[A2G]

last week, i had a protein shake bottle in the trunk, the cap was not closed tight enough so I had 1/4 of the bottle spill inside my trunk. I cleaned it as soon as I got home, but now the smell is unbearable....i cant breath inside the car. I took it to bmw, to get the carpet in the back cleaned and they did that. I brought the car back home, took the middle carpet out to dry and now again it smells disgusting....I used baking soda and water to clean it again...however the smell is not going away....what is left to do? replacements?


Just a warning, Im not a smart dude, so I learnt this the hard way. Spill milk in the trunk and you will regret it for the rest of your cars life.

[HermesRider]

You gotta neutralize milk immediately with battery acid. That's what the battery is in the trunk for. Good luck.

[blue2fire]

Whose Milk (Sorry, Protein Shake)?

[Ramos]

I spilled lamb shank soup in the trunk of my G35 once, and the smell was nasty for weeks... Just keep the carpets out of the car to air them for as long as possible.

I had to go to a detailer to deodorize the carpet and then that was not enough, you still have to let it air for weeks.

[jzchen]

I had my son's milk spill in the back seat footwell. I left the car windows open in the garage until the smell finally just went away... I'm not sure if it helped that that was in Southern California, (dry air.)

[bmw-hoya]

That's my biggest (trunk) nightmare. The OEM rubber trunk mat with raised edges is the first line of defense.

OP: give it plenty of air and I'd clean over the carpet again, including seeing if any drained elsewhere in the trunk.

[Quasimodem]

You are over spilt milk?

[Amir87]

Same thing happened in my sisters car. I used Clean Air Genie, and it took 90% of the smell away. The sooner you do it the better.

http://www.autogeek.net/clairgefoair.html

[MrChessy]

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[vadim]

Try using some pet odor neutralizer or Febeze extra strength. Once the odor is gone, order a rubber trunk liner - worth every penny.

[space_cricket1]

You think spilled milk is bad. Try stashing a dead body in the heat of summer...

[slowpoke]

Originally Posted by space_cricket1

You think spilled milk is bad. Try stashing a dead body in the heat of summer...

or..a dead body who is holding onto milk?

[Craig@SupremePower]

yikes

[Andy M]

Febreeze just masks the smell. It's the bacteria that's causing the smell. You'll need the Febreeeze anti-bacterial spray. I use that stuff for my hockey equipment all the time. Spray it in your trunk every so often and leave your trunk open for a few days.

[visor]

Andy M above is right... it's the bacteria feeding on the protein that is causing the smell.

Just go to your nearest medical supply store and ask them for the spray for cleaning / deodorizing ostomy sites. That'll solve your problem.

[sneaks]

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[boymonkey]

Use a "foaming carpet deodorizer". My girlfriend spilled a milk/yogurt shake in her car a few weeks ago, and I got rid of the smell with that. I bought it at a common grocery store like Safeway. (In Toronto, try Loblaws I guess.)

Basically a pressurized canister that shoots out foam. Spray a layer of the foam on the carpet. (Open the windows/doors and keep your distance; don't inhale it too much.) For the first week or so the scent of the foam will be pretty strong in the car, but after the scent is gone, the rotten milk smell should be gone too. It worked for my gf's car.

Edit: I just googled it and I think it was Arm and Hammer brand. Foam and no need to vacuum.

[blue2fire]

Originally Posted by boymonkey

Edit: I just googled it and I think it was Arm and Hammer brand. Foam and no need to vacuum.

That works as well as Sprite when you have a Stomach ache.

[squeaky]

My girlfriend forgot a gallon of milk in the back of her ex's SUV after going shopping and the ex never found it -- until it exploded all over the interior of the car. The SUV was parked outside on the street and the sun worked it's magic. I don't know how long it took for it to finally explode, though. He never could get the smell out of the car and ended up selling it. He was a jerk, according to her, so I don't feel sorry for the guy, but I do make sure to check my trunk each time we go shopping!

[vadim]

Originally Posted by Andy M

Febreeze just masks the smell. It's the bacteria that's causing the smell. You'll need the Febreeeze anti-bacterial spray. I use that stuff for my hockey equipment all the time.

Same here However, it is not the bacteria itself, but the products of decomposition that cause the smell. What I advised is based on experience (3-4 games a week) Febreze extra strength also works rather well on pets' urine sports (have a dog and a cat). YMMV.

[UncleWede]

Originally Posted by squeaky

My girlfriend forgot a gallon of milk in the back of her ex's SUV

She "forgot" it in there (under some covers, in the back where he never looks) ??

[Grentz]

Milk is nothing, try a quarter gallon of gas

That happened in one of my other cars by accident awhile back (not a BMW luckily!) that smell lasted quite a while to say the least.