When purchasing a car, especially a used one, it is difficult to know how the previous owner handled and treated its interior. It might have been used to transport the owner’s pet or farm produce. Often, you may not know that there is a bad odor until a good fragrance disappears.
If you notice a bad odor coming from the trunk or any part of your car, it might be important to know how to effectively get rid of the smell. The best ways to achieve this include:
1. Use Air Fresheners
A car freshener is the best way to make your car smell good. Choose a freshener with your favorite scent and mask the bad smell.
But avoid using fragrances merely to cover the bad smells. You only use one after doing a thorough cleaning of your car.
2. Look for Hidden Sources of Odor
Consider playing detective and checking around your car for everything which causes a bad smell. Look under the seats, in pockets, in the glove compartment, and even on the floor mat for moldy fruits and baby bottles.
Remove and throw them immediately and consider opening the door to let in the fresh air and, at the same let odor dissipate.
3. Get Rid of Mildew and Mold
Bad odors coming from mildew and mold are all common in old cars. If you ever left your windows open and there was rainstorm, perhaps your cabin got wet, especially the upholstery and doors.
That kind of situation provides the best growing environment for mildew and mold. Although plastic is not the right surface for mildew and mold to grow, dirt and organic materials might be on the interior surface already, allowing those organisms to take hold.
But leather is basically an organic material. Most luxury and high-end cars have a leather insert on seats, doors, and other areas, which may harbor mildew and mold if not maintained properly.
4. Regularly Clean the Car
Cleaning your car regularly will go a long toward minimizing bad odors. That is true, especially for cars, which routinely transport pets and kids, which might be the source of several mishaps and messes.
Although cleaning involves vacuuming floors and wiping down surfaces, there are specific steps you may take to deal with unpleasant odors in your car. This may involve applying baking soda and using charcoal.
5. Check the Trunk
Bad odors may find their way into the trunk of your car. If you do all you can to get rid of a bad smell, and you still smell it, check the trunk. People sometimes toss the trash in the trunk while tailgating or camping and forget about them.
So check the car’s trunk to ensure those small animals didn’t crawl around the engine compartment and die. That sometimes happens during the winter when animals look for a warmer place to rest.
Final Verdict!
If you have tried any of these ways, but still you’re unable to get rid of bad odors, it would be a great idea to enlist the help of a professional. Perhaps you missed a certain area, and experts are the only ones who are capable of cleaning your car properly as they have the right supplies and equipment.
