How to Remove Car Smells

You can remove even the worst smells with the right product. The sooner you clean the area, the easier it is to remove lingering odors.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bacteria/enzyme Digester
• Auto-upholstery Cleaner
• Sponge Or Rag
• Incense
• Incense
• Paper Towels
• Paper Towels
• Paper towels

1. Find the cause of the smell. If it's a solid, remove it from the car.

2. Use paper towels to blot any liquid stains gently.

3. Clean the soiled area with a heavy-duty auto-upholstery cleaner, available at an auto-parts store. There are two types, one for the floor mats and one for the seats.

4. Apply bacteria/enzyme digester to the affected area with a sponge or rag. This product kills odors by destroying bacteria. You can purchase it at a cleaning supply or household-goods store.

5. Open the windows to let the spot air-dry.

6. Consider burning a stick of incense in your car. Car fresheners often have a strong artificial scent.

7. For persistent smells you can't get rid of, make an appointment to get the inside of your car professionally detailed.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep the windows rolled up tightly when your car is parked to prevent rain from coming in. Wetness creates a musty smell.
• See also How to Diagnose Car Smells.

[GordonBerken]

on 12/23/2008 For smoke deodorization, we use Thermal Foggers. Thermal Foggers heat solvent based deoderants and turns it into a fog. A smoke particulate measures 4.0 microns in size, a deoderant droplet from the thermal fogger measures 0.5 microns. Because of this, the deoderant has the ability to penetrate and destroy the malodor. Many fire restoration contractors have these devices. At Paul Davis Restoration of Broward, in addition for house fires,we even use them for automobiles with cigarette smoke odors.

[KathyKing]

on 11/5/2008 I just had to pass this on to all fellow mommies!!!! I have a 3yr old and a family dog, both in my car daily. Well, after food spills, the occasional spit up (vomit) and our dog (who doesn't always smell like roses), my car had this funky, lingering odor that even detailing and shampooing could not get rid of.
Long story short, after viewing the attached video link
http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?mkt=en-US&brand=msnbc&vid=43d09994-50dd-445d-b8c1-ba8a8f415a96
and being disgusted with this info all moms need to see, I found a miracle solution!!!! It's called "Auto Vaccine" and I purchased it on this website called www.BiocideSystems.com.
This is a brand new product on the market and it was hard to find, but I was able to find it and I can't tell you how thrilled I am!!!
This product will not only deodorize, but completely decontaminate and sanitize your automobile like no other

[ShirleyS]

on 8/31/2008 I use a product that totally got rid of smell in my car from combination of different sources including sour milk and smelly dog. It is called Innofresh AUTO ODOR ELIMINATOR. Made by the same company that makes that fridge-it cube. It is working in my car great. I did some looking up and you can buy it at Checker Auto, Kragen auto, Schucks auto and Murrays and I suppose on line. I really suggest if you have car smells and don't like those sprays and fragranced products that don't eliminate the problem, then go get a couple of these Innofresh odor absorbers

[KenG]

on 8/10/2007 Eliminate odor completely. Believe it or not, there is a product made for the worst fridge odors that works great in cars for food spill odors, pet and smoke odors. It is a product called FRIDGE IT odor absorbers. Fragrance free so it actually gets rid of odors and doesn't cover them up with fragrance. Works incredibly well. Small purple cube so don't buy other brands that don't work - I've tried them. Can buy at Linens and Things and www.innofresh.com

on 11/22/2005 Use the same charcoal you use on a bar-be-que grill to remove musty smells from your car. Place a few pieces of charcoal in the area that got wet. Let the charcoal sit until the smell goes away.