As with any enclosed space, there is little worse than being stuck in a car with a smell that will just not go away. The occupants of the car could be smokers; could be fast food consumers; or might even be the family dog; many things will leave their mark. There are though a number of ways in which it is possible to get rid of bad odors.

The easiest way to remove bad odors from a car is to hire in a professional firm who can clean the inside and outside of car. This of course is not going to be the cheapest option, and in truth everything the professional does can be replicated by the car owner. Many supermarkets and car accessory stores will sell a plethora of car cleaning products, from upholstery cleaners to windscreen cleaners. In many cases though, these products are little different from normal household cleaning products.

Most odors come from the fact that particles are trapped in the weave of fabrics. Cleaning should start with the vacuum cleaner, and the use of the upholstery attachment will ensure that the seats and floor are thoroughly cleaned. It is then a case of making use of upholstery cleaners and elbow grease to get rid of unseen elements that could be causing an unpleasant smell. Most cleaning products are simple to use, although it is always advisable to rid the directions for use on the packaging.

Many people do prefer to use a steam cleaner to undertake a through clean of the inside of a car, and although now more widely available from hire centers, they are not the easiest things to use in the confined space of a car.

There are a number of home remedies that will also do a job of getting rid of bad odors, and many work even though they sound extremely strange. If normal cleaning products are to be avoided then the car owner could do worse than make use of baking soda and vinegar.

Baking soda works on all fabrics and upholstery, be they in the home or in the car. All that is required is that some baking soda is sprinkled over the seats and floor and then rubbed in. It should then be left there for a couple of hours, in which time the baking soda should absorb any particles that are free in the car. The baking soda can then be simply vacuumed away.

A paste of baking soda and white wine vinegar can also be used to clean the dashboard and solid elements of the car. White wine vinegar can also be used to clean the glass of the car, and as well as providing a streak free clean, will also provide a pleasant aroma as well.

The strangest of all methods for removing odors from cars is the use of charcoal bricks, as used in barbecues. An open bag of charcoal traps in any particles that are moving within the confines of the car.

Car odors can be unpleasant, and seemingly made worse because there is no where to go. A thorough clean though should remove all smells, and even some unlikely cleaning tools do work.

Learn more about this author, Tim Harry.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Car care: How to get rid of bad odors?
We want to hear your view. Write now!