A Quick Guide To Odor Treating Your Car

Step 1: Find the Source

It seems like a no-brainer…and it’s true: maybe you’re dealing with a hard-to-miss source, like…vomit…but finding the source can be overlooked when dealing with something unknown. The source can be under a seat, in a vent, in the dash, under the hood, under the car….or anywhere. It can save a lot of time to be thorough in your inspection as it’s easy to do all the steps below and still end up with the smell due to the source still being present.

Step 2: Detail The Vehicle

This can be the most intimidating step. It’s good practice to detail the car and clean every surface in the vehicle. This is a standard detail service you can pay someone to get done, but you can also do it yourself with the right tools and chemicals.

An "enzyme cleaner" is an excellent product for odor removal.” An enzyme cleaner is any cleaning agent that uses biological methods to digest organic waste, stains, molds, or odor. This will help break down odors on the surfaces.

Additionally, an extractor may be necessary to penetrate deeper into carpets and fabrics, especially if your odor source is these surfaces.

Step 3: The Secret Sauce - Chlorine Dioxide Tablets

Big things come in small packages, right? These tablets are easy to use and highly effective for removing odors from your car. These can be found on Amazon or locally at a pool supply place.

• Add about 25 tablets in 2 ounces of water and let it sit in the car for at least 3 hours and up to 24 hours.

• TIP: Use a small fan to help circulate the air inside without needing the car’s AC.

• Once the session is completed, run the AC for about 5 minutes (ensure recirculating is on).

• NOTE: You may notice a certain degree of “indoor pool” smell from the chlorine tablets. It is non-toxic and will dissipate in the coming days. Hopefully, this smell is better than the one you got rid of! Some surfaces can hold on to this smell longer than others.

STEP 4: Change the Cabin Air Filter

Cabin air filters should be changed every 12,000-15,000 miles OR when you need an odor gone. Changing out the filter will give you a clean slate to work with, ensuring you’re not circulating the odor that has permeated your filter into your system. See your owner’s manual (or Youtube) for instructions on how to replace it.

STEP 5: Reassess

Hopefully, your car’s foul odor is gone after these steps. Again, you may get some residual “pool smell” from the tablets that will disappear from the tablets within some days. If your odor still lingers, it’s tough to say from here what the issue could be. Here are some questions to ask: Did I find a source? Did I miss a spot in my detail? If it’s a musty/moldy smell…maybe the AC system needs cleaning? Could there be hidden mold elsewhere?