How to get your car interior smelling spring fresh

Wet shoes, jackets and umbrellas make car carpet and upholstery damp during rainy weather. As it warms up, a damp musty odor takes over the interior of the car.

Or maybe it’s not the rain, but man’s best friend who’s added to the fragrance of the interior. Whatever the cause, how do you overcome the unpleasant smells?

“There’s a product designed to eliminate just about any smell that can take the pleasure out of driving,” said Jon Farmer, general manager of Dakota Products.

“The solutions come in two varieties—aerosols and liquids.”

Dakota Products began 14 years ago with Ventstation, a fragrance pad that clips to vehicle air conditioning vents. Since then it has grown to a wide range of products to eliminate odors–from tobacco residue to smelly drains.

“Air fresheners can cover up the smell but they are a temporary fix,” Farmer said. “Aerosol sprays remove odor because they contain chemicals that actually remove the odor-causing molecules from the air.”

To remove the smell permanently, sprays and liquids containing biochemicals are needed. Farmer said he’s found just about every kind of odor in vehicles.

He recalled customers looking to eradicate the stench of mice, skunks and even a cheeseburger someone stashed under a seat. Cigarette smoke is the most common odor customers want to eliminate.

Aerosol spray products were originally designed for hotels, Farmer said. Inhaling the fumes can be a health concern, and he suggested using aerosol sprays when you are not plan to drive the vehicle.

“Allow the spray more time to get at the odors,” Farmer said. “Make sure to air out the vehicle by opening the windows before driving.”

Similarly, liquid products are designed to be applied directly to odor sources such as stains.

“Liquid odor removal products tend to attract dirt,” Farmer explained. “They usually have a higher concentration of chemicals and are needed only for extreme situations where aerosol cans fail.”

Moreover, Farmer cautioned against using liquid products around electronics.

“Car washes used to put liquid odor removal products under the seats,” he said. “Since modern vehicles have computers and other components under the seats, you could damage important circuitry.”

Farmer offered the following suggestions to help you get out of smelly situations:

• Air fresheners can mask a smell but not actually get rid of it. Look into aerosols and liquids with biochemicals designed to react with odor-causing elements.

• Just about any vehicle odor can be eliminated. Make sure you are using one recommended for your application. Some are specific to the type of odor, such as cigarette smoke or animal smells.

• Try aerosol sprays first before using liquid odor removers, which can attract dirt to your vehicle’s upholstery.

• Don’t drive your vehicle immediately after using odor eliminator products. They may leave vapors that can be a health concern. Allow your vehicle to air out with the windows open.

“If you have a specific type of odor in your vehicle chances are there is a product that can get rid of it,” Farmer said.