How can I get rid of the old car smell?

Question

it's so disgusting.

Answer 1

well, first, clean the car. Look for old food items, etc. Use some upholstery cleaner and shampoo the rugs, and seats if they are cloth. Make sure it dries quickly and completely (IE windows down dry hot day). Then get a small air freshener, and hope for the best. My 1994 smells pretty good, doing only these things.

Answer 2

My husband here say me type: remove objects not of car, look for water leak and fix go then detail shop specialing odor removal machine.  

Answer 3

Best thing to do for this in my opinion, RENT "if you dont own one" a Carpet cleaning machine from your local supermarket and some good carpet shampoo...[DO NOT FORGET THE HAND ATTATMENT] and spend a day just steam cleaning/shampooing the interior to that car! the seats! the carpet! the floor mats! and even the trunk fabric!

this should help rid the OLD car smell and dry to a crispy clean fresh smell... i know as i just did this "no joke" last weekend for the Aunt and her old car! it came out so great! it costed me $27.00 from Albertson a day rental.

after it all done and dry, you can coat the interior with your favorites scent and drive happy!

best wishes!

Answer 4

Smoke in it, that is what I do.

Completely changes the smell!

Answer 5

use your own break wind daily ?  lola !  

Answer 6

Go out and get some of those activated carbon odor absorbers from Innofresh    I bought a few at a local auto parts store and they work great.  I tried sprays and other fragrances that I just don't like especially after reading warning statements.   Innofresh auto odor eliminator is completely fragrance free and just gets rid of staleness

Answer 7

You can't. Even with a complete restoration cars still smell old. (to me anyway) Just keep covering it up with Febreeze or some kind of deodorizer.

Answer 8

Change the carpet and pad. but first i always put dryer sheets under my seats tuck them into the wire seat bottom.  

Answer 9

Tony G has the answer.  You could also use some Febreeze.

Answer 10

buy some air freshener?

Answer 11

Yes, I agree with other response about a product called Innofresh auto odor eliminator.  Just so happens that I read about it recently and tried it too.  Really works great for ELIMINATING the odor and not covering it up with some bad fragrance.  Found it at Murrays but I guess also available at Checker and Kragen auto parts.   It is a clear plastic odor absorber made from activated carbon that is really really good and no chemicals or smell.  I love it and strongly recommend it. I just put a couple in my car and trunk and that was it - got rid of smoky smell