Ways To Get Rid Of Bad Smell In Your Car & Keep Your Car Smelling Fresh

How do you ensure your car always smells fresh? One thing for sure, it’s an on-going effort for all car owners! You wouldn’t want to drive in a car that has a bad odour, especially if you have to be on the road for long.

Here’s a fun fact for you. Even wonder why even though your new car has an interior smell, it’s still at a pleasant level, and some people actually like it? It’s because auto companies like Volvo and Audi actually have “Nose Team”. No, really. They basically work on how to sustain the odour level to a pleasant one so that drivers and their passengers (and their noses) are comfortable. Other brands like Toyota and Jaguar also have their own departments working towards a fresher interior atmosphere.

If you rely on just your car’s efficiency to get rid of odours, chances are that freshness isn’t going to last for long. There are some tips and hacks that you can try to help to maintain it for an extended time.

Here are our top tips to keep your car smelling good!

1. Don’t Eat in Your Car

Unless you have absolutely no other options, eating in the car should NEVER happen. The food you eat may drop somewhere on the car seat or into the unknown depths of your car. This can cause the odour to build up over time and may also cause your car to be infested with pests.

If you really have to, keep the windows open so that smell does not remain in the car for long! Also, have a couple of wet wipes or tissue boxes around your seat to wipe the space clean after eating.

2. Don’t Smoke in Your Car

Or maybe not. Smoking, in general, leaves an unpleasant smell on the smoker. Imagine what it’ll be like in an enclosed space! Cigarette smoke can cling onto the car’s interior and it’ll be difficult to cover that odour. The best way to avoid this is easy – no smoking in the car!

Take note: Smoking at the wheel is not an offence in itself, but if it leads to careless driving, it could land you in trouble with the law. In fact, if lighting your cigarette reduces your focus on the road, it could go beyond careless driving and escalate to a charge of dangerous driving. Don’t take your chances, and save the smoking for outside your vehicle.

3. Keep Your Car Spick and Span

A clean car is a great car. With great power (vehicle) comes great responsibility (cleaning it). Not only will cleaning up take away the accumulation of smells but maintaining it will also allow your car to last longer. When you are finally home, be sure to clear all your rubbish you’ve collected over the course of the day. Besides that, try to vacuum your car weekly and shake those mats! A little effort can most certainly help keep your car in tip-top condition. Who would want to enter a messy car, right?

4. Place Pandan Leaves in Your Car

Ever wondered why our local taxi uncles would have wrapped pandan leaves at the back? Simple – to get rid of nasty smells! Not only that, but it also prevents cockroach infestations and other pests from getting near. This age-old method of neutralising odour might be uncommon but it works like magic. Plus it’s highly affordable. All you have to do is go to the market and grab a few, tie ’em up and presto! Stench be gone!

5. Air Fresheners

Another of the more common, yet still economical, ways of getting rid of bad car smells is to place air fresheners in the car. Usually, they are attached to the air conditioner or hanging on the rear-view mirror! Alternatively, you can also place small pots of potpourri at hidden spots to prevent spillage.

What are some of your tips you do to keep your car smelling good and fresh? Tell us in the comments!