How Do I Replicate New Car Smell
So now that you know that new car smells can be toxic and contain VOCs that you shouldnt breathe in. What if you enjoy the smell of new cars? What should you do then?
After that new car smell has left your vehicle there isnt much that you can do to bring that new car smell back again. But one way that you can try to replicate that new car smell is by spraying a new car fragrance inside of your car to try to simulate that new car smell.
Chemical guys has a spray that is meant to smell like the inside of a new car but the reviews seem to be mixed on if the smell is close to that new car smell or not. But its cheap enough that its worth giving a shot if you want your car to smell like a new car again.
Chemical guys new car spray –
Another option is using an odor bomb that is designed to smell like new cars. An odor bomb will come in a can that is designed to spray mist into the air while inside of the car with the air conditioner on and the windows up. That mist would then be circulated throughout the car in an effort to make the car smell like a new car again.
Ive personally not ever used an odor bomb in my vehicles but Ive heard that these will work for a while but then after a few days the smell will begin to fade.
Meguiar whole car air freshener –
These attach to the vents on the dash of your car and will circulate that new car smell throughout the car as you use the AC or heat of your vehicle.
Kitty Litter To Remove Odor
Just like baking soda and bamboo charcoal, kitty litter can absorb smells in your car. After all, kitty litter is supposed to neutralize odors of cat urine and poop, right?
The problem with using kitty litter to remove odors in your car, though, is that it has to be removed afterwards.
And it might not be that easy to vacuum it up if you dont have a heavy duty vacuum.
If youre up for the challenge and have extra kitty litter on hand, either sprