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Reason to cry over spilled milk

7K views 30 replies 20 participants last post by  greenwayer 
#1 ·
So about three weeks ago, I took a turn too sharp and my bag of groceries fell off my front seat. I had a gallon of milk and the cap popped off resulting in 3/4 of the gallon pouring onto the floor of my passenger seat:mad: I had a floor mat which helped to keep most of the milk from absorbing, and I immediately cleaned the carpet when I got home. Everything seemed fine until about a week ago.

A week ago, there was an overwhelming smell of rotten milk throughout my Jeep. So I re-cleaned my carpet and smelled ok. The next day getting into my jeep, it still smelled:( This prompted me to remove the battery cover only to find it full of molded and spoiled milk. (See photos)

I cleaned this area as thoroughly as possible taking 4 hrs to do so. In the front compartment there was about an inch deep pool of pudding-like milk that took me the longest to clean up since I can't see or reach my hand into that compartment of the battery area.

So after a week of driving with my windows down, buying ozium, fabreeze, baking soda and a variety of air fresheners, my Jeep still smells like spoiled milk.

My question is- Does anyone know what is in the battery compartment other than the battery? I want to fill it with water, let it soak and shop vac it all out. Is there anywhere that front compartment drains? Any potential damage?

Thanks
 

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#2 ·
Good reason to buy weathertech mats. My wife has dropped her coffee numerous times, and the mats have saved her life.
 
#5 ·
I had the mopar mats, and the milk overflowed and went through the hole for the hook. I have the weathertech mats and felt like the same result would have occurred with 3/4 gallon spilling and sloshing around until I could pull over and reach it.

As for the seat, I can move the seat enough to see and reach everything but that front compartment. I don't know how much removing the seat would help since I still would be unable to reach into it with my actual hands. Hopefully it won't come to that.

Any idea if that front compartment drains anywhere or how deep it goes?
 
#6 ·
Seeing you have the compartment empty, you probably know better than all of us if it has a drain. If it has one, it should be visible.

I personally would start with 1/2" of water in it and see if it drains. Keep gradually increasing it.

I see no reason a battery compartment would need a drain.

You could also make some kind of baking soda paste. something that'll stay on the walls of the compartment and break down the milk smell.

good luck..that's unfortunate.
 
#7 ·
My sunroof leaked into that compartment for a few months (I assume, I didn't realize it until a few weeks ago and got it fixed within a week) and I don't think that there was anything else that is down there. I'm pretty sure the dealer used a shop vac to get the water out then fixed the leak, and that was it. Besides, the milk would have already hurt anything down there, so the water won't do any additional damage (if there ever was any to be done).
 
#9 ·
the problem isn't the compartment IMHO....its the milk has saturated the carpet, padding and insulation under all of that. If it got to that compartment...it got all the way thru all three of those things and to the subframe. Me personally....I would remove the seat and peal the carpeting back. Its probably ugly under there.
 
#10 ·
You'll need an enzymatic treatment (it breaks down the proteins which is what the bacteria that makes the stink is living off of).

You will want to saturate the carpet/pad with the stuff. You will also probably need to spray the headliner with the same stuff (make sure you cover your leather seats with a bed sheet or shower curtain). The headliner will suck up nasty smells (like cig smoke, moldy milk, etc...).

I'd recommend hosing down the battery area with it as well and letting it sit in there a bit after you scrub.

Lastly, you may have to take some baking soda and work it into the carpet as well (let it hang out for a week or two), and then vacuum it up. This will help absorb any additional gifts that maybe wafting up from the pad while the Enzyme treatment is doing it's thing.

I just had to do this this summer... kid spilled an entire carton of Chocolate milk under the driver seat without telling me...

It took 3-4 weeks, but eventually, I broke the back of the nasties and the smell dissipated.
 
#12 ·
Thanks guys for all the suggestions. I will be filling the battery compartment with water and a cleaning solution this weekend and let it soak for an hr. While I do some further inspection/cleaning of the carpets.

