I’m not talking about the normal things. Perhaps you were transporting your cat and something went wrong. Perhaps someone became ill. Perhaps you took something home from the restaurant and let it in the back seat and forgot about it. This is going to take special action.

Leave a Deodorizer in the Vehicle Overnight
Baking Soda: this pantry staple naturally absorbs odors. You can pour some into a dish and place it in the vehicle, or you can sprinkle a light layer over your seats and floor mats, leave it overnight, and vacuum it up the next day.

Charcoal is another household item that works as a natural deodorizer. Take a chip or two from your grilling supplies and put it in the vehicle for 24 – 48 hours so that it can neutralize the bad smell.

Vacuum the Vehicle
Fabric absorbs odors, so thoroughly vacuuming the interior of your vehicle will help reduce the particles that are contributing to the scent such as food crumbs, pet dander, and cigarette ashes. You can even try steam-cleaning the seats and floor mats if you own a steam-cleaner.

Clean Surfaces with Vinegar and Water
Using a clean spray bottle, mix white vinegar and water (up to 50/50 mixture) and use it to spray the seats and hard surfaces one at a time. After spraying each surface, immediately wipe it down with a dry, lint-free cloth. Repeat this process for every seat, the dash, carpeting, floor mats, and roof liner. A slight vinegar scent may linger for a few days, but eventually it will go away and hopefully take the unpleasant odors with it.

Wash the Floor Mats
Your vehicle’s floor mats absorb a lot of dirt and odorous debris over time, but they’re also removable, making them easy to wash. Depending on the type of floor mats you have, there are a couple of ways to clean them effectively:

Cloth floor mats: after you’ve vacuumed them, wash the floor mats with a carpet cleaner. Your local auto parts store will likely have cleaning products that are specifically made for detailing your vehicle, but a household carpet cleaner can suffice as well. Apply the cleaning solution as instructed, then rinse the mats with a spray bottle of clean water or your garden hose. Hanging them or laying them out in the sun will not only dry them quickly, but will also help eliminate foul odors.

Rubber floor mats: because these have a hard, durable surface, rubber floor mats can be cleaned easily with some dish soap, a sponge or rag, and your garden hose. The dish soap will help remove residue from things like engine oil and gasoline.

Lim’s Auto Body is a full service auto body and mechanical repair shop locally owned and operated in Largo, Florida. For more information, go to our web site www.limsautobody.com or call (727) 422-3232.