[GELOverland]

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 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

 

[akimball]

Good reason to buy weathertech mats. My wife has dropped her coffee numerous times, and the mats have saved her life.

 

[Prestone]

Good reason to buy weathertech mats. My wife has dropped her coffee numerous times, and the mats have saved her life.

Because you would have cut her throat otherwise? Rofl

 

[bill_de]

In the long run, it might be easier to take the seat out so you can see what you are doing. It's not a big job.


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[GELOverland]

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?

 

[Andoskyy]

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?

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.

 

[JeepGCOverland]

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 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

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).

 

[Specx]

Good reason to buy weathertech mats. My wife has dropped her coffee numerous times, and the mats have saved her life.

:lol:

 

[Scottina06]

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.

 

[Temerarius]

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.

 

[akimball]

Because you would have cut her throat otherwise? Rofl

yea... is that bad? lol

 

[GELOverland]

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!

 

[AAAA]

Hang up a scented pine tree and trade it in. You deserve a 2014.

 

[mswlogo]

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.

 

[Bborzell]

One of the reasons why I only buy 1/2 gallons of milk; and no chocolate milk.

Was it lactose free?

 

[kkreit01]

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.

 

[bill_de]

One of the reasons why I only buy 1/2 gallons of milk; and no chocolate milk.

Was it lactose free?

That's the first time I heard of somebody adjusting their grocery list because of their Jeep. I guess there is no such thing as too much caution. :lol: :lol: :lol:


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[ants818]

i use this, it works great

 

[Forest53]

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

 

[jacko15]

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.