I. Methods for Eliminating Odors Inside Vehicles
When you first purchase a new car, you’ll notice a strong odor inside. The primary components of this “new car smell” are harmful chemical gases emitted by interior materials, typically originating from three sources. First, the vehicle itself. Cars consist of numerous components. If harmful gases and odors from these parts are not adequately released, they can pollute the cabin for an extended period. Second, it originates from interior trim. Harmful gases in trim materials include benzene, formaldehyde, acetone, and xylene, which can cause varying degrees of air pollution inside the vehicle. Third, pollutants like sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and evaporated gasoline can enter the cabin through the air conditioning system or poor cabin sealing. How to eliminate “new car smell”?
Tools/Materials
- Aromatherapy diffuser
- Car air freshener
- Ozone generator
- Activated carbon
Method/Steps
1. Negative Ion Generator Deodorization Method: Purchase a negative ion air purifier rated at 21 cubic meters per hour. For a typical car interior of 3 cubic meters, it can circulate air seven times per hour, eliminating odors and providing fresh air for occupants.
2. Ventilation Method for Car Odor Removal: With windows closed, confined spaces intensify odors to saturation levels. Opening windows for air circulation is simple yet highly effective. Unpleasant odors become more pronounced when the car’s air conditioning runs in winter or after prolonged sun exposure in summer. This is because formaldehyde and benzene release increases significantly at temperatures above 30°C. Therefore, ventilation to dissipate heat is indeed a viable solution.
3. Photocatalytic Deodorization Method: Photocatalysts utilize nanotechnology-developed titanium dioxide. However, they can corrode car seat and dashboard materials and are specifically designed for indoor air pollution control. Through surface oxidation reactions, they decompose various harmful substances into water and carbon dioxide. The most effective approach is to first spray titanium dioxide, then seal the car doors and windows. Expose the vehicle to direct sunlight for 2-3 hours, followed by opening all doors and windows for ventilation until the interior heat dissipates.
4. Essential Oil Aromatherapy for Car Deodorization: Essential oil aromatherapy is an emerging aftermarket service for vehicles. It combines plant-based deodorization, car air purifier deodorization, ozone disinfection, and negative ion generator deodorization methods. This multi-faceted approach scientifically and effectively eliminates odors in a short timeframe. Within just 15 minutes, it significantly reduces harmful substances in the cabin air while releasing abundant beneficial air. This method suits not only new vehicles but also any car owner seeking improved cabin air quality. Beyond its speed and effectiveness, a single session costs only a few dozen yuan at market price, making it the optimal choice for many drivers seeking to purify their car’s air.
5. Plant-Based Odor Removal for Vehicles: While plants are commonly used indoors to eliminate harmful gases like formaldehyde, their application in vehicles is limited due to space constraints. However, their odor-removing efficacy should not be overlooked. If feasible, car owners are advised to place a potted plant inside the vehicle. Recommended plants include spider plants, snake plants, and aloe vera.
6. Car Air Purifier Deodorization Method: Car air purifiers effectively cleanse the air. Premium models often feature dual modes for new vehicles: ozone disinfection and harmful gas purification, which can help eliminate harmful substances inside the car.
7. Ozone Disinfection Method for Car Odor Removal: Ozone emits a pungent, irritating odor and possesses strong oxidizing properties that can kill bacteria. However, it may accelerate the aging of interior materials. The method involves using an ozone generator in a sealed car for 30-60 minutes to rapidly eliminate odors. It’s important to note that after using an ozone generator, you should either open all car doors before entering or wait at least 30 minutes after the machine stops before getting inside. Humans should not inhale ozone at high concentrations. This method will not cause any adverse effects on the vehicle.
8. Tea Leaf Deodorization Method: Place a small bowl in the car, fill it with tea leaves (black tea is recommended), and add a small amount of warm water. The odor will significantly diminish within a few days. Alternatively, placing jasmine or lily flowers/petals is also effective.
9. Activated Carbon Deodorization Method: Automotive activated carbon deodorizer packs (bamboo charcoal, scientific name: white clay) are specifically designed to address indoor air pollution hazards in vehicles. Their porous structure provides strong adsorption capabilities, effectively capturing formaldehyde and other pollutants without causing secondary contamination. This method delivers excellent results.
10. Fruit Deodorizing Method for Cars: Fruits not only provide essential nutrients for humans but can also absorb unpleasant odors inside vehicles! Especially fruits like grapefruit, pineapple, orange, and lemon peels—they not only have strong adsorption capabilities but also emit pleasant fruity aromas. This method removes odors while improving the air quality inside your car. (Place 2 halved pineapples in a basket at the back)
Important Notes
Never rely on perfumes, air fresheners, scented sachets, or air purifiers to eliminate odors. These scents merely mask smells rather than neutralizing them. Some low-quality products may even cause allergies, leading to dizziness, nausea, and other symptoms. Such methods only desensitize users to odors, posing greater risks.
