There are few things more disgusting than getting in your sealed up car after it\u2019s been sitting all day and it smells like a trash dumpster. And when you\u2019re driving around passengers that odor\u2019s not only embarrassing, it can make you all feel downright nauseous. Mold, mildew, cigarette smoke, old food, dirty clothes and pet scents can all insidiously combine to fill your vehicle\u2019s interior with lingering odors that won\u2019t go away no matter how hard you try. Driving around with the windows down or hanging one of those little pine trees from your rearview mirror might help temporarily, but they won\u2019t get to the root of your odor problems. What follows are several proven ways to get your car smelling great again using common everyday household items.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s right, not only do dryer sheets keep your clothes smelling better, but they can also be used to eliminate car odors. Simply open a new box of dryer sheets and place it under your front seat to make the cabin air smell refreshed. For a slower release of the scent, keep the box sealed and punch a couple of holes in its top and sides.<\/p>\n
Who doesn\u2019t love the smell of lit scented candles around their home? When you\u2019re trying to make your car smell better place a few smaller unlit<\/em> scented candles underneath the front seats. Tea light or votive-sized candles work well, and come in hundreds of fragrances for your enjoyment. Avoid using candles that come in jars, as you won\u2019t be able to smell those.<\/p>\n Grab that box of baking soda off your kitchen shelf and generously sprinkle some around the inside of your car. Get all of the upholstery including the seats, carpeting and floor mats. Baking soda absorbs odors, including musty cigarette smoke, from all around your car\u2019s interior. Let the baking soda sit for 3 to 4 hours after applying, and then carefully vacuum it all out to get your car smelling fresh again.<\/p>\n Another household odor eliminator is vinegar and water. Using a clean spray bottle, mix up a 50\/50 solution of white<\/em> vinegar and water, and then spray down the seats with it, one at a time. After applying the mixture to the first seat, immediately wipe it down with a lint-free cloth. Repeat this process for the other seats, and then the dash, carpeting, floor mats, roof liner, and rest of the upholstery. You may notice a slight vinegar smell for a few days, but when that\u2019s gone the unpleasant odors should be too!<\/p>\n Most drivers remember to vacuum their floor mats when cleaning out the inside of their cars, but to truly eliminate nasty odors trapped in the material you need to wash<\/em> the mats with a brush, water and dish soap. Give your mats a good scrubbing with the soapy water after vacuuming them off first. Then rinse the mats with water from a garden hose or power washer. Allow the mats to air-dry by hanging them over a railing or on a clothesline.<\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve initially removed the bad odors, in addition to dryer sheets and scented candles, there are other deodorizers that you can use to keep the obnoxious smells from coming back. Those include:<\/p>\nBaking Soda <\/strong><\/h2>\n
Vinegar and Water<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Wash the Floor Mats with Dish Soap<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Keep Your Car Deodorized <\/strong><\/h2>\n