Help! My car got wet and smells.

[MrsHerculePoirot]

I stupidly didn't shut my water bottle properly and the front passenger seat got soaked with nearly a litre of water. DD then yesterday did the same thing in the back with her school water bottle. The car smells now - a sort of damp rotten smell. What can I do to clean the seats/get rid of smell please?

[PigletJohn]

leave it with the windows open on a hot sunny day

Not much chance of that though.

When driving, make sure the heater is set to suck in fresh air (not recirculate) and set it to hot, blowing at your feet so it blows under the seats. If you have aircon, turn that on too as it will dry the air.

Ventilate it as much as you can - open the windows if it is in a safe place and not raining. If a hatchback, open that too so you get maximum airflow.

Ventilation is much better for drying things than heat is.

[Passmethecrisps]

I had my car valeted and it got stinky as the carpets hadn't dried. We left the windows open at every opportunity and sprinkled bicarb on it. The smell didn't linger too long actually

[Thumbwitch]

Chuck bicarb all over it, rub it in, then leave it to dry and vacuum out. Works a treat.

Got stinky fish leakage out of my fabric car seat without even a whiff.

[MrsHerculePoirot]

Thanks will get bicarbong and ventilating!!!