How to get rid of sour milk smell in auto carpets
If you've ever had milk spilled in your car, and it soaked in before you could clean it up, you've discovered that it is absolutely THE WORST smell known to man.
Your car becomes unusable. You have to ride with the windows down no matter the weather. And the hotter it is the worse it gets.
When my son spilled some milk on a trip and I didn't know it, I discovered the smell two days later. I had to leave the windows down all the time when it was parked. At one point the smell was so bad that i could smell it as I approached the car...from 10 feet away!
I searched for answers. Carpet cleaner - nope. Vinegar - nope. Baking soda - nope.
I only found two things that worked...one that covered the smell and one that got rid of it.
I sprinkled fresh coffee grounds (not used yet) onto the carpet in the areas where the spill was, and rubbed them into the carpet. That effectively masked the smell, and made my car smell like a Starbuck's! And while it did seem to absorb some of the smell and covered it pretty well, I still wanted the base odor gone for good.
I finally discovered that PetZyme works! I bought a spray bottle of it from a local pet store and saturated the area where the milk had spilled. I did not blot it, per the directions. I just let it soak up and absorb and evaporate as needed. It really was pretty amazing. I guess the enzymes/bacteria in Petzyme break down whatever the odor-producing bacteria are from sour milk.
I understand there are two types of PetZyme and that one is more 'perfumy'. I stuck with the plain one.
I hope you find it works for you!
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June 12th, 2008 - 16:10
Hi! I seriously hope this is going to help! My car smells HOOORIBLE! Thanks for the tips!
October 9th, 2008 - 04:20
Your a star!
Found a very old milk bottle under a fridge(don’t ask) which had soaked into the wooden floor! After days of THAT smell, the smell of the coffee was a welcome relief.
A big thank you from all in our office.
December 18th, 2008 - 16:14
The enzymes you recommended really does work on protien based stains on upholstery furniture cleaning service. A spot treatment for grease or dirt wont be as effective. Remeber its always best to leave a stain than to damage the furniture trying to clean it. Turn on fans or use a blower to dry to prevent wicking
January 21st, 2009 - 10:38
I am going to RUN to my local pet store this evening because I have had the misfortune of having the milk spill on the carpet in my LIVING ROOM!!!!! It is UNBEARABLE and I REALLY need to have it gone. Before I checked this site, I was thinking of replacing the ENTIRE carpet. If PetZyme doesn’t to the trick, that is what I am prepared to do. If it does work, THANK YOU for helping me to rid myself of that AWFUL stench and also for saving me quite a bit of money!!!!!
May 2nd, 2009 - 08:20
Just be sure you don’t use coffee grounds if you live in Florida – coffee smell is what we use to ATTRACT roaches so we can kill them. My DH spilled coffee in my van, and within a week, we had an infestation of palmetto roaches. Anyone know how to get rid of the coffee smell? It was all over the dash and rolled into the hood, and that’s where we’re seeing them the most.