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How to Get Rid of a Bad Odor in a Car

Outdoor Grilling

Have you ever owned a brand new car and wished you could keep your car smelling new forever? There are air fresheners that smell just like a brand new car, but they aren’t the answer if your car has developed a terrible odor. Air fresheners are fine if your car smells clean to begin with, but if you’ve forgotten food, bait, or other perishable items inside your car, all of the air freshener for sale in the store won’t get rid of the stench.

Try the following methods to get rid of a bad odor in your car. You’ll save yourself a great deal of money over hiring a professional, and your car will smell fresh and clean once again. You can get rid of the odor yourself!

Clean it First!

You can’t get rid of a bad odor if the source of the odor is still present, so make certain the offending substance is completely gone. Soak up as much liquid as possible with paper towels, and clean the area with a power steamer. If you don’t have access to a power steamer, clean the soiled area with a top-quality cleaning product of your choice.

The biggest mistake people can make when cleaning a terribly odorous substance from a car is not allowing the area to dry completely before closing the vehicle. Allow the car to air out for as long as possible, preferably outside. If weather is a factor, air the car out inside a garage, but whatever you do, don’t close it up until the freshly cleaned area is absolutely dry.

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Charcoal

After the mess has been properly cleaned and the carpet or fabric is completely dry, set an open bag of charcoal in the car. Charcoal is one of the best natural products you can use to absorb and get rid of odors, and after your car smells fresh and clean, you can still use the charcoal for outdoor grilling.

Coffee Grounds

Many truck drivers use coffee grounds to get rid of bad odors from their trailers after hauling fresh onions and other strong smelling loads. As the coffee grounds dry, they absorb odors and leave behind nothing more than the scent of freshly brewed coffee.

Vinegar

Vinegar is another natural product that absorbs and neutralizes all types of odors. Set a bowl of white vinegar in your car to get rid of bad odors left behind after a particularly malodorous mishap. For best results, let the vinegar set undisturbed, after the car has aired out, until the odor has dissipated.

Scent Cover

If you don’t like a certain well-known spray that claims to remove odors rather than cover them up, try using scent cover or scent eliminator. Unlike this popular brand of spray, scent cover isn’t at all scented. It’s meant to cover the smell of human beings so hunters are totally invisible to game.

You can find scent eliminator or scent cover in sport shops and sporting goods departments in discount stores, and you can find it online. It’s not exactly cheap, but if you can’t get rid of a really tough odor in your car, it’s an effective product that can help eliminate the bad smell once and for all.

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