How to keep your car smelling fresh

You love that fresh new car smell, but unfortunately it doesn't last long. But don't worry! You can keep your car smelling good all year round and avoid bad odors by following a few simple steps. Part 1 of 4:…

You love that fresh new car smell, but unfortunately it doesn't last long. But don't worry! You can keep your car smelling good all year round and avoid bad odors by following a few simple steps.

Part 1 of 4: Keep your car clean

Because it's much easier to keep a pleasant smell in your car than it is to get rid of bad odors, make sure bad odors don't pollute the interior of your car by removing bad-smelling items.

Step 1: Get rid of the garbage in the car. Remove all trash, food, laundry, or other odor-causing items every time you get out of your car.

You can carry a small portable trash can with you in your car, or you can just carry everything out by hand when you get to your destination.

Step 2: Don't smoke in the car. Smoking in your car will not only cause bad odors, but it may also ruin your car's upholstery.

Step 3: Keep the car dry, keep the windows open and use floor mats.. Water leaks can cause mold and mildew, which are not only smelly but also harmful to your health.

Step 4 Use waterproof glasses to prevent accidents.. These cups can be found at a low price and save you the hassle of wiping your coffee or soda off the upholstery or floor mats of your car.

Step 5: Keep pets in carriers if you need to put them in the car.. This helps keep any household clutter in the carry.

• Functions: Use sturdy floor mats with ribbed edges to keep water and debris out. This helps prevent any spills or messes on the car floor.

Part 2 of 4: Dealing with common odors

No matter how hard you try, sometimes your car can still smell like dust, dirt, or sweat. Follow these steps to remove these common odors and keep your vehicle smelling fresh and clean.

Step 1: Always keep an air freshener in your car. To be most effective, choose one that neutralizes odors rather than covering them with a "masking" odor.

Step 2: Vacuum Regularly. Vacuum regularly to reduce odors that remain on carpets and upholstery. The easiest way is to use a handheld vacuum cleaner, but you can also park near the garage exit at home and use a regular vacuum cleaner.

Step 3: Shake out floor mats at least once a week.. Rinse them with a garden hose if they are vinyl or in a high capacity washing machine if they are fabric.

You can also just spray on some fabric cleaner and wipe them down, letting them dry before putting them back in the machine.

Step 4: Apply glass cleaner. Use glass cleaner to clean windows and chrome parts. Make sure surfaces are completely dry to avoid water stains.

Step 5: Wipe down the dashboards. Use a special dashboard cleaner to wipe off dust and dirt. You can find these cleaners at any local auto shop.

Step 6: Spray the odor neutralizer. Spray the car interior with an odor neutralizing spray. But don't spray too much, otherwise the smell may be too strong at first.

• Functions: After spraying the interior with an odor neutralizing spray, start the engine. Turn on the air conditioner and leave the car on for five minutes to eliminate odors in the air conditioning system.

Part 3 of 4: Get Rid of Unusual Odors

No matter how careful you are, sometimes odors remain in your car and are difficult to get rid of. Some of these unusual disturbances include spoiled food, spoiled milk from baby bottles, mold from wet carpets, or even dead animals. These odors can linger for weeks in a car that is closed most of the time. You must take additional steps to remove these types of odors.

Step 1: Find the source of the smell. Look under car seats and floor mats, and look in the glove box or other storage compartments.

Don't forget to look outside the car; there may be a dead bird on the grill, or there may be a bad smell on the bumper.

Step 2: Clear the area. After removing the source of the odor, clean the area around it with appropriate cleaning products:

• Use a wet/dry vacuum cleaner to clean up the water mess.
• For carpets, use a stain remover.

• For fabric or door upholstery or dashboard, use a leather or fabric cleaner.

• Functions: For more information on how to remove mold and other odors from a car, read our article How to Remove Mold Smell from a Car.

Step 3: Place carpet deodorant on the floor and vacuum.. You can also use baking soda.

Step 4: Perform the regular cleaning above.. Always let the affected area dry completely before applying anything over it.

Part 4 of 4: Detail your car

Sometimes you may need to give your car a thorough cleaning to keep it smelling as fresh as possible. You can detail your car yourself or pay someone to do it.

Step 1: Use a steam cleaner. Start in the car interior using a car steam cleaner. This step will help refresh the fabric.

Step 2: Apply Upholstery Cleaner. Then apply upholstery cleaner to all corners of the vehicle, including door pockets, around the dashboard and center console, and elsewhere to remove dust and odors.

Be sure to dry the inside thoroughly before moving on.

Step 3: Finally, detail the look of your car.. Be sure to wash, wax if necessary, and dry completely. This will give your car a clean look both inside and out.

Keeping your car clean inside and out will help your car smell like new. Cleaning up spills immediately will help eliminate common or unusual odors quickly. Implementing a monthly or even weekly detailing schedule will also help ensure that your car smells fresh and pleasant.

Sometimes odors can be related to mechanical problems in the car or its engine. If you notice any persistent odors in your vehicle, you can call a certified mechanic, such as from AvtoTachki, who will check the odor to determine how best to fix the problem.