slidejules

Hi all,

To cut straight to the chase, a so called friend of mine borrowed my car for a few days last week, and spilt milk all over the floor below the back seat. This apparently happened on Friday, but nothing got done about it until I got the car back on Sunday night - by which time, quite predictably, it absolutely reeks. I mean, really disgusting acrid horribleness. We've tried everything, all the traditional cures, baking soda, white vinegar, steam clean/vax shampoo etc etc - still it stinks. Because it was left for 2 days and nothing was done, it has really quite thoroughly soaked into and through the carpet. Now here's the problem - my local valet just said take it to the dealer, there's nothing more they can do than just vax it like we have already done. I haven't phoned my dealer yet (they're shut now) but will be on monday. Does anyone have any other suggestions other than just getting the car recarpetted (which I would imagine will be quite expensive, seats out etc etc) - thanks! Jules

bryan

Get a large onion, cut in half and leave in car over night, not tried this myself, but been told works wonders to clear the smell of baby sick (rather similar to sour milk l would think) , not just cover it, but clear it up, hope this helps.

Bryan

Turbostream

What about febreze. Only £3 a bottle.???

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Dr Zoidberg

Buckets and buckets of hot soapy water , then vac out the carpets with an aquavac so they are just damp rather than flooded.

Drive round for a while with the heating and aircon on full to dry it out more thoroughly then heaps of febreeze on top.

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Johnnyc

You need Borax!

http://www.dri-pak.co.uk/products/householdborax.html

Click on the 'Cleaning Tasks' page and then 'Around the House'

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Johnny

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WRCSixtyThree

Get your 'friend' to get out their bloody chequebook would be my suggestion. Alternatively, wait until they're on holiday, and offer to 'house sit' for them.

On day 1 of their holiday, pour a full pint of milk on their living room carpet. Then while you're at it, shove a whole dead fish behind each of the radiators and smear 'Smells good, doesn't it' on their bedroom walls in Primula squeezy cheese.

Set the heating to 'Hot day in the Sahara Desert' temperature setting, and leave to cook for a couple of days.

Should ensure they don't make the same mistake again when they borrow someone's car.

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plumsoul

I can second that as I use onions to soak up the smell of paint when decorating. Just cut in half and place each half on a piece of tin foil. Throw away next day. You will smell onion for a while until it begins to soak up the milk smell.

derek

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Derek

Gizmo68

Take the front seat out (2 bolts per seat if its an Octavia) then lift the carpet from the sill side, so that you can clean the milk from the floor, sound proofing and underside of carpet otherwise it will never fully disapear!

vRSJC

I recently bought a second hand octy vrs from a dealer and they did a really professional job fitting a new carpet to it because the previous owner had spilt some red stuff on it.
They didn't tell me how much it cost them but it must have been less than what they would have been willing to knock off the price because of it. It also means i've got an interior that looks brand new

i ross

hey johnny c. was that a chinese BORAX you were advising ? .

slidejules

Hey guys thanks all for your input - very much appreciated, I tried the onion thing last night, it's really not made much difference. Having vaxed and vaxed repeatedly, the stain is now gone but the pong remains. Next step, trying to take seat out and then after that I'll try the dealer. Thanks all!

Jules

Mil

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monkeychild

I'd be getting said "friend" to pay for it Hope you get it sorted though.

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dstev2000

Your ex friend should be sorting this out if he has any kind of decency. What does he have to say about the matter?

I lent my old Astra to a "mate" once, he went fishing and put everything (including fish) on the bare carpet in the boot, the whole lot was binned and replaced at his cost.
Its the only way to sort it once and for all.

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slidejules

my mate helped out with vaxing which has been naff all use. I spoke to my local dealer today, who gave me an estimate of c. £270 to replace the entire carpet. If bacteria has got to the metal beneath the carpet tho (possible) it still might not cure it unless treated. Have found a proper specialist car cleaner in Chelmsford - am taking the car to them on Saturday to be treated (my mate will be paying for this) - fingers crossed it'll work. My commute to work this morning was almost eye wateringly unpleasant, even with windows open. The whole vehicle smells rancid. Harumph, only had it about 3 weeks as well!

Graham Pollitt

When I first left college i worked for the Scottish Milk Marketing Board. My first company car wasn't new to me and the previous guy that had it spilled milk in it. in the end it required a new back seat and carpets fitted. You couldn't get rid of the rancid smell. If your insurance is fully comp and you have a protected NCB is it worth speaking to your insurance Co?