How to Remove Bad Smells from Cars: 11 Steps

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 10:50

If an unpleasant odor can be smelled from inside the cabin of your car, of course sitting in the car will make you feel uncomfortable. In addition, other passengers will feel uncomfortable. There are several things you can do to get rid of bad odors from the car cabin, starting with keeping it clean and finding the source of the odor in the car cabin. Start with the easiest cleaning steps first. Only then can you clean the bad smelling areas that are hard to reach.

Step

Step 1. Clean the cabin of your car

Start a basic cleaning by removing all items in the cabin (eg tissue boxes, books, and the like) and removing any trash in the cabin. Read your car's manual for warnings and advice on safe cleaning products to use before you wipe, wash or spray any product on interior carpets, upholstery and cushions, dashboards, and more. If in doubt, talk to your local car dealer for more information on using the right cleaning products for your car.

• Check under each seat and remove any leftover food, trash, or other items.

  

• Also check the back seat pocket and dispose of any items or trash. If you have children, be careful because there may be sticky candy or food residue stuck in the bag.

  

• If you are installing a child seat, check the drink container and the underside of the upholstery. Without you knowing it, food scraps or drinks can stick or get stuck in these parts. If the upholstery is dirty, take it out for cleaning.

  

• Do not forget to clean the trunk or the back of the car cabin. Keep in mind that bad smells in the cabin can come from anywhere.

  

Step 2. Wipe the inside surface of the car cabin

Use a soft cloth to clean every plastic, wood, glass, and metal surface in the car cabin. If you don't want to use warm water to clean the interior of the cab, a mixture of water and a mild detergent is usually safe to use for cleaning almost all types of surfaces. For glass surfaces, use glass cleaner. For leather seats, use a special leather cleaning fluid. Alternatively, you can use a suitable car interior cleaning product. Products like this can usually be purchased from auto supply stores. If the cleaning is done on a hot day, open all the doors and windows of the car so that the temperature inside the cabin is cooler. Otherwise, you will feel stifled, uncomfortable and, of course, annoyed by the very unpleasant smell.

• Clean the inner surface of the glove box or glove compartment of your car. Remove the stored items first, then wipe the inner surface.

  

Step 3. Brush the carpet first before you vacuum

Use a soft, strong brush to remove dust and dirt from the carpet before you vacuum the car cabin.

Always use clean water and change the water used frequently. Squeeze the carpet to remove the remaining water that is still absorbed so that there are no puddles when the carpet is reinstalled

Step 4. Vacuum the car cabin

First, remove the removable carpet. After that, vacuum the carpet and upholstery to remove any remaining dust or dirt. Point the mouth of the vacuum cleaner at all the seats and as much as possible open the seat pads to remove dust or dirt that is stuck or stuck in the gaps in the seats.

• Sprinkle deodorizer on the carpet. Allow the product to stick to the surface of the carpet and let it sit for the recommended time, according to the instructions for use listed on the packaging before vacuuming again. The use of this product is expected to reduce odors if the source of the unpleasant odor is in the car (in this case, car carpet).

  

• Do also vacuum the trunk of the car.

  

Step 5. Perform steam cleaning on the car cabin

After the vacuuming is complete, you can steam cleaning the cabin floor using an appropriate car shampoo product or enzymatic deodorizer, as well as an extraction machine (either a steam cleaning machine, a steam extraction machine, or a hot water extraction machine). The use of an extraction machine is expected to lift or remove as much dirt as possible from the car cabin.

• Clean the car seats, pillows and carpet to remove dust or dirt stuck in the folds of the fabric. Use an appropriate car shampoo or an enzymatic deodorizing product recommended by an auto supply store, and use a clean sponge to clean your car's cushions and carpets.

  

• Be careful not to splash too much water on pillows and carpets as drying can take days, especially if you live in a cold climate (or if the weather is cold). In addition, pillows or carpets that are not completely dry (moist) can cause a musty odor in the car cabin.
• Try using an extraction machine with a transparent suction tube or nozzle. This way, you can see the water being extracted from the car seat. When the sucked water looks clear and no more dust or dirt is sucked in, your car seats are clean and no dirt is left behind. In addition, when your car seats are completely dry, they will look like new.
• Repeat the cleaning process on areas with stubborn stains. Stubborn stains can be a source of odor, so it's important to get rid of them. In this way, unpleasant odors (as well as stains that interfere with the appearance of the car cabin) can be removed. These stains can be mud, dirt, food scraps, spilled drinks, or even signs of water coming in from an open window.

• After cleaning is complete, your car seats will feel slightly damp, although not as damp as a towel after use. If there is residual water in the car cabin, use the extraction machine again to lift water from the seat until the seat no longer feels damp.

  

Step 6. After the inside of the car cabin is cleaned and dried, check to see if the bad smell is still there

If you can still smell a bad odor after cleaning and drying (or if you know the source of the odor in your car but don't want to clean the entire car), it's time to look into the possible causes of the bad odor and find out if there are any immediate solutions. used to get rid of the odor. Below are some of the possible causes of an unpleasant odor in the cabin of your car:

• Bacteria: Bacteria usually appear and thrive because of rotting food debris in the car, or because of other debris left behind such as grass and soil from the soles of shoes. The best way to deal with this is to remove any leftover food or plant residues, and clean off any stubborn stains. After that, spray or use an enzyme or bacterial digester product on the stained area. These products can be purchased from cleaning supply stores. Follow the instructions for use listed on the packaging.

