Cars are indispensable means of getting from one place to another, to help people get around and to take trips with friends and family. However, if the car is dirty and smelly, no one will want to get in and you will have to deal with the bad smell every time you use it. Some smells become even worse over time rather than dissipate; if you want to be sure that your car is always fragrant, you must clean it, immediately throw away the waste that accumulates in it and avoid doing things that can cause a bad smell (such as smoking in the passenger compartment), as well as acting promptly when there is a stench to manage. There are also many products that you can keep in your car to make it smell fresh, available in a wide range of flavors to suit all tastes.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Scent the car
Step 1. Hang an air freshener in the cabin
There are many models built specifically for cars. To choose a perfume, simply search for the one you like best. It doesn't matter which type you decide to buy, but be sure to place it in an area with good airflow so that the aroma spreads throughout the machine.
- Those with clips and for the dashboard are made to be fixed or placed over the air intakes.
- The tree-shaped air fresheners and other models can be hung on the rearview mirror or under the dashboard, in the area where the passenger puts his feet, in order to receive a lot of flowing air.
Step 2. Use a product that neutralizes odors
You can use spray or vaporized deodorants because they hide stinks and cool the environment. Spread the liquid in the cabin and do not spray it directly on the seats, dashboard, floor or roof. You can use a home deodorant like Febreze or choose one specifically for cars:
- MA-FRA;
- Schü-Ster for cars;
- Arbre Magique.
Step 3. Spray some perfume
Instead of buying an air freshener, you can use a few drops of your favorite cologne or perfume to make the interior of the car pleasant. Again, do not spray it directly on surfaces.
If you have an old tree-shaped air freshener that has lost all aroma, you can use it to spray some perfume on it before putting it back in the car
Step 4. Put a scented candle (blown out
) under the front seat. Candles come in a ton of different flavors and there's no reason why you can't use them to scent your car. Look for a very small one that can fit under the passenger seat. Those for the speakers are the right size.
Do not use candles in a jar, otherwise you will not be able to appreciate the aroma
Step 5. Place sheets of dryer fabric softener under the front seat
Purchase a new package of this product and place it under the passenger or driver seat to perfume the cabin with fresh laundry.
To slow down the release of the perfume, do not open the package, just drill a couple of holes on the top
Part 2 of 3: Getting Rid of Odors
Step 1. Drive with the windows down
Sometimes the stinks get into the car and just don't go away; the first thing to do is to ventilate the environment. Choose a warm day and make sure there is no litter or papers in the car that could fly outside while you drive.
If you don't want to try this method, park your car in the driveway and leave all the windows down on a windy day; it is hoped that in this way the smells will dissipate
Step 2. Sprinkle the surfaces with baking soda
Some bad smells, such as smoke, are fixed on all the elements of the machine; by applying baking soda everywhere, you can absorb and neutralize the stinks that have entered the seats and floor.
- Don't forget the floor mats, the surfaces underneath and the spaces between the rear seat and the rear window.
- Make sure the floor and upholstery are completely dry before sprinkling the baking soda.
- Let the substance work for three to four hours.
Step 3. Vacuum the interiors
This step is important for eliminating baking soda, but also for removing bad odors along with dust and crumbs. Remember to use the specific upholstery accessory, so that you can reach every crevice and all the small spaces between the seats, under them and throughout the passenger compartment.
After using the vacuum cleaner, remove the mats from the machine
Step 4. Clean stubborn stains
When you know there are stains or residues to remove, treat them with a rag and the appropriate detergent. The latter depends on the substance that caused the stain:
- Tackle mold with spray disinfectant;
- Clean body fluids (such as vomit) and food stains with enzymatic cleaners
- For really strong and unpleasant smells - imagine the skunk - choose a detergent with active oxygen.
Step 5. Scrub the cabin surfaces with water and vinegar
Pour a mixture of these substances in equal parts into a spray bottle. Start from the driver's seat, spray the mixture all over the surface, and then scrub with a lint-free or microfiber rag. Then switch to the passenger seat and the remaining interior.
It may take some time for the vinegar smell to fade, but it will be able to remove most unpleasant smells, even cigarette smoke
Step 6. Clean the mats
Fill a bucket with warm water and several drops of dish soap. Place rugs on the lawn, driveway, or garage floor. Dip a shoe brush into the soapy solution and scrub the rugs into a lather. When done, rinse them off with a garden hose or a pressure washer.
Hang the mats to dry on the clothesline or on a string
Step 7. Deodorize the machine
There are many products that are able to neutralize the stench and that you can leave in the cabin to continue their work even after removing the stench.
- Put a few coffee beans in a jar closed with a plastic lid. Drill holes in the latter and place the container in a point of the passenger compartment.
- Leave an open packet of baking soda in the car to absorb and neutralize stinks.
- Hide a few orange peels under the front seat and let the citrus scent spread.
- Coal is another substance that is traditionally used to neutralize odors; you can put a couple of pieces under the passenger or driver seat to control odors in the car.
Part 3 of 3: Preventing Odors
Step 1. Do not leave drinks and food in the car
It's easy to forget a sandwich in the back seat, the cereal residues that have fallen on the floor or the leftover apple in the dashboard; however, make a conscious effort to try to remember and get rid of them every day. The food rots quickly causing a slight unpleasant odor that soon becomes the nauseating one of putrid organic matter.
Step 2. Take out the trash
Do not leave it in the machine, especially if it is also made up of food. This means getting rid of sandwich packages, fast-food bags and containers, plastic cups and all other waste. When you leave the vehicle at the end of the day, take the garbage you have accumulated with you, sort it according to the separate collection or dispose of it properly.
Step 3. Clean up any food residues immediately
If you are driving and dropping food in the cabin, pull over safely to clean and eliminate liquids as best you can. When you get home or go to the car wash, treat the stain with a cleaner such as soapy water, vinegar, or another product of your choice.
You should always keep a couple of old towels or kitchen paper in your car to handle emergencies and these kinds of "accidents"
Step 4. Turn on the fan and air conditioner periodically
The air conditioner, in particular, tends to accumulate humidity, which in turn favors the development of mold and bad odor. To prevent this from happening, turn it on regularly along with the fan every one to two weeks and let it run for ten minutes.
