Has it ever occurred to you that the moment you sit in your best friend’s car, you instantly want to puke because the inside of the vehicle is just so smelly! Oh, and there’s a good chance your friend might not even notice it stinks, since they’re used to it.
Cars that smell bad inside are common, especially in Pakistan. The humidity, especially during the monsoon season, causes moisture to accumulate faster than it drains. The evaporator stays damp. Dark, moist, warm environment when the car is off. Perfect for mold and bacteria growth.
But worry not! Car air fresheners and other solutions help drivers manage this stinky feeling. Let’s read on to know how to make your vehicle smell great once again.
Kinds of Odors A Car May Have
1. Pet Odors
If you transport pets regularly, fur and dander accumulate everywhere. But the real smell issue is when pets have accidents in the car.
2. The Air Freshener Trap
If you use way too much air freshener, even a cheap one, mildew will keep growing and smelling regardless of the air freshener. You need to address the moisture.
3. Rotten Food Smell
This is a familiar smell in cars, especially when you have kids who love to eat while traveling. Food particles fall under the seat and remain hidden for a long time, eventually leading to a rotten smell in the car.
4. The Cigarette Smell
If you are an avid smoker, persistent tobacco odor from smoke particles and tar residue settles on every surface – dashboard, seats, headliner, carpet, and AC vents. Soon, your car starts smelling of tobacco and can get very strong with time.
5. Fuel Smell
At times, there is a strong petrol or diesel odor in the cabin that actually indicates a fuel system leak – loose fuel cap, cracked line, leaking injector, or damaged tank. Though it can be irritating to the nose, it saves you a lot of trouble later if you act on time.
Fixing the Smell
Here is how you can fix this smell problem in your car for good.
- Find and fix the water entry point, extract moisture from affected areas (wet/dry vac), use a dehumidifier or leave the car in the sun with windows cracked, and treat with anti-mildew spray.
- Avoid cheap car air fresheners like the plague. They contain synthetic fragrance compounds – usually phthalates and other chemicals – that are intensely aromatic. For the first few hours or days, the fragrance is so strong it dominates everything else. Your nose adapts to both the freshener scent and the underlying smell, so you think it’s working. Staying away from them would be a good idea, especially if you like clean, pleasant-smelling cars.
- When one air freshener doesn’t work well, you may be tempted to use it again, hoping for better results. Well, multiple cheap air fresheners used simultaneously – something people do when one doesn’t work – creates this horrible chemical cocktail.
- Avoid scents that are not natural or pleasant. As most of them are manufactured chemical compounds, when combined, they create a complex, artificial odor that’s arguably worse than the original problem.
Do Your Own Math!
A quick fix may not only make things worse but also burn a bigger hole in your pocket. For instance, if you keep relying on cheap air fresheners, that’s Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 7,000 spent on temporary masking for a year. However, if the smell is caused by AC mold, a detailed AC cleaning will cost just Rs. 2,500 once and solve the problem for 6-12 months.
This is why you need to be wise and ensure the economics make some sense. A cheap solution initially that is expensive in the long term is better than a proper fix that is more expensive in the long run.
Which Air Freshener Works for Which Problem
Odorless Air Fresheners
Opting for fragrance-free air fresheners is the right choice. They just quietly prevent smell accumulation. They are surely perfect for people who frequently eat in the car and don’t want others to know about it.
They cost Rs. 800 to Rs. 1,500 per bottle. One bottle lasts 2-3 months and keeps your budget majorly unaffected.
Essential Oil Diffusers
If you want a pleasant scent in a clean car (no underlying odor issues), essential oil car diffusers are genuinely lovely.
These are small diffusers that plug into a 12V socket or clip onto vents. Add a few drops of essential oil (Rs. 500-1,000 per bottle, lasts months). Natural scent, no harsh chemicals.
Lavender is calming for stressful traffic. Citrus is energizing for morning commutes.
Enzymatic Sprays (Not Traditional Fresheners) for Pet Odor Control
If you regularly carry pets in your car, skip air fresheners altogether. Instead, use enzymatic odor eliminator sprays, which break down the smelly particles left by your pets and keep your vehicle smelling cleaner.
Tips To Keep Your Car Smell Free
Follow these simple tips religiously, and they’ll keep your car smelling good for as long as you use it:
- Avoid recirculation mode in humid weather: Fresh air mode lets moisture escape rather than recirculating humid air.
- Get a Trunk liner: A waterproof trunk liner (Rs. 1,500-3,000) keeps spills on an easily cleaned surface rather than on carpet.
- Develop a Post-transport ritual: Wipe down the trunk area with a disinfectant wipe after every biryani transport. Takes 2 minutes, prevents accumulation.
- Deep clean the car once a month: Take everything out. Floor mats, seat covers (if you have them), everything from door pockets, glove box, center console, to trunk. Empty the car. You’ll discover things you forgot existed. Don’t forget: cup holders, gear shifter, window switches, every button and control.
- Clean fabric surfaces. Spray enzyme cleaner on seats and carpet. Really saturate areas that might have absorbed organic materials or smells.
- Get Professional Cleaning Services: If the car has severe issues (heavy smoke smell, pet-accident damage, extensive staining), professional cleaning is worth it.
- Use neat cleaning cloths: Damp cloths can make your car smell worse. It’s always best to use a designated cleaning cloth for your vehicle to keep things tidy!
Keeping a car is a massive responsibility, as you need to take extra care to ensure it doesn’t smell bad. To make things easier for you, get your hands on the air fresheners and other cleaning products offered at autostore.pk.