A good quality respirator, safety goggles or better a good chemical resistant hood, gloves, maybe even a surplus haz-mat suit.

And don't forget that those spores will be stuck to your clothing, shoes, cleaning tools, everything they touch. Either clean it all with bleach afterwards or burn it.

I've known several people who tried to clean out the 'black mold' junk that happens here in Vegas who got REALLY sick because the inhaled or ingested some small particles of what they were scrubbing off.

CLOROX is your friend when it comes to mold / fungus / germs.

Good luck!

I had the same problem with a cool garage and high humidity in the summer. I wiped it down with 409 several times and put desiccant bags in the cars.

Man that is too bad. Does not look good.

While I would not use bleach, get this product instead....

https://www.fiberlock.com/product/shockwave/

....and thoroughly clean the carpet (out of the car) and all vinyl surfaces. Clean the vents too as spores will be there. Not a good situation.

But you can get it back to being right. Your health will thank you in the end.

I assume it was under a cover or in a garage? The UV in sunlight typically kills mold before it can spread.

Never thought I'd be glad to live in AZ. That really sucks! Never see stuff like that here.

fungal problem.
 

Joe's Garage is telling you some great info. mold in your lungs is bad. Thanks Bob.

Might want to get yourself a mold killing UV light ... places like Amazon sell them. It should kill all the spores if you move it around to a few places. Exposure won't be long enough to damage plastic or cloth.

Or maybe park it in the sun with the windows down on some hot, sunny .. but low humidity days.

I use to have the same problem. Not that bad. I bought some desiccant bags that absorbed moister. I keep 4 of them under the seats. I forgot where I got them from. They where made just for cars in storage. I haven't had a problem since.

If you have a boating supply store in the area, see them. This type of mold/mildew is common on marine interior vinyl. Years ago, I bought a spray from a supply house like that and it was specifically for vinyl. Sprayed it on, waited a few minutes, wiped it off. Like it was never there. Sorry, I don't remember the name but again, quite common in marine situations. Should clean up. Then do something to keep the air moving and collect the moisture.

The marine vinyl cleaner sounds good if you can find it.

I have some of this, and it's the best I've used for removing mold and mildew. Works for everything around the house, including vinyl. I got it at Lowes, but Home Depot has it too. Doesn't cost much: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Home-Armor-...mover/50065733

Clean however per above. Find your leak (fromt or rear window, etc)

leave a window cracked open.

pray for a hot Summer & leave the windows closed on a HOT dry day once.

I run a dehumidifier in my garage specifically for this problem.

Yuck. My condolences.

When I had that happen to my car the mold seemed to favor growing on the Armoralled areas more.

Was going to recommend seeing a Dr but then I saw you were talking about your car

Looks like some of the cars here in Hurricane Harvey! My brother in law is a wrecker drivers some of those had so much fluff in them he would not even open the doors!

My wife and I inherited her father's '03 Ford Taurus (with 20K on it) when he passed in '13. It was garaged in FL and looked like post #1. My wife cleaned it up with white vinegar and the mold has never returned, even here in SC. My wife used painter's masks when she did it (see Joe's Garage recommendation).

These posts are all great solutions and advice. My GTO needs some bags mentioned in post #14. Any advice?

My car definitely had loads of Armour All and Super Seal put on the seats since new. I recall not being able to stay in the seat without my belt when my brother owned it...8 tracks of the the Eagles playing!!

The carpet I'm going to toss and replace. My garage is heated and cooled (integral).
Likely when I open the door in the summer and everything condensates, my chrome wheels fog over, is the source of the moisture.

With all that has gone on in the back of this car who knows what is growing!

Putting it in the sun isn't an option till I get the drive line together and back in.My driveway is a ski slope with the door on the north face of the house.

Headliner is new in a box still so that won't be any further damage.

I'll get it cleaned up and hope it doesn't come back, something that will kill it and an unfriendly environment for it to regrow in will be the ideal remedy.

There is a hole in the floor open because the manual trans shifter and boot are out right now.

This car has been indoor stored its whole life. Doesn't stink or smell bad inside.

Thanks for all the input. :cool:

I have to real animal pet birds too, no fungi on them!

https://www.walmart.com/ip/DampRid-H...SABEgLlhPD_BwE

This may be a viable option for moisture control

My wife uses these on the shower stall to get rid of mold when it appears. works well, Clorox wipes. Also used them on the "moldy" Taurus as a maintenance thing.
Have also used damp rid containers in my Studebaker before I sold it. Damp rid worked well, still have to be conscientious about emptying the water the container collects and adding fresh damp rid to the desiccant container.

My wife’s ‘14 Camaro convertible does the same thing. I keep a can of Lysol in the car and run it regularly with the heater on to control the humidity in the interior.

Throw one of these in there. I use 'em in my gun safes and they work great and cheap.! https://www.amazon.com/Improved-Eva-...25RV8R13FQMYJ3

Thanks for the link. These look worth having in the car whenever parked. Appreciate it.