Removing odour from car interior

pertuan · 21-06-2007, 12:46 AM

Hi guys,

I have a massive problem with a VERY VERY offending smell in my mate's wagon. She had to move a bin to the local tip and didn't have a trailer so we taped up the bin and put it in the back. Some of the liquid came out and it got soaked into the carpeting.

So far, we've used baking powder/soda and massaged that into the carpet and vacummed it up. Its helped but the odour is still very much in the car. I'd like to ask you all for your expertise on what I should do next to get rid of the smell. We haven't taken it to a steamcleaner yet but that would be the next step if we can't get it out using other ways.

Any advice would be deeply... deeply.. deeply appreciated.

Victor.

Flouro_Joe · 21-06-2007, 12:54 AM

Dead body?

DOC · 21-06-2007, 01:01 AM

It will really depend on how much of this gunk went into the carpet and what it was. i would try a carpet cleaner / steam cleaner and some carpet deodoriser and in addition it will be important to leave the windows down and if possible doors open

( tape or undo interior lighting so battery does not go flat )

Failing all of that and if heaps of gunk was spilt it may be easier to remove seats and carpet and really clean well underneath then also steam clean the carpet before returning to the car.

v8falconsrule · 21-06-2007, 07:03 AM

as doc said- if you got heaps in the carpet it'll need cleaning properly. to aid the removal of the smell try putting some kitty litter in a container in a closed up car (windows up). you will have to chnage it every day till the smell is gone but this does work. also a handy note for next time- when i had a wagon (EB falcon) i went to super cheap and got a few cheap tarps. kept them under the floor with the spare wheel to use for just this sort of occassion.

LTDHO · 21-06-2007, 07:22 AM

Remove the carpet.
Use a pressure washer on the smell the vacc up the water, let dry.

Whilst it's out trying, Clean the rest of the interior including roof lining.

Use Glen 20 or similar in the car with the climate/heater on different settings (or it goes out every vent) This will clean out the smell that has got into the heater box.

falzoony · 21-06-2007, 01:26 PM

lol this reminds me of an episode of sienfeld. if you watch the episode when jerry cant get the smell out of his car it might give you some ideas. I think he just decided to sell it in the end.

Fairlane · 21-06-2007, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by falzoony

lol this reminds me of an episode of sienfeld. if you watch the episode when jerry cant get the smell out of his car it might give you some ideas. I think he just decided to sell it in the end.

lol i remember that, he tries every professional cleaner and they fail, he tries trading it in and that fails, in the end he leaves it in the street with the keys in it.

uranium_death · 21-06-2007, 03:50 PM

When I had a bad odour in my car, I told my Dad to walk. Since then, the car has been smelling better.

You can buy sprays that, "Don't cover up the smell, but eliminate it!"

I guess also try that...can't hurt...unless it's corrosive. Should you have any more concerns, consult The Ultron.

Powdered Toast Man · 21-06-2007, 06:28 PM

Unfortunately I think you will need to replace the carpet.

I moved into a house that had an offensive smelling carpet (cat pee) and it was steam cleaned, regularly dioderised etc. But the only way to get rid of the smell was to rip the carpet out. Maybe you will have more luck with car carpet.

I assume it's only on the wagon's rear floor and not in the passenger compartment. If so it may pay to replace the carpet in the back.

Falc'man · 21-06-2007, 07:25 PM

Mate, when my cat pee'd and sha_t while sitting on my shoulders between my head and the headrest while I was taking him to the new place I moved into, I was stuck with that smell for quite a while (in the car that is, not on me) until I called VIP care car. It took the guy two goes but it worked. LOL, it would've been cheaper for me to change the seat... and I think Toast Man's on the money... change the carpet. Good luck.

dave351cid · 21-06-2007, 09:54 PM

one of my friends have been having a battle getting coffee smell out of her car after she spilt a cup of the stuff between the seat and consul. she has had the carpets and seats out for about 2 weeks washing and airing them.

