Spilled an entire white coffee through the center console

J

Jack

Well-known user
Dec 26, 2010
203
57
Preston
Is it going to stink to high hell in a few hours? (rotten milk?) :( Serves me right for attempting to use the stupid cup holders in the arm rest that don't actually sit flat - I guess we have the fact it's a Mondeo part to blame for that :/ It all went in through the cubby hole and disappeared under there somewhere.
 
Trying to picture this. Do you mean those ridiculous cup slots on the underside of the armrest that are only of use to back-seat passengers while you're at a standstill?
 
Jack said:
Yes, those ones :(
Click to expand...


Right. So the coffee will be in the rear seat footwells.

Remove the rear seat bolster (the bum bit) by pulling up and then slightly forward. You will see the back edges of the carpet.

Pull the carpet up - it'll be stiff but it's do-able, though you may need to remove the rear side cards - and mop up what you can. Blot the carpet and belly with paper towels. Once it's as dry as you can get it, use a 1:10 vinegar and water spray over everything under there, and let it all dry overnight. Best if you can leave the windows/doors/tailgate open but, if not, air it as soon as you can.

Now put the carpet back down and use a dry powder carpet cleaner. Failing that, ordinary talc. Leave it for two days and then hoover.

That should sort it for good.
 
Thanks Mako, that's really helpful.

I have to say though I can't see any sign of it in the rear footwells! The Cougar seems to have drunk the entire cup of coffee (though I've not noticed any caffeine based performance increases yet).

I had to rush off so I didn't get chance to do any immediate remedies, though I'm not sure what I could do given I can't see where the damn stuff went. It's been two days, and it doesn't smell bad, just faintly of coffee, so I'm hoping that it's now been long enough that it won't get any worse. I may be able to live with it as it stands.
 
You're welcome.

The carpet and padding is very thick. It will soak up enormous amounts of fluid, as anyone who has had a body leak will tell you.

If you've got milk in there, it will stink eventually. The diluted vinegar spray will neutralise it. The talc will act to draw it all out.
 
Well, here's an update.

Yes it smells :(

But not that bad, you just get a little hit of it when you open the door and then you can't smell it. I need to sort it, but at least I'm not fighting the urge to spew over the windscreen on my journey to work :D
 
If you've tried the vinegar spray and talc - or even if you haven't - get some Arm & Hammer baking soda and sprinkle it all over the carpet, leave it for a day or two and then hoover it up.

It's the considerably cheaper (and more effective) predecessor to Shake & Vac.
 
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