Making Used Cars Smell Like New

One of the pains of buying used cars is that smell that gives you an idea of what the previous owner did—or didn’t do.

Picture this scenario: you just got a “new” used car, and you’re showing it off. A friend of yours gets in; you turn on the AC, polish the rearview mirror, and look sideways at your friend, who seems to be having a mild seizure. “What’s that smell?” he asks, and you begin to accept something you’ve been denying since getting your car: your car stinks.

Some people selling cars forget that the way a car smells is as important as the way it looks, and we all hope that aside from the carwash and polish given to previously-owned cars for sale, dealers and owners also find the time to freshen up a car’s interiors.

Used Cars
Image Credit: Best of L.I

 What’s that smell?
Sometimes, you’d rather not know, but if you want to get the stench off your ride, you have to first identify the source. Knowing what causes a used car’s smell can give you an idea about what to do to remedy the awful situation. Is it smoke? Spilled food? Mildew? Someone’s vomit and other unmentionables? Asking the previous owner may only earn you a sheepish look, which further reinforces the hunch that he is hiding something nasty (in the trunk, maybe?). Whatever it is, you know when you have to take things into your own hands.

What to do
After identifying the source, clean up the mess as soon as possible and as thoroughly as you can. This may mean having to strip off your carpeting to get to the innermost crannies where organic matter may have collected and festered. Deep-set stains can be removed using an enzyme-based cleaner which can break down and digest those naughty stink-makers.

Deodorizers and car fresheners can temporarily mask odors but don’t completely remove them. It is still best to do some deep-cleaning. For smoke, experts recommend using a fogger that mimics the way smoke spreads through a vehicle. Odor neutralizers such as Febreze also serve to keep the stink at bay. After cleaning, let your car air out in a dry environment. Keep things fresh by keeping an absorbent towel handy so you can quickly soak up new spills and prevent your car from stinking again. There’s no reason used cars shouldn’t smell like new.