my back window was leaking for i dont know how long when i purchased the car from the previous owner. i fixed the leak, but the car smells like rotten fish.

Here is what i have done so far:

removed all the upholstry. pressure washed the rugs and left them out to air dry, after i squeeged them off.

taken out the seats, and the matting underneath them. allowed them to air dry.

removed everything from inside the trunk and allowed all that upholstry to air dry.

i wiped down all the bare metal of the inside of the car with a citrus solvent to get the smell off and also dust the metal.

now that everything is dry, and clean. can i spray odo-ban, or something under the seats, carpets, and mats. to get rid of the musty smell?

i am an expierenced detailer. my distributer gave me some kind of "fogger" to run with the heat on and blow it through the blower motor. i want to get the smell out of the back of the upholstry. the smell is horrid. it makes me want to throw up.
any other ideas? i know if i put a stinky pad under the seat back the car will still stink.

__________________
95 E320 24k
07 E550 4matic 20k Soon to go
1977 240d 481k
2013 SL 600


Non MBs

02 Ford F250 Lariat 4 Quad Cab 7.3 Diesel 95k
01 Chevy Suburban 249K LT 5.3 V8
88 Saab SPG Convertible 32k
06 Lincoln Mark LT 59k
62 VW Bug
52 Bentley Mark IV
53 GMC half Ton Pickup
08 VW Beetle convertible 2k
07 bmw x5 4.8i 17k
03 bmw x5 4.4i 40k
08 Range Rover S 9K

Try This
Go to a good detailer who has a ozone generator.
This should get rid of the smell.

I worked on my car for dead mice smells after the car came out of storage.
Gunny

You've done allot already but you needed to do it with the right chemicals. This has been discussed before if you want to search. IMO from a leaky W126
experiance. Do exactly what you have done again except.... Get some "Microban" and use it as per label directions. The seat foams and backing can be sprayed or injected.
I have also had success with X-O (my VW was owned by a smoker for the first 6,000mi and X-O alone worked). I would clean the headliner, visors, dash, door panels, seat surfaces, seat belts, pillar covers, etc... with it.

Get out your phone book and look for a local janitoral supply house. They can be very helpful and will carry the above products and more. ChemSpec and Pro's Choice are my go to brands. If you have nothing local http://www.topoftheline.com/odors.html is another alternative and carry both products I mentioned.

__________________
1999 E300DT (131,800) 154,000 Black on Black SOLD

2006 CLK 500 coupe Capri Blue on Grey (zoom,zoom)
47,000mi

04 VW TDI Passat 80,000mi
(Techno)

How to eliminate oil dependency through market-driven approaches.
“We could cut oil use in half by 2025, and by 2040, oil use could be zero,”
The Sound of Diesel Speed
Ode to MB

That makes a lot of sense. It wouldn't have ocurred to me to do that. I hope I never need to use that info, but thanks.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

When I repaired my rear seat in the wagon, I noticed that the green "horsehair" pads smelled AWFUL. I saturated them with Febreeze and let them dry in the sun. The smell is gone. I sprayed everything with Febreeze after that. Febreeze smells very strong when wet and fades when it's dry.

__________________
Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys

and i suggest small ozone generator & damp-rid packets/buckets what ever suits you... it'll keep your car dry in the future
i have em under the seats of my 240D

__________________
Matthew McIvor

2016 E350 4Matic Black/Black
2007 GL450 4Matic with Off-Road Pkg Silver/Black
1995 E300 Diesel White/Gray
1994 S600 Euro Black/ Black Velour
1986 560SL Blue/Blue/Gray
1986 190E Blue/Blue 93k