  

• Cigarette smoke: If you smoke in a car, you probably already know where the smell is coming from. However, keep in mind that other people smoking in your car without your knowledge can also leave bad odors behind. To get rid of the odor, place two towels in separate plastic bowls, and fill the bowl with white vinegar. If your car is larger, use an extra bowl. Put the bowl of white vinegar and the towel in the car. Place one bowl near the ashtray, and another in the back of the car. The vinegar used can absorb the lingering smell of cigarettes so that, when the two bowls are removed from the car, the smell of cigarette smoke will also disappear. Repeat this step if necessary. You can also sprinkle baking soda or a deodorizer on your car's pillows and carpets. Let stand for a few hours, then clean using a vacuum cleaner. However, keep in mind that if you or someone else smokes in your car, the smell will always be there. Therefore, the best solution for this is to not smoke in the car.

  

• Smoke (caused by burning objects): If your car has been damaged by a fire, the smell of smoke will stick to pillows and other porous surfaces. In this case, it's a good idea to use a professional cleaning service to clean the inside of the car cabin. You can also use the previous method (with white vinegar), but if that doesn't work, seek advice and help from a professional cleaner.

• Moss or mildew: Check in advance for any leaks in your car as you need to prevent water from entering the cab from the outside. If there are no leaks, mold or mildew growing and growing may be caused by rotting food residue, spilled drinks, or water dripping from shoes, sports equipment, or other wet objects left in the car. Therefore, remove the items (eg rotting food residue) and clean your car. If you think the odor is caused by the growth of mildew, spray the carpet with a cleaning product such as Lysol. Also, it's a good idea to read an article on how to get rid of mold from carpets for more information.

  

• Vomit (both pets and humans): wikiHow publishes articles you can read to learn how to clean vomit from a car. Some of them explain how to clean pet vomit from carpets, how to clean vomit from carpets, and how to clean dog vomit while in the car (article in English). Vomiting is a source of unpleasant odors that must be cleaned immediately because the stomach acid in vomit can stick to the fibers of the carpet (or upholstery) and damage them.

  

• Urine: Traces of strong-smelling urine should be removed as soon as possible. Clean the stagnant urine first, then try to remove the stain. Use a stain remover product that is suitable for upholstery, cushions, carpets, and other surfaces being cleaned. After that, try using a pet urine deodorizing product, of course, after you make sure that the use of the product is safe for the surfaces in the car cabin. If you use the product to clean upholstery or carpet, use a tissue or cotton swab to lift the product off the surface of the upholstery or carpet (not wipe it) after the product has been left for the recommended time, according to the instructions for use. This is done to prevent damage to the fiber upholstery or carpet. After that, clean the upholstery or carpet using a special shampoo, as described earlier.

  

• Milk: Spilled milk on carpets, leather upholstery, or pillows should be cleaned up immediately as spills can leave stains and odors. For leather seats, dampen a clean cloth and squeeze out the water. After that, wipe and clean up any spilled milk. Make sure you also clean up to the crevices of the upholstery. Dry the upholstery, then use a leather cleaning product. If spilled milk soils some of the carpet, remove the carpet and clean it separately. If the spilled milk only hits one layer of the carpet, flush the carpet with clean water and continue to absorb the water to remove the milk stain. Dry the carpet by airing and drying. If you dry using a heat source (eg a dryer), the milk can stick to the carpet and create an unpleasant odor.

  

Step 7. Neutralize the odor in your car

After you've cleaned your car and found a specific odor, try neutralizing the odor in your car's cabin thoroughly to get rid of any lingering odors. Follow these steps:

• Park the car in a well-ventilated area (better if parked outdoors). After that, open the car engine cover. Don't forget to also prepare a quality bottle of odor neutralizer.

  

• Start the engine and, for safety's sake, lift the handbrake lever. After that, turn on the temperature controller or fan at full power. In addition, it is important that you make sure that the air circulation button or lever indicates the air circulation setting from the outside.

  

• Get out of the car and stand in front of the fender (usually on the passenger side, not the driver's side), then look towards the engine compartment. Look for a temperature control air inlet (commonly referred to as a cowl vent or vent cap). Different vehicles sometimes use different configurations of the air inlet covers, but they are usually located in the lower corner of the windshield (usually on the passenger side). In addition, the air inlet is usually protected by some kind of shield or grille.

  

• Spray the odor neutralizing liquid right on the protective layer of the air inlet.

  

• After a few blows, get back in the car and check if the neutralizing product is carried in and circulated to the air conditioning system.

  

• Repeat spraying if necessary. Spraying products must hit vaporizers, air pumps and ducts, ducts where smoke and odor-producing particles collect.