II. 10 Simple Tricks to Eliminate Car Odors
Summer often brings unpleasant smells inside vehicles: rotting fruit or sweets left in corners, spilled drinks or rain-soaked seats/carpets, or long-forgotten shoes and clothes in the trunk all emit foul odors. Then there’s the air conditioning—once turned on, it unleashes a steady stream of musty odors. How to eliminate these smells? Check out my simple methods! Here are 10 affordable and practical tips to remove car odors. Give them a try!
Method/Steps
1. Lemon: Simply place two lemons in your car. For faster results, slice the lemons and place a few slices near the air vents. Turn on the AC, and soon your car will smell fresh and clean.
Affordability Rating: ★★★★
Practicality Rating: ★★★★
2.Pineapple: Once in a friend’s car, I noticed a slightly wilted pineapple on the backseat. He explained it was for air freshening. I tried it myself—and it worked wonders! That pineapple cost me just two bucks, and within two or three days, it had completely “sucked up” all the odors.
Affordability Rating: ★★★★
Practicality Rating: ★★★★
3.Tropical Fruits: Actually, besides pineapples, many other tropical fruits share this special effect. Grown in tropical and subtropical environments with abundant sunlight and rainfall, tropical fruits have a particularly strong aroma. Their high water content allows the intense fragrance to linger for extended periods, making them natural “air fresheners.” This method is highly effective and simple, best suited for regions where tropical fruits are produced.
Affordability Rating: ★★★★
Practicality Rating: ★★★
4.Oranges: One car owner swears by oranges. He tried several fruits to eliminate car odors and found oranges most effective. Whether this holds true, you’ll have to test for yourself—though oranges are certainly cheaper than pineapples or lemons. Personally, I think if oranges work, apples should too.
Affordability Rating: ★★★★★
Practicality Rating: ★★★
5.Burnt Briquettes: Another driver shared an even more unconventional method: “I never use car air fresheners. My secret weapon is burnt briquettes—but they must be used ones. It works incredibly well; the odors in my car have significantly reduced.” “Ideally use intact briquettes based on adsorption principles. But few cities use these now. Bonus tip: this also deodorizes car refrigerators.
Affordability Rating: ★★★★★
Practicality Rating: ★★★
6.Vinegar: One gentleman recently bought a new car and was thrilled to finally own his dream ride. But the pungent new-car smell was unbearable. Opening windows can speed up odor dissipation, but you can’t leave windows open when you’re not in the car. This clever gentleman had a simple solution: vinegar. New car odors often signal indoor air pollution, potentially releasing harmful substances like formaldehyde and benzene. When you’re not using the car, fill a small bucket with water and add some vinegar. Leave it inside. After a few tries, the odor will gradually fade. Here’s why: water absorbs formaldehyde, while vinegar helps stabilize it.
Cost-Effectiveness: ★★★★★
Practicality: ★★★★
7.Onions: Onions—those pungent, nose-tingling things that can actually eliminate odors? Absolutely. I recall seeing a tip on a TV show: slice a few onions, place them in a basin of water, stir it up, then leave it in a newly renovated room to absorb odors. With a slight tweak, this method works in cars too. Cut a whole onion into four wedges and leave them in the vehicle—one car owner swears by it.
Affordability Rating: ★★★★★
Practicality Rating: ★★★
8.Limit Acidic Perfumes: A word of caution—most car owners favor lemon-scented perfumes, which are often acidic. When released, these scents accumulate on the AC evaporator, fostering mold growth and unpleasant odors. This explains why using such perfumes after odors develop can actually worsen the problem. If you prefer fragrances, opt for neutral, subtler scents instead.
Affordability Rating: ★★★★
Practicality Rating: ★★★
9.In-Car Air Purifier: Investing in a car air purifier eliminates odors, allowing drivers to breathe fresh air for clearer thinking and quicker reactions. It also neutralizes respiratory pathogens carried by passengers, promoting health. However, it’s significantly pricier than the other nine methods.
Affordability Rating: ★★
Practicality Rating: ★★★★
10.Reduce Odor Sources: The most effective and practical approach is to minimize odor sources at their origin. Items like moldy floor mats, seats, clothing, ashtray residue, and cigarette butts can trap odors within the cabin and evaporator. During summer, these smells intensify into peculiar, unbearable fumes. Therefore, consistently clean the cabin and trunk. Avoid leaving shoes, clothes, dirty rags, or other items in the car long-term. Regularly clean storage compartments and ashtrays. When smoking inside the vehicle, turn off the air conditioning and open the windows. During peak summer, if the car is parked in direct sunlight, the interior temperature can soar to around 60°C (140°F). Therefore, promptly remove any food or fruit from the vehicle.