You know that smell. The one that lingers in your car after you’ve been driving around all day with the windows shut tight. It’s a mix of stale air, sweat, and spilled coffee…or after being towed by tow truck Graham service when waterlogged… It’s not exactly pleasant! This blog post will offer some tips on how to get rid of bad odors from your car for good. We’ll also talk about why it happens and what we can do differently next time!
1. Make sure your car is clean from the inside and out
The first step to eliminating bad odors from your car is making sure it’s clean! That means removing all the trash, spilled food, and drinks. Cleaning up any spills that may have happened. If you’re going to be on the road for a while, it might also mean washing your car and vacuuming up all those crumbs.
This is going to depend on how bad the odor has gotten. If the odor is mild, you may be able to get away with a thorough cleaning and airing out of your car. If it’s more severe, or if you can’t seem to escape the smell even after hours of cleaning, you’re going to have to take it a step further.
2. Vacuum everything – including seats, floor mats, and upholstery
Vacuuming is a great way to remove all the crumbs and dirt from your car. And it’s important because the more you vacuum, the less chance there is for dust and allergens to build up in your car!
The bad odors may be coming from something as simple as spilling coffee on your seat or not cleaning out your car for a while.
The key to getting rid of this smell is vacuuming everything – including the seats, floor mats, and upholstery. Then give your car some time to air out (or leave windows cracked open) before you get back on the road again!
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3. Put a pot of water on to boil with some citrus fruit peels or coffee grounds in it
This might seem like a strange way to get rid of bad odors in your car, but it works wonders! Leave the lid on and leave the pot boiling for at least 30 minutes. The heat will seep into your upholstery and air out any smells that have been lingering around or trapped by dirt particles. You can also choose to use citrus fruit peels or coffee grounds (or both) to add a calming scent.
After you’ve boiled the pot of water, let it cool down and dispose of any leftovers properly! Once your car has aired out for a while, you’ll be able to drive without having that smell return.
However, sometimes bad odors in your car are caused by something other than spilled food or trash. It could be a dead animal in your exhaust pipe, the result of an electrical fire, or just bad air quality from living near heavy traffic. If you’re having trouble getting rid of smells and odors that persist after following these steps, it might be time to take your car to the mechanic.
4. Use baking soda to absorb odors left by pets or spilled food
What you need: baking soda, a bowl or container
What to do: Sprinkle the baking soda onto any surfaces that have an odor and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. You can even sprinkle it on your seats!
Baking soda is great at absorbing odors left by pets – especially if they’ve had an accident in the car. It’s also a great way to get rid of odors left by spilled food or trash.
After you’ve sprinkled baking soda on any surface, allow it to sit for 15-20 minutes before vacuuming up with your vacuum cleaner! The more surface area that has been covered with baking soda, the better – and it’ll help to absorb the odor and prevent any smells from coming back.
It’s important that you’re careful, though! Over time baking soda can collect dirt particles in your car so be sure to vacuum up what you’ve sprinkled before driving away again.
5. Deodorize your car’s air conditioner filter monthly for fresher smelling air
What you need: a baking soda, newspaper, distilled white vinegar
What to do: Place the filter in your container and pour it over with water. Sprinkle some baking soda on top of the wet filter and let it soak for at least an hour (or overnight). Pour out any leftover liquid or rinse off with warm water if desired. Place the filter in a paper bag and cover it with newspaper. Pour some distilled white vinegar over the top of the filter, close it up, and let it sit for an hour or overnight before removing it from its container.
The air conditioner filter traps any animal hair or dust particles that may be floating around your car – which means it can accumulate some bad odors too.
So, if you notice your car’s air conditioning is not as refreshing or cool as it usually is, then maybe it’s time to clean out the filter! Just be sure that you don’t use any chemical cleaners – and make sure the filter stays dry during this process (especially overnight).
This step may not sound like much, but it’ll save you from having to deodorize your car over and over again.
We hope these 5 tips help you get rid of the bad odor from your car.