My assumption is that the milk overflowed the front floor mat, and then went through the crack of the cover of the battery compartment. As anal as I am about my Jeep, I cleaned up all the milk on the carpet within minutes of the spill, so I am hoping the carpet is ok, and the smell is just because the battery compartment went uncleaned for two weeks.

If it's more than that, I have all your great suggestions. Thanks!
 
#14 ·
I posted about the dreaded gallon of milk and folks joked.

I now keep milk crate in the back. Good for gas can for lawn mowrr, milk, whatever.

These net things are for the birds.
 
#16 ·
I lost most of a gallon by it falling out of the hatch upon opening. I've since always bagged my milk, and hang it on the grocery hooks in the cargo area.

I think Scott is spot on. I think the smell is coming from the carpets/padding. I wouldn't fill the battery compartment with water. It's just metal. Clean that compartment with warm water + APC (or diluted bleach) -- using a rag. You may have pull your front seat, door sills, etc. and pull back the carpeting.
 
#19 ·
I agree on the enzyme treatment my wife runs a daycare facility so she is constantly hauling milk in our old GC. We have had spills. The bacteria convert lactose to lactic acid and it smells like hell. We buy the enzyme stuff from a local janitorial supply house . I mix it with warm water in the carpet shampooed, no soap , and repeatedly wash and vacuum the carpet with the solution . It still takes a while to he the smell out. You must get the enzyme down into the padding as well as the carpet. I soak it we'll before vacuuming it out
Good luck
 
#20 ·
I had my Jeep to my detail guy today for a little winter prep and brought up your problem. He said he's had to deal with similar issues, and recommends that you replace the pad under your carpet in the affected area, as the pad is porous and will hold the milk/stink.
 
#21 ·
Thanks guys, I will be tackling it this weekend when I have some time. I had the Mopar floor mats covering the carpet, so most of the milk stayed on them, and I was able to soak the rest up immediately. This, combined with the fact that the Jeep's carpets have almost like a rubber layer before the padding and that the carpet does not smell, makes me think it was mostly that battery compartment.

I already got some enzyme cleaner from amazon so I am set to remove that smell regardless, and plan to inspect under the carpets again to makes sure I didn't miss anything.

Ants818, I have one of those as well, this was just a dumb accident :(
Bborzell, full lactose, antibiotic free milk, only the good stuff! haha
 
#22 ·
Thanks guys, I will be tackling it this weekend when I have some time. I had the Mopar floor mats covering the carpet, so most of the milk stayed on them, and I was able to soak the rest up immediately. This, combined with the fact that the Jeep's carpets have almost like a rubber layer before the padding and that the carpet does not smell, makes me think it was mostly that battery compartment.

I already got some enzyme cleaner from amazon so I am set to remove that smell regardless, and plan to inspect under the carpets again to makes sure I didn't miss anything.

Ants818, I have one of those as well, this was just a dumb accident :(

Bborzell, full lactose, antibiotic free milk, only the good stuff! haha
My guess is it will all go well. Glad to hear that you can still tolerate the real thing.:D
 
#24 ·
Update* Smell is 99% gone. Washes and scrubbing with baking soda and water, followed by diluted bleach and water, and finally 4-5 washes with plain water took care of it. That compartment quickly fills with water and was surprising easy to shop vac despite all the nooks and crannies.
 
#30 · (Edited)
Back when I bought my first Wrangler, I brought it home and was in my parking spot in the alley, taking the top down and just getting to know how it worked. My neighbor came home and said come on up for a beer. I left my brand new Jeep alone for five minutes...ten max...and the neighborhood alleycats came and sprayed the interior of my brand new one hour old Jeep! I tried everything. Hosing it out, washing the carpet in a washer...you name it. I finally bought new carpet but still, even then, when it rained, I could faintly smell cat piss. So, when people ask me why I hate cats....I tell them.
 
#31 · (Edited)
Story time! Milk carton exploded in the trunk of my zj almost ten years ago. I cleaned it up but for some reason the roof is still crusty with some weird white flakes. They stick to the fibers and never completely go away no matter how hard you try to clean it off. At least mine doesn't smell. Anyways, glad you could get rid of your stink.
 
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