Yahoo Autos How Do You Get Rid Of A Bad Smell Inside Of A Car? Question Of The Day
Even the worst interiors can be overhauled and cleaned up to rid it of unsavory scents.
Photo by Taylor Alton / Flicker
Question: How can I get a bad smell out of my car?
Answer: Ah, the car smell. Most of the time we associate it with the spectacularly elusive “new car smell” we all crave. However, the majority of us are living with an entirely different scent and quite often, that can be really bad.
So it begs the question, how do you get rid of a vehicular stench? How can we get back to closed window nirvana without spending more than the car’s value to get there? What if it smells of something truly awful like an ashtray or, heaven forbid, vomit? According to the professionals, you start with elbow grease:
“We advise our customers to remove what they can by using warm water and several absorbent towels to prevent seepage,” says Ken Rosenfield, CEO of Detail USA. Seepage? The word alone is disturbing. None of us want seepage, so preventing that seems logical.
So let’s say we’ve done the best we can with the dreaded “seepage.” Then what?
According to Ray “The Car Guy” Shargel,who has helped Hollywood A-listers keep their cars stink-free for 20 years, the next step is a live enzyme.
“The most commonly known product is ‘Nature’s Miracle,’ found at most pet stores” he said. “After treating with the enzyme and letting sit for a few hours, you can shampoo.”
