How To Get Spilled Milk Out of Your Car’s Carpet

People drop their drinks all the time. Unfortunately, milk is one of the worst fluids that can spill in your car. Not only does it leave ugly stains on the carpet or upholstery, but it also spoils. If you miss a spot during your cleanup, it will come back to haunt you days later by filling the interior with a stench like rotten eggs.

Fortunately, you can take steps to prevent this unpleasant problem. Here are helpful tips on how to get milk and its smell out of your car:

How to Get Milk Out of Your Car’s Carpet

Speed is of the essence. The faster you remove the spilled milk, the less time it spoils. Furthermore, you must also make sure to eliminate most of the milk. 

Leave No Milk Behind

Start by soaking up the spill with either a cloth or several paper towels. Don’t scrub the milk because the motion will only make the liquid sink into the carpet or upholstery. Instead, use gentle patting movements.

If the milk ended up on anything covered by leather, remove the spill with a sponge.

Remove the Floor Mats

You’re in luck if a floor mat catches the spilled milk. Floor mats protect the vehicle’s flooring from getting dirty or wet. Cleaning floor mats costs less than replacing the carpeting or upholstery.

Take the dirty floor mat out of your vehicle. Move slowly and carefully to avoid spilling the milk off the mat and onto the flooring.

How you wash the stained floor mat will depend on its material. Carpeting and fabric mats can go into a washing machine, but use hot or warm water. Before putting the floor mat in the washer, apply a stain remover on the spill to prevent the milk from leaving a mark on the accessory.

All-plastic floor mats and rubber-backed carpeting aren’t compatible with machine washing. Instead, use a hose or pressure washer to rinse them. To remove the stain, apply dishwashing soap on the mat’s dirty area before hosing it down.

Once you finish washing the floor mats, let them air dry under the sun or in a warm place in your garage.

If the milk spills on a removable seat cover, remove the accessory and wash it. Look up the manufacturer’s recommendation on how to clean the seat cover.

If you’re thinking of getting a protective mat for your vehicle’s flooring, check out our wide selection of floor mats.

Clean It With Steam

Sometimes, so much milk has spilled that you can’t soap up every last drop before it seeps into the carpet or fabric. Alternatively, you missed some milk or didn’t get it fast enough.

If the spilled milk stains the carpet or fabric, you’ll need a steam cleaner to remove it. Visit your local grocery or rental store to see if you can rent one.

Steam cleaners spray hot water and a cleaning solution on the stained material. They then vacuum up water and dirt for deep and thorough cleaning.

A steam cleaner can extract milk residue that has sunk into the carpet or fabric. It will get rid of any spoiled milk that can cause a stink.

Read the steam cleaner’s instruction manual if you haven’t used it before. Remember to change the water regularly. After the deep cleaning, let the carpet or upholstery dry for 12 hours.

Professional Cleaning Service

Does the stain and smell of spoiled milk remain even after you deep cleaned your vehicle with a steam cleaner? It might be time to approach a professional car detailer or upholstery cleaner.

How To Get Spoiled Milk Smell Out of Your Car

Even as you hurry to clean up the spilled milk in your car, the sour stench of spoiled milk might quickly permeate your vehicle’s interior. Fortunately, there are ways to minimize or eliminate this powerful odor with only household items.

Here are some of the methods you can use to get rid of the smell of spoiled milk and other car odors:

Air Out Your Vehicle

Sometimes, you have to roll down the car windows and let air circulation take care of things. Try to do this in a sunny spot, as sunlight can speed up the drying process and help eliminate the smell of spoiled milk.

Baking Soda

Using baking soda to absorb odors is an old-fashioned and effective life hack. Wait for the milk to dry before applying a layer of the crystals over the stain. Let the baking soda stand for three to four days before vacuuming it.

If you continue to smell the spoiled milk, apply a new layer of baking soda.

Carpet Cleaners

Did the milk spill on a carpeted surface? Whether it’s a carpeted floor mat or carpeting, you can clean the stained surface with a carpet cleaner used at home.

Read the manufacturer’s instructions on how to apply and remove the carpet cleaning solution.

Charcoal Bags

Like baking soda, charcoal can absorb bad odors like the smell of spoiled milk. Many charcoal bags use Moso bamboo for increased effectiveness.

After you clean up the milk stain, put a charcoal bag in your vehicle to absorb any lingering odors.

Coffee Grounds

Do you drink coffee? Then you’ll love this option. Instead of baking soda or bamboo charcoal, you can use coffee grounds as both odor eliminator and air freshener.

Put coffee grounds in plastic containers and leave the open bags under each seat. Wait for two weeks while the coffee absorbs the sour odor.

Enzyme Sprays

An enzyme spray degrades the molecular structure of organic substances like spoiled milk. It’s effective and safe to use around people.

Apply the enzyme spray on the stain. Let it sit for one to two days. Then blot it up with a clean cloth or paper towel.

Never use an enzyme spray on leather surfaces. The enzymes might damage the leather. Test the product on a different spot to see if anything goes wrong with the upholstery before using it in the stained area.

White Vinegar

Instead of an enzyme spray, you can use white vinegar. Vinegar also breaks down organic enzymes like those in milk. It doesn’t use artificial chemicals and doesn’t pose any health risks.

Don’t use pure white vinegar. Dilute it by mixing one part vinegar with four parts water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and drench the stained area. Let it soak for five hours before blotting it clean.

Where to Get a New Carpet for Your Vehicle

If you can’t get rid of the milk smell from your carpet, it might be better to buy a new one. Not only is it free of strange odors but it can also breathe new life into your ride, especially if you get a high-quality carpet. CarParts.com has those in spades, as we offer an excellent selection of car carpets.

Use the search filters to view the carpets that match your preferred fit, type, material, and color. If you have any questions, give us a call using our toll-free hotline, and our round-the-clock customer service team will assist you.

All our carpets are on hand, and we ship from strategically located warehouses across the country. So you can get your new carpet in as fast as two business days after ordering. If you’re on a tight budget, don’t worry. We offer car carpets at competitive prices to give you the best value for your money.

Why put up with the sour stench of split milk in your carpet when you can buy a new one in no time? Shop for a new carpet today!