Car Care Tips from Your Local Auto Shop: How to Get Rid of Offensive Odors

Posted: Jul 11, 2012
Author: Country Town Tire & Auto Service Center

Here’s what happened to an owner of a sport/utility vehicle who parked it outside for the entire winter. When the weather began warming up, he went to the vehicle to give it a spruce-up. On opening the door, he was almost knocked over by a repulsive stench. After much investigation, he discovered that a family of mice had set up home in the ventilation system – and two had died.

The people at your auto shop can probably tell you a lot more stories like this! But there are other more common things that cause offensive odors in vehicles:

• Misplaced food under the seats
• A pet or child has an “accident”
• Using too much water when shampooing the upholstery and carpets
• A spill that’s not cleaned up quickly

So, what can you do when something smells funny in your car? Well, according to a local auto shop, the best defense is offense. If you keep the interior of your vehicle in good condition, vacuum the upholstery and carpets regularly, clean up messes and spills immediately, and prohibit smoking – you can prevent the formation of most odors.

When mildew has developed, the affected part must be thoroughly dried out. Steam-cleaning is recommended because it will kill bacteria living in the fabric fibers. If you can’t dry the upholstery or carpets in the vehicle, they may have to be removed.

If the carpet is badly affected, you might have to replace it, as well as the underpad. Before reinstalling the carpet, treat the seats and floor pan with a strong disinfectant. Your local auto shop can recommend a good product.