when i tell her about your problem she should feel better about a bit of a coffee smell on hot days.

svo347 · 21-06-2007, 10:47 PM

Try FreeBreeze worked on an "outback" community car we serviced

DOC · 21-06-2007, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svo347

Try FreeBreeze

Whats Freebreeze ? Driving along with your windows down at 60K ?

svo347 · 21-06-2007, 11:03 PM

Noice one Doc mate. FreeBreeze is an odour neutralising spray you get from woolies and the like, works very well

DOC · 21-06-2007, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by svo347

Noice one Doc mate. FreeBreeze is an odour neutralising spray you get from woolies and the like, works very well

Mate i was only having some fun i know what it is. My wife thinks it's great, she has a habbit of sprinkling it in everyones undies, she says if there is going to be breeze - Let it be a Free Breeze

atec77 · 21-06-2007, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pertuan

Hi guys,

I have a massive problem with a VERY VERY offending smell in my mate's wagon. She had to move a bin to the local tip and didn't have a trailer so we taped up the bin and put it in the back. Some of the liquid came out and it got soaked into the carpeting.

So far, we've used baking powder/soda and massaged that into the carpet and vacummed it up. Its helped but the odour is still very much in the car. I'd like to ask you all for your expertise on what I should do next to get rid of the smell. We haven't taken it to a steamcleaner yet but that would be the next step if we can't get it out using other ways.

Any advice would be deeply... deeply.. deeply appreciated.

Victor.

wet vac it with white vinegar and wait a few days

pertuan · 22-06-2007, 03:33 AM

Cheers guys.

After we put tea leaves all over the car floor for a day, its not as bad anymore. You can still smell it but at least you don't have to drive with your head out the window. I can't get a hold of a steam cleaner cause I don't know where to get one. I'm on vacation in Europe at the moment and staying with a friend. We've got some carpet shampoo so we're gonna try that on Saturday. Fingers crossed.

I wonder if its possible to steam clean using a steam iron and using the steam blast.... hmm.... *ponders*

Eb Barbie · 22-06-2007, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uranium_death

When I had a bad odour in my car, I told my Dad to walk. Since then, the car has been smelling better.

You can buy sprays that, "Don't cover up the smell, but eliminate it!"

I guess also try that...can't hurt...unless it's corrosive. Should you have any more concerns, consult The Ultron.

Yeah I was in some shop on the weekend and saw a spray for car interior odours. The more the spray soaks in the more it soaks up the bad odours. I was keeping it in mind because my mum has 2 massive dogs which she puts in the back of her 4wd. Wet dog + inside car = yukky smell in carpet!!
I'd try something like this first. Then possibly steam clean.

Powdered Toast Man · 22-06-2007, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pertuan

Cheers guys.

After we put tea leaves all over the car floor for a day, its not as bad anymore. You can still smell it but at least you don't have to drive with your head out the window. I can't get a hold of a steam cleaner cause I don't know where to get one. I'm on vacation in Europe at the moment and staying with a friend. We've got some carpet shampoo so we're gonna try that on Saturday. Fingers crossed.

I wonder if its possible to steam clean using a steam iron and using the steam blast.... hmm.... *ponders*

Dunno about in Europe but here you can usually hire them from supermarkets. Mum used to hire one from the local Coles all the time back in the day. She's had a Vax for about 10 years now though.
Might be worth a try asking over there, they can only say no.

private9 · 22-06-2007, 11:23 AM

I second Febreeze, absolutely great stuff for totally eliminating rank smells in fabric!

pertuan · 22-06-2007, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Powdered Toast Man

Dunno about in Europe but here you can usually hire them from supermarkets. Mum used to hire one from the local Coles all the time back in the day. She's had a Vax for about 10 years now though.
Might be worth a try asking over there, they can only say no.

Yeah I tried the supermarket and they don't do it here. The "problem" is that I'm staying in a small town way outside of the main city. Awesome peace and serenity but sometimes hard to tackle things like this.