The Problem

A Five Points resident had been fostering senior dogs through a Raleigh rescue organization, and their Mazda CX-50 had been the transport vehicle for over a dozen animals in the past year. The cloth seats and cargo area were matted with fur from various breeds, but the bigger challenge was the smell. Several of the senior dogs had incontinence issues, and despite the owner using protective seat covers, accidents had soaked through to the seat cushions and carpet padding underneath on multiple occasions. The protective covers had also trapped moisture against the seat fabric, creating a damp environment where odor intensified. Drool marks covered the rear windows and door cards, and the headliner had absorbed a general dog smell from months of wet noses and warm bodies in an enclosed space. The owner was dedicated to continuing their foster work but needed the car restored so they could also use it for daily life without the lingering smell following them.

Our Process

• Protective seat cover removal and full assessment of damage underneath
• Multi-method pet hair extraction across all cloth seats, carpet, and cargo area
• Urine stain identification and treatment on seat cushions with bio-enzymatic solution
• Carpet padding treatment for urine that soaked through fabric to padding layer
• Hot water extraction on all cloth surfaces with enzyme-based cleaning solution
• Drool mark removal from rear windows and door card surfaces
• Headliner treatment for absorbed pet odor using gentle steam and deodorizer
• HVAC system flush and cabin air filter replacement to clear recirculating dander and odor
• Sealed-cabin ozone treatment for 3 hours
• Post-treatment ventilation and odor verification from multiple cabin positions

The Results

The CX-50 was completely restored — all pet hair removed, every urine stain treated at the source, and the layered odor eliminated through the combination of enzymatic cleaning, extraction, and extended ozone treatment. The seat cushions that had absorbed accidents were treated through the fabric into the foam, which was the only way to address the smell permanently. The headliner was fresh, the HVAC system was flushed clean with a new filter, and the drool marks were gone from every surface. The owner was emotional seeing the results — they had worried they would need to trade the car in to escape the smell, which would have made fostering more difficult. In Raleigh's warm and humid climate, pet odors left untreated compound quickly, especially when moisture is trapped against fabric surfaces. If you're looking for mobile car detailing in Raleigh, Swift provides professional on-site interior and full detailing.