  

• Now, turn on the temperature control to full heat while the engine is left running. Make sure the air circulation lever is pointing at the external air circulation position and the fan is running at full power or speed.

  

• Get out of the car and repeat spraying as you did before.

  

• By activating the high level heating setting, the sprayed odor neutralizing product will hit the heater core, air pump and ducting, ducts or other places that may have a source of unpleasant odors.

  

• Repeat spraying if necessary.

  

Step 8. Replace the car air filter if available

Changing the filter can make quite a difference. Make sure you read or refer to the manual when you want to replace the car air filter.

Step 9. After selecting the cleaning method described previously, use an ozone generator to carry out ozone voltage maintenance in the car cabin

This treatment can kill bacteria and fungi, as well as remove odor-causing substances in organic materials. You can read the article on how to carry out ozone voltage maintenance on a car (article in English) for more information.

Step 10. Seek the help of a professional cleaning service if the unpleasant odor persists despite various cleaning methods

There are professional cleaners who focus specifically on removing bad odors. You can hire their services, either through professional cleaning outlets or through cleaning specialists. Search the internet for information about this service to find out if the service is available in your area (including service fees), or contact your local car dealer for advice on quality professional cleaning services. If the car dealer is also unable to provide information, try contacting the local police. It is possible that the police have contacts of people who can carry out complex clean-ups.

• Usually, you can use a cleaning solution product to remove certain types of odors. However, you should inquire about using these products at an auto supply store or professional cleaning service provider. Make sure you provide details about the unpleasant odor that can be smelled from the cabin of your car.

  

Step 11. If at any time a drink is spilled, clean up the spill immediately

Drink stains will be easier to clean if the spill is fresh, and the smell will be less intense. In addition, diligently sweep and dispose of food debris, empty drink bottles, and other organic materials that fall or are left in the car cabin from food, clothing, or other equipment.

• If you are traveling with a pet, make sure you have the right cage or cage ready so that your pet doesn't excrete a lot. Cats can be brought in a waterproof cage to keep urine in the cage (not spilling and hitting the seat or pillow). For dogs, make sure they urinate or defecate before traveling. Also, stop every now and then to give him time to pee if you're going on a long trip.

• Always provide additional floor protection for the car cabin. Removing the rubber rug to clean dirt and remove odors that stick to the surface is easier than removing the carpet from the car and cleaning it. Think of the difference between cleaning dog poop from a rubber rug and a cloth rug. Surely you will prefer to use a rubber carpet that is easier to clean, right?

  

• Place a towel or cloth over the children's sitting area. As you know, they are likely to spill something so it's a good idea to line the seating area first.

• Plan to clean the inside of the car cabin every week. Bad odors will disappear faster if cleaning is done regularly. In addition, of course, unpleasant odors will also not accumulate.

  

• Make sure the windows are tightly closed when you are not in the car. Keep in mind that when car windows are open, animals can jump in, rainwater can seep in, and (even) people can throw trash into cars.

  

Tips

• Although it is not yet clear what form of damage occurs, overuse of an ozone generator has the potential to damage components in the car cabin (eg rubber shields). Generators producing mass flow rates of 3,500 to 6,000 milligrams per hour are generally safe to use for two hours. Other generators with higher mass flow rates can be used in less time. In addition, maintenance using an ozone generator repeatedly divided into several sessions (with time intervals to aerate the cabin) is considered safer for the cabin components than a single maintenance session of a long duration.
• Do not use an odor neutralizing product such as Oust in large quantities to prevent the product from flooding the airflow system and leaving an unpleasant odor overnight that can be smelled when, the next day, you turn on the thermostat. Instead, use a product like Lysol to get rid of bad odors in the airflow system. In addition, products such as Ozium can also be used and have a mild odor. You can buy such products from auto supply stores.
• If you are having trouble finding the lining or the air inlet, turn off the engine and put the key in the “Run” state (the engine is ready to run). Make sure the air conditioner or fan is still running. After that, go to the front of the car (usually on the passenger side) and listen for the sound of the air moving or the engine pumping so you can find the position of the air inlet. Once you find it, spray an odor neutralizing solution (both on the cooling and air heating systems), then turn off the engine, close the engine cover and let the car sit for a few hours. In this way, the particles of the air neutralizing product can work to eradicate the source of the bad odor.
• Place the fabric softener refill under the passenger seat. The fragrance will soon spread throughout the car cabin. If the scent starts to fade, take out the fabric softener to use when you wash the car, and buy a new fabric softener to use in the car.
• Divide the onion in half and place it under the seat. After that, the bad smell will disappear.

Warning

• If not used properly, ozone generators can be hazardous. Make sure you read the user manual before using it. In addition, it is very important to ensure that no people or pets are in the car while you are carrying out ozone voltage treatment.
• Caution: Many heating/temperature systems operate using air intake, with the engine running as a supply of air intake. It is important to understand that cleaning with the engine running can be dangerous for you. Therefore, do not perform the cleaning procedure when there are children near the car. If you are afraid or in doubt about the cleaning procedure, take your car to a repair shop. Usually you will be charged a small additional fee (if any) for the air neutralizer spraying service at the air inlet.