How to Remove Sour Milk Smell from a Car

Spilled milk can leave an unpleasant odor in the machine. To get rid of the smell in your car, blot out as much of the liquid as possible and use a carpet cleaner.

Spilled milk can be a double curse if spilled in a car. First you have to deal with the spill, and then, after a few days, the strong unpleasant smell of spoiled milk will become an unbearable reminder of a recent misfortune.

Milk can soak deeply into car upholstery or carpet and leave a foul odor that can linger for weeks or even months. Properly cleaning up the mess and then dealing with the odor is key to preventing your car from becoming uninhabitable due to the strong smell of sour milk.

Eliminating the source of the odor should be your number one priority. While a quick spray of Febreze or installing a pine air freshener will briefly improve the smell of your car, the smell of rotten milk will return soon enough.

Follow this step-by-step guide to properly clean up the mess and eliminate the smell of spilled milk.

Part 1 of 2: How to clean up a spill

Necessary materials

• Carpet cleaner
• Charcoal Air Cleaning Bags
• Clean white cloth or paper towels
• Sponge
• Stain remover (optional)
• Steam cleaner (optional)

The first thing to deal with is spilled milk, in which case, if it is not cleaned up quickly, you will definitely regret it, thanks to the smell.

Step 1: Soak up the milk. Never leave milk alone - a quick response is key if you want to keep your car from filling up with an increasingly repulsive odor.

• Use a clean white cloth or paper towels to soak up any wet and visible milk. It is best to gently pat the stain dry, as rubbing the stain can cause the milk to soak even deeper into the carpet or upholstery. A sponge can be useful for wiping up stains on leather seats or upholstery.

Step 2: Pull out the floor mats. If milk is spilled on the floor mats, they should be removed from the machine and washed. If milk is left on the floor mats, it will eventually turn sour and the smell will fill the entire car.

• If the floor mats are fabric or carpet without a rubber backing, they can be washed in the washing machine. Use the stain remover on the stain and place them in the washing machine using warm or hot water.

• If the floor mats have a rubber base or are all plastic, wash them off with a hose or pressure washer using dish soap on the stain.

• The rugs should then be allowed to dry in the sun or in your home.

• If your vehicle has removable seat covers, these should also be removed and washed according to the manufacturer's cleaning instructions.

• Functions: Any carpet or fabric part of the car that can be removed should be taken out and washed if milk has come into contact with it.

Step 3: Rent a Steam Cleaner. If the spill was significant or if it has been sitting for a while, using a steam cleaner will ensure that you remove the deep cured milk.

• Steam cleaners can be rented from a rental shop or some grocery stores. The steam cleaner provides deep cleaning by spraying the cleaning solution and hot water onto the carpet or fabric, then sucking up the water and dirt. This will help remove any odor-causing milk residue.

• Follow the directions and change the water frequently. Carpet or upholstery should dry within 12 hours of cleaning.

Step 4: Think Professional. If the spill, or more likely the odor, is still present after you've tried these methods, you may need to call a professional. A professional upholstery cleaner or car technician should be able to remove the smell of spoiled milk from a car. The price tag can vary greatly. Ask friends and family for recommendations.

Part 2 of 2: Odor Removal

Necessary materials

• Baking soda
• coffee grind
• Enzyme Spray
• white vinegar

Now that the mess is cleared up, it's time to work on the smell if the milk has started to sour. There are a number of different methods that can help get rid of car odor.

Method 1: Baking Soda. Baking soda helps draw out and absorb bad odors. After the stain is completely dry, apply a layer of baking soda to the affected area. It's best to leave the baking soda on for three to four days and then vacuum it up. If the odor is still present, repeat these steps or move on to one of the other methods described here.

Method 2: Coffee grounds. Like baking soda, coffee grounds absorb bad odors, leaving a pleasant coffee scent in your car (assuming you like the smell of coffee).

• Functions: leave plastic containers with coffee grounds under the seats for about two weeks. This should help remove the smell of spoiled milk from the car.

Method 3: White Vinegar. Spraying vinegar on your carpet or upholstery will help break down the enzymes in the spilled milk and remove the smell from your car. It also contains no chemicals and is completely safe to use.

• If you don't want your car to have a very strong vinegar smell, vinegar should be mixed with water. Use a spray bottle and mix four parts water with one part vinegar. Spray the spill area until it is soaked with the vinegar mixture. Let it soak in for five hours and then pat it dry with a clean rag or towel.

• It is better to leave the windows of the car open so that the air is ventilated.

Method 4: Enzyme Sprays. If the smell is still hanging there, it's time to break out of the big gun. Enzyme sprays are environmentally friendly and use proteins and enzymes to break down the molecular structure of stains. Enzyme sprays are activated when a stain or odor hits them, and the bacteria eat away at the mess, eliminating the odor. Enzyme sprays are available at most home improvement stores or online.

• Spray the enzymatic product on the stained area and leave for a day or two before getting wet. These sprays should not be used on leather interiors. Always do a test spot first to avoid staining.

Method 5: Carpet Cleaners. A homemade carpet cleaner should work well on carpeted floor mats or any carpeted areas in the car. Follow the manufacturer's instructions. Turtle Upholstery Cleaner and Armor All OxiMagic are a few cleaning solutions that are highly recommended.

• Follow the manufacturer's instructions. In most cases, the product should be left for an hour and then vacuumed.

Method 6: Charcoal bags. Once the stain has been cleaned, consider putting an all-natural product, such as Moso bags, in your car. They come in a variety of shapes and sizes and are filled with bamboo charcoal that absorbs any stubborn odors.

Method 7: Ventilate the car. After the spill has been cleaned up, leave the car windows open to ventilate the smell. Sunlight will also help dry the stain and get rid of the odor.

I hope your car doesn't smell like sour milk anymore. Consider using anti-spill cups in the future to help prevent spills in your vehicle.