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What causes a bad smell in a car, and how do you get rid of it?
A bad smell in a car almost always comes from something left behind in it: damp, a spilled drink, tobacco smoke or a pet. That is why getting rid of a smell starts with finding the source and cleaning it. Only after that does ozone treatment remove the smell left in the upholstery and surfaces.
Damp brings a musty smell
Wet shoes, snow, umbrellas and damp clothes bring water into the car, and it soaks into the mats and the floor. If the damp cannot dry out, the textiles start to smell musty, and at worst mould grows in them.
- Take wet mats indoors to dry.
- Feel under the mats to check whether the floor is wet.
- Look under the boot floor panel to check whether water has collected in the spare wheel well.
If the floor gets wet again after drying, the cause is probably a leak, and it is worth fixing before the smell is treated, because otherwise the smell will come back. Call 010 508 9300 and we will tell you whether we can help with the leak.
Spilled drinks and food
Milk-based drinks and food start to smell as their residue goes off in the fabric. Blot a spill straight away and clean the spot, even if it looks clean once it has dried. Also check under the seats, in the door pockets and between the seats for leftover food. You will find advice for different stains in our article on stains on car seats.
Tobacco and pets
Tobacco smoke clings to the upholstery, the headliner, the seat belts and plastic surfaces, and it leaves a yellowish film on the inside of the windows. Airing the car or using air freshener will not remove it, because the smell has soaked into the materials.
Pet smell comes from hair and dander that build up in the upholstery and mats. The hair has to come out before it makes sense to treat the smell. There is a separate add-on service for that, which you can read more about in our article on keeping a pet owner's car clean.
When the smell comes from the fan
If you only notice the smell when the fan is on, the source is probably in the ventilation. A common cause is an old or damp cabin air filter. Replacing the filter is a servicing job (Filter replacement) that cannot be booked online. Call 010 508 9300 and we will tell you whether we can help.
Air conditioning refill is a refrigerant top-up. It does not clean the air conditioning or remove smells.
Why air freshener is not enough
Air freshener masks the smell for a while, but the source stays in the car. Once the freshener wears off, the original smell is still there.
Cleaning first, then ozone treatment
First, whatever is causing the smell is removed from the car. Full interior cleaning (€64–77) includes a full vacuum, a wipe-down of the surfaces, the inside of the windows and the boot. If the smell has soaked into the seats, Total interior cleaning (€189–229) also includes wet cleaning of the seats. Leather seats are cleaned too, using a different method from fabric seats. The job takes 4–8 hours.
Ozone treatment deals with what is left in the materials after cleaning. It removes tobacco, pet, mould and musty smells, for example. Ozone irritates the airways, so no one is in the car during the treatment, and afterwards we air the car out. How long it takes depends on the car and the smell. The service is called Ozone treatment / odour removal, and it costs from €79.
Interior cleaning and ozone treatment in one visit
Full interior cleaning €64–77 and Ozone treatment / odour removal from €79. You can change the level of cleaning when you book.