The smell of a new car is something that you never forget but it is very hard to try to recreate. Sometimes, however, there are odours that appear in the vehicle that you do want to remove. The first thing is to find out what exactly is causing that nasty whiff and if it smells like oil, gas or coolant from the engine, then get the car checked out by a mechanic. It could be that the vehicle is in need of repair and further work to keep it in good condition. Any bodywork can also be brought back to life using a professional paint matching service, but first, find out if there is something wrong with the car that is causing engine fluid to leak out.
Empty out the car contents
Once you have made sure there isn’t a mechanical problem with the car, start with a process of elimination. Empty out any rubbish or food wrappers that have been sitting in the compartments of the car. Pull everything out of the glove compartment and ash trays and lift out the mats and check underneath for any spoiled food items that may have fallen down and started to rot. Shake out the mats and empty the trunk of the car to ensure that you have cleared everything away that should hit the trash can.
Vacuum and clean the carpets and seats
If you are in the habit of sitting with your takeaway latte in the car, spilled milk is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to bad smells in the car. Milk goes off very quickly and it gives out a rancid smell which is very difficult to get rid of, so you need to thoroughly clean the carpets and mats. If you have pets who might have had an accident in the car, again the smell is recognisable, and you need to start by vacuuming all carpeted areas. Using an approved cleaning product then clean and shampoo the carpets but make sure you allow plenty of air into the car to dry them out. The last thing you want is to get a mouldy smell from damp and mildewed carpeting in the car.
Dealing with spilt liquid waste
Children and pets can be one of the main causes of spilt liquid waste from drinks of juice to the odd accident caused by too much drinking of juice! One very cheap way of getting rid of odours caused by liquid waste is by sprinkling down baking soda. Baking soda acts as an absorbent not just for the liquid but also helps to absorb smells and neutralize whiffy odours. If you are a smoker by sprinkling baking soda on the fabric of the seats and on the carpets, leaving it for a couple of hours and then vacuuming up the residue, will freshen the car upholstery as well as absorb waste liquid.
Dealing with mould and mildew
If you have got a problem with mould, it could be due to the humid climate and lack of ventilation, but also you may have a leak somewhere on the bodywork of the car. Check with out with your local panel works team who can quickly repair and repaint the car using a paint matching service so that it looks as good as new. Treat mould and mildew by using an approved proprietary car upholstery cleaner and, once dry, use a natural air freshener (like citrus oils) to keep smells at bay.
Hiring professionals
If you have tried all of the above and still there is a bad odour in the car, consider taking the car down to your local panel works to check out to see if anything has become trapped in the side panels of the car. They will have the expertise to remove any trims or panels and check out to see if there are any underlying problems that can be causing the problem. If you do need any work doing before you are going to sell on the vehicle, they can repair and repaint using a paint matching system so the bodywork is brought up to a factory finish. You can then hire a professional cleaning company to valet the vehicle if needed and trade up to start enjoying that new car smell again. For all of your car repair needs, contact the professionals at Brighton Panel Works, a trusted body repairer for over 50 years servicing Melbourne’s inner city and the bayside precincts.