Eliminating foul smells from your vehicle involves regular cleaning, as well as specialized methods of removing lingering odors, which will only fester if left unattended. The following methods can help keep your car smelling fresh, no matter what life has thrown at you.
Clean Your Car Regularly
Regularly cleaning your vehicle can go a long way towards reducing odors. This is especially true for vehicles that routinely transport young kids and pets, which can be the source of quite a few messes and mishaps.
While cleaning should involve wiping down surfaces and vacuuming floors, there are also specific steps you can take to combat unpleasant smells in your vehicle. In general, the following items can be useful for preventing foul odors from taking hold of your car’s interior:
- Hanging Air Freshener – Buying a great smelling hanging air freshener will keep your vehicle smelling nice in between cleanings.
- Baking Soda – Spills in your vehicle can often be the source of unpleasant smells. Pour baking soda over the site of previous spills and let sit for few hours before vacuuming.
- Charcoal – For those lingering smells you just can’t get rid, try leaving a lump of charcoal in your car for a few days. The charcoal will help absorb any lasting odors, thereby freshening your interior immensely.
Don’t Allow Smoking in Your Vehicle
Cigarette smoke is a leading cause of foul smells inhabiting one’s vehicle. To this end, banning smoking from your vehicle can be a good way to decrease stale smells from forming. To eliminate smells that have already accumulated in your vehicle, thoroughly cleaning your upholstery can help.
Let Some Fresh Air In
During the summer drivers tend to keep the air conditioner set on recirculate. It’s good to let some fresh air in through the evaporative vents from time to time. This can help to eliminate some types of mildew and the resulting odor. Rolling your windows down once in a while can also help to aerate the vehicle to alleviate some pungent odors.
Consult a Professional Cleaner
In extreme cases, you may want to consider hiring a professional cleaning service for your car. A professional cleaner will have the equipment and chemicals required to remove seriously foul odors from your vehicle, which may be required in certain instances.
