Auto Odor Removal

Airing a car out may be all that's needed to eliminate a foul odor.

Any number of foreign elements can produce an unwanted odor in your automobile -- cigarette smoke, vomit, mildew, and spilled food and beverages being a few common examples. Depending on whether the odor is light, moderate or intense, you can remove it with easy, medium or more involved effort, always starting with the easy method first and moving on progressively from there as each previous method proves unsuccessful.

Light/Easy

Air out the car. Park your car outdoors and open all the windows and doors. Remove the floor mats and any seat covers to expedite the process, laying them nearby to air out as well. Many light odors that have simply absorbed into the cushions, mats and other parts of the car's interior can easily be eliminated with a little fresh air.

Moderate/Medium

Absorb odors with a store-bought air freshener, either the kind that hangs from the rear-view mirror or an air freshening spray. Many function by absorbing odor-causing airborne particles. Make sure the air freshener you select has a pleasing odor to you, lest you replace one bad odor with another. Some less-potent smelling, auto freshening homemade remedies include crumpled newspaper and charcoal briquettes.

Intense/Involved

Clean, vacuum and wash the interior. Clean all personal items and trash out of the car. Vacuum out all dirt, lint and other removable particles. Sprinkling baking soda over the interior several minutes before vacuuming adds to the odor-removing effectiveness of a good vacuuming. Wash the interior with an auto-grade shampoo, being sure to completely rinse all the soap out afterward.

References

• CarsDirect: 3 Methods for Getting a Bad Car Smell Out of Your Vehicle
• Autopia Car Care: Removing Car Odors and Stains
• The Dollar Stretcher: Removing Odors In Your Car