Please can anyone help with this?
ON Saturday night someone who shall remain nameless threw up inside my husband's company car. In trying to puke out of the window, they managed to get vomit both inside and outside the car, and down inside the car door where the window goes when its wound down.
I've been out scrubbing with bio washing powder and bicarbonate of soda, the upholstery smells OK now but when you wind the window down it still smells of sick. I've pushed back the trim and washed all the visible parts but I think there may still be some sick further down. When the window is up, the gaps in the trim are inside, so not an area that would be affected by rainwater or a car wash.
What worries me is that there may still be some traces of sick stuck down inside the window recess area, which will continue to smell unless I can somehow get them out. I don't know much about cars though and have no idea (a) whether this area is accessible somehow and (b) whether I might do more harm than good trying to get cleaning products or even water down inside the door
Does anyone *please* have any hints on how I might clean this up to save us having to pay who-knows-what to get it professionally cleaned?
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I can only smile and sympathise. There is probably still a classic Ford around with electric windows that for months after the event used to 'bring up' a rum and blackcurrant chip whenever the passengers window was operated.
:-)
I think a full dismantle of the door panel is the only answer. Then wait for the first really hot day in the summer to see if it was more than cosmetically effective.
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pmh (was peter)
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Wind the window right down so that the gap in the top of the door is exposed, and open the door wide. Point a hose pipe down the gap - the water (etc) will run out from the drain holes at the bottom.
You could also try pouring or spraying disinfectant, bleach etc down, and then flushing out with lots of water sprayed around.
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I spilled some milk on my seat and left it hoping for the best, bad mistake. I'm affraid you'll really have to open up the door and clean it out properly with plenty of soapy water or else it's going to stink evey time you get into the car.
Undo any visible screws and carefully pull away the trim from the bottom of the door. Inside will be a plastic film which you can pull away - it won't hurt if it rips a bit and then you should be able to clear away the , er, carrots!
Keep any water away from the electircs eg window motor and speaker and you'll be fine.
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it won't hurt if it rips a bit
yes it will. This is the vapour barrier. Ripped vapour barriers quickly become puddles in the footwell.
In all honestly vomit, when dried, all the natural fermentation has completed, and has bio broken down, does not smell that much.
By god does it go hard tho,. Nicolles Datsun cherry was sold with concrete still smeared down the passenger door bodywork some two years later. In fact it was the only part of the door not rusty,
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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Inside will be a plastic film which you can pull away - it won't hurt if it rips a bit
As well as what TVM says, a lot of cars with seat and/or roof airbags also rely on this plastic film to be intact for them to operate.
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i would try to spray some neutraliser down into the door if at all possible, the stuff lazy people with dogs use to spray their settees
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Do this at your own risk - but how about one of those steam cleaner thingies with a nozzle directed down into the gap between window and door? Steam would sterilise as well as cleaning.
The only snag is that it would probably find its way into the locks etc and either corrode them, remove lubrication or knock out electrics ! Same would be true of hosing the insides.
I think I'd prefer to remove the inside trim and clean the glass properly - maybe even go the whole hog and remove the glass completely for cleaning.
One last thought............if someone threw a brick through the window, you'd have to get a glass replacement firm in to fit new glass.......
Would it be any good asking your insurance to cover it (vandalism???!!!)
Good luck!
Graeme
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Question. Why are you cleaning someone else's vomit ? I think a job for your other half at the very least.
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Question. Why are you cleaning someone else's vomit ? I think a job for your other half at the very least.
Couldn't agree more, whenever someone's been sick in my car its been them that's cleaned it.
I'd like to know the outcome of the Ferrari that I saw where someone had done exactly as the OP described
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I read often, only post occasionally
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tip of the week.... if vomit is an issue with you or your occupants whilst driving down to the coast for instance,dish out the opal fruits well in advance, then any accidents and at least the car will smell citrus fresh even in the hottest of weather conditions
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I know three children who would love an unlimited supply of Opal fruits "just in case".
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It's a company car - flushing it out with the hose down the door will be fine.
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Yep another vote for flusing with a hose from me. The door insides on any modern car is pretty well sealed as it's designed to have rainwater get in and flow out.
You might just be left with some chunks that are bigger than the exit drains but it'll be near enough.
DW
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The smell will eventually go away of its own accord.
In the mentime Neutradol spray into the door panel and in the car before setting off will do the trick,
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When my missus (now ex) chundered inside my Cit ZX, it went right down the door, everywhere just like yours did. I ended up stripping the door to thoroughly clean, door card off, disassemble like a good un. Nasty job that was.
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Link here to remedies for car stinks.
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=44904&...f
Includes, Neutradol, grass cuttings and last year's Xmas tree!
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to save us having to pay who-knows-what to get it professionally cleaned?
Since yours is by no means the first car that this has happened to I would imagine that car valeting companies will have a tariff specifically for this occurrence. Why not get a couple of estimates? With any luck it'll be low enough for you to decide it's well worth the money.
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L\'escargot.
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