I have tried every air freshener – they last a day or two, but the stale smell is back. I have tried Febreze … same thing. I am looking for something to eliminate the smell … then looking for a good scent/fragrance to place in the car. Ideas? Thanks
First, you need to figure out where the smell is coming from.
First suspect is the evaporator in the air conditioning unit in the dash. Your dealer has chemicals to kill the mildew in the evaporator. The best you can do is spray Lysol through it, or if you want to spend a little more, Wurth sells a spray just for this purpose (Google it).
You turn up your fan, turn the recirc off, and spray the Lysol into the heater inlet which is between your hood and your windshield. It may work better if you remove your cabin filter, assuming that you have a cabin air filter.
If the smell is in the carpet and seat covers, I suggest a Little Green Machine carpet cleaner. In an extreme case (cigar smoke odor) I had to remove seats and carpets, and wash the seat covers in the washing machine.
Vent Clip In Refreshing Smell
You don’t say what kind of smell. We had bought a “smoker” car that smelled a little like an ashtray. Different sprays helped, but weren’t the answer. My son got these little berry smelling air fresheners that came several to a pack. He put one in each dash vent (they are made to just clip in). The car smelled very pleasant, not like something being covered up with a less offensive smell. Within 6 months the cigarette smell was gone when you opened the door and got in.
I’m not sure where he got them. Look on-line, Wal-Mart, Auto Parts chain stores, etc.
Anybody else using these that knows where to get them?
P.S.
There is a spray called OZIUM brand. You should be able to get it at auto parts chain stores. I bought some at an Advance Auto, in my part of the country. Airports across the country have sold it for decades. Pilots know that in the confined space of an airplane, if someone becomes suddenly ill let’s say, OZIUM makes the environment inhabitable for everyone in an instant (stopping a chain reaction). This also is not supposed to be just a cover-up. Reading the little can explains that scientists invented it and it scientifically treats the molecules or some darn thing. Try it. This helps with ashtray, wet dog, and other not so pleasant odors. You might want to just have some around anyhow.
oldsfan,
Are you still with us? What’s causing that smell?
It seems to be just a staleness … there is no smoker in the car, no water leaks, no food odors … the car is actually extremely clean. It seems like a dusty odor – most noticeable after the car has been closed up for a day or so. I have air freshener clips and have used Febreze. These help … but just for a day or so. I would just like to eliminate the dusty smell and keep a fresh scent in the car. Thanks!
It may not be a cheap fix, but go talk to a local place that details cars, talk to the local dealerships and see where they take their cars to. They should have something to get rid of the smell.
I have used a product called Grillicin. It is an odor neutralizer that works well and is available at janitorial supply store. I add several drops of orange oil and a couple drops of clove oil for a pleasant scent. Had a customer that spilled gas in the trunk. She and her kids were driving with the windows down in the winter to avoid nausea! This concoction did the trick. Her kids think I’m a hero!