Any idea what this is?!

[Gooner]

Evening all

I have a white powery substance that keeps appearing on my seats. Picture attached to show the issue.

Before anyone suggests any of the following, I can confirm it’s not:

- talcum powder
- cocaine
- deodorant
- food
- dandruff

I’d suggest it’s coming from inside the seat and appears from time to time with no rhyme or reason! It’s a chalky like substance and can be vacuumed up but also needs a wipe over after to get rid of all of it.

Any ideas? Anyone else had this issue?

Thanks

 

[Vampyre]

White mold, also known as powdery mildew, is a fungal growth that thrives in damp and humid environments, commonly found in both homes and cars. It appears as a white, powdery substance and starts as small spots, spreading if not treated.

 

[Speedy Emira]

White mould, also known as powdery mildew, is a fungal growth that thrives in damp and humid environments, commonly found in both homes and cars. It appears as a white, powdery substance and starts as small spots, spreading if not treated.

My thoughts also and it is best to clean it of with a anti bacterial cleaner that is safe for food surfaces due to being closer to Ph neutral. I have a company that supplies these types of products to hospitals and I will send you a bottle for free if you pm me your address.
This can happen on leather seats if you have spilled drink on them that soaked into the foam through the stitching. Not common but simply wiping it off usually won't get rid of it. I would switch on the heated seats to make sure they are fully dried out just in case.

It will have the added benefit of stopping your seats catch Covid.

 

[Beardedbradley]

My thoughts also and it is best to clean it of with a anti bacterial cleaner that is safe for food surfaces due to being closer to Ph neutral. I have a company that supplies these types of products to hospitals and I will send you a bottle for free if you pm me your address.
This can happen on leather seats if you have spilled drink on them that soaked into the foam through the stitching. Not common but simply wiping it off usually won't get rid of it. I would switch on the heated seats to make sure they are fully dried out just in case.

It will have the added benefit of stopping your seats catch Covid.

Nice touch.

 

[Gooner]

White mold, also known as powdery mildew, is a fungal growth that thrives in damp and humid environments, commonly found in both homes and cars. It appears as a white, powdery substance and starts as small spots, spreading if not treated.

I did wonder about this but the interior is never damp and I though it was odd that it only appeared on the seats, when I’d have expected it to be elsewhere as well if that was the case. I may of course be wrong though!

 

[Gooner]

My thoughts also and it is best to clean it of with a anti bacterial cleaner that is safe for food surfaces due to being closer to Ph neutral. I have a company that supplies these types of products to hospitals and I will send you a bottle for free if you pm me your address.
This can happen on leather seats if you have spilled drink on them that soaked into the foam through the stitching. Not common but simply wiping it off usually won't get rid of it. I would switch on the heated seats to make sure they are fully dried out just in case.

It will have the added benefit of stopping your seats catch Covid.

That’s a really kind offer, thank you.

Just looking to confirm what the issue is before I decide a course of action! I didn’t mention above, but the leather has had Gtechniq L1 and a detailing group I’m in think it could be that but really, who knows

 

[netsinah]

I’d say your car is haunted, and what you’re seeing is the commonly found ethereal substance known as “Ghost Residue”. Sorry to be the bearer of such ghoulish news!

But if you don’t accept that explanation and get no other solutions, you might consider showing it to a very experienced auto detailer who may have encountered it before. Good luck!