Non Scented A/C cleaning method?

[abscate]

A couple of Cubans will put a nice organic tang into your leather, I'll bring some back

[98v70dad]

Dilute undcented bleach is probably the best way to clean

I wouldn't use any bleach on an evaporator coil made of aluminum. Sodium hypochlorite is a powerful oxidizer and will corrode aluminum.

To OP: I used a can of TuffStuff cleaner, on my evap coil. Pull the blower, aim for the coil and foam it up. Let it work for 15min., then spray with distilled water (preferable) to rinse. Repeat if necessary. TS has a mild odor...a bit like lemon.

I was thinking the same thing...bleach and aluminum together is a bad idea. It solves one problem and creates an even bigger one. Aluminum oxidizes just like ferrous metals except that it creates a white powder called aluminum oxide instead of the red powder iron oxide. The evaporator core most likely has some delicate aluminum parts not designed for any significant corrosion. If a little corrosion has already developed you'll never get the bleach rinsed out completely.

[sleddriver]

Yep...great minds think alike!

Further, not all metal cleaners/degreasers are aluminum safe. Best bet here would be to go with an HVAC coil cleaner. You may not be as concerned cleaning an aluminum engine block as an aluminum evaporator. TuffStuff contains similar detergents. To kill mold/mildew on aluminum, Lysol/generic spray perhaps? Frigi-Fresh is also reported to do so.

I stopped using dilute bleach on my annual HVAC evap. core cleaning. Just TuffStuff.

[JDS60R]

+1 Don't use bleach on aluminum or aluminum copper coils.

[aewoodhouse]

I shampooed the carpets - steamed the leather seats - then treated them. Yes I know - probably not the best idea for longevity but there was some stubborn grime to tackle. Yesterday I ran my friends ozone machine in it with the air cranked and the windows closed, and for the time being it smells like an amazon rain forest

[JRL]

No breach on the evap itself, but everything around it and the complete intake up TO the evap
BREACH KILLS MOLD AND MILDEW

[funvan]

Sorry to ressurecting an old thread, but it is meantioned here and I could not find an answer anywhere else:
where is the intake vent for the interior air recirculation?

[abscate]

The air damper door right above the fan motor closed off the outside air and opens the interior ine

[smacknab]

Main thing, you don't want to use A/C at all during the cold season, that's when the mold grows on the evaporator.

Does this include when the AC runs to defog the inside of the car?

[Rattnalle]

Not using the AC is when stuff grows on there in my experience. Plus it's not good for it to be turned off for long periods. Just leave it in auto.

And hook it up to Vida and turn on the feature where it dries the evaporator by running the fan a few minutes after the car is parked. Or nvm, just realised that might not be relevant in this forum section.