Advice from experienced motorists on how to remove the smell of dampness in a car

The interior of any car should smell pleasant. Only if this condition is met will using the vehicle be a pleasure.

The appearance of foreign odors requires immediate action. The article will talk about how to remove the smell of dampness in a car using improvised and specialized compounds.

What to do first?

Before you begin to eliminate unpleasant odor from your car, you need to find out the cause of its occurrence.

If it's not a breakdown, then the following measures must be taken:

1. Ventilate the interior. Car doors are left open for at least 5 hours.
2. Turn on the air conditioner. Its work ensures the removal of excess moisture. If there is a lot of it in the cabin, then the air conditioner should work for at least half an hour.
3. Turn on the oven. This will prevent condensation from appearing on the glass if it is cool outside.
4. Wash and dry the rugs. Sometimes moisture accumulates on them, leading to the appearance of a damp smell. Be sure to dry the floor under the rugs.

If all the steps are completed, but the smell of dampness in the car persists, a better treatment of the interior is required.

Use of improvised means

To combat unpleasant odors, you can use available means. It is necessary to choose those compounds that have a disinfecting effect.They should not only neutralize the unpleasant odor, but also destroy the bacteria that cause it.

Soda

Soda not only suppresses the activity of pathogenic flora, but also absorbs excess moisture.

Use it as follows:

• pour baking soda onto the rugs and floor so that it covers the entire space;
• leave it to have an effect for a day;
• collect the powder with a vacuum cleaner.

Vinegar

You can deal with the smell of dampness in your car using a weak vinegar solution.

Mode of application:

1. Dissolve 100 ml of table vinegar 9% in 200 ml of water.
2. Pour the composition into the sprayer.
3. Use it to treat all accessible surfaces with the exception of covers.
4. Wipe the interior with a clean damp cloth.
5. Leave doors or windows open for at least 12 hours.

Vinegar can be used for preventive purposes, even if the smell has not yet appeared. You need to treat surfaces with it at least once a week.

Vinegar is not used to care for leather covers. and its substitute, as this threatens the appearance of divorces.

Ammonia

To remove the smell of dampness, you can use ammonia, which is active against pathogenic flora. It not only neutralizes extraneous odors, but fights their cause - bacteria and fungi.

Mode of application:

• pour 100 ml of water into a suitable container, add 20 drops of ammonia to it;
• pour the solution into a vessel with a spray bottle;
• apply the composition to the carpets and floor of the car;
• Wipe the surface with a dry, clean cloth.

There is another way to use ammonia to combat the smell of dampness: pour it into a saucer in the amount of one teaspoon, place it in the cabin and close all the doors and windows. After 12 hours, the product is removed and the car is ventilated.

Chlorhexidine

You can purchase this strong antiseptic at any pharmacy. This is a budget but effective remedy that destroys almost all bacteria known to science.

Mode of application:

1. Dilute 100 ml of an alcohol solution of chlorhexidine with water in equal proportions.
2. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and use it to treat all accessible surfaces.
3. Leave the product to dry naturally.
4. Air out the car for 24 hours.

Chlorhexidine can be used to care not only for hard surfaces, but also for covers made of different materials.

Coffee

Ground coffee beans are a powerful flavoring agent that displaces all other odors. To achieve the optimal effect, you need to use only freshly ground natural powder.

• grind 10 coffee beans;
• distribute the powder into fabric bags;
• spread them around the cabin;
• leave for a day.

If the coffee aroma suits the vehicle owner, then you can maintain it on an ongoing basis by changing the bags once a week.

Special formulations

You can cope with the smell of dampness with the help of specialized chemicals, which are sold in online markets and in stores for motorists. Top 3 best products:

Doctor Wax

Odor neutralizer for cars “Breath of the Alps” is a non-toxic biodegradable gel substance that effectively absorbs extraneous odors and provides freshness in the car interior.

You can install it anywhere. The manufacturer recommends placing the jar under the car seat. To achieve the desired effect, the box must be left open. Price – 320 rubles.

Deliss

The manufacturer notes that its product has a triple effect:

• neutralizes odor,
• eliminates the cause of its appearance,
• scents the interior.

The product must be sprayed onto the surface to be treated. If it is hard, wipe it with a dry cloth, and if it is soft, wait until the composition dries. The spray has a light floral aroma. Price – 320 rubles.

Helmetex Auto Coffee and wood

The product is available in the form of a spray. It can be used to treat any surfaces, including:

• fabric and leather upholstery,
• rugs,
• ceiling,
• gender, etc.

The composition not only eliminates the smell of dampness at the molecular level, but also has an antibacterial effect. After using it, there will be no streaks or marks left in the car.

The spray has a hypoallergenic formula. Price – 420 rubles for a 100 ml bottle.

What if there is a smell from the air conditioner?

If a damp smell comes from the air conditioner, you need to open the front cover of the unit and remove the filter.

Procedure:

1. Remove and dry the rugs, wash and dry the floor.
2. Turn on the oven at full power, close the doors and leave it running for 10 minutes.
3. Switch the air conditioner to recirculate.
4. Use a special air conditioner cleaner. This can be foam, gas or liquid that needs to be blown into the system cavity.
5. After another 10 minutes, turn off the oven and open the doors for ventilation.

Prevention

To prevent the smell of damp from appearing in the cabin, the following recommendations must be adhered to:

• do not leave the car outside in the rain, you need to park it in the garage;
• thoroughly dry the rugs and the floor underneath them;
• regularly clean the salon;
• carry out timely replacement of door seals;
• periodically clean the seats with a washing vacuum cleaner and a steam generator;
• store gel moisture absorbers under the seat or in the glove compartment;
• ventilate the car by leaving it open;
• undergo maintenance in a timely manner.

Helpful information

Tips to help get rid of damp smell in your car:

1. Any remedy will be ineffective if the car is not properly ventilated.
2. You shouldn’t count on classic cardboard flavoring agents to help with the smell of dampness. Solving the problem requires an integrated approach.
3. When processing covers, care must be taken not to spoil the material.

Constantly inhaling air containing mold spores will lead to the development of respiratory diseases, such as asthma.

You will find a lot of useful and important information about removing various unpleasant odors from objects and surfaces in this section.

Conclusion

Many drivers experience the smell of dampness in their cars. To get rid of it, you first need to focus your efforts on eliminating the cause of its appearance. When it is eliminated, you can use antibacterial and flavoring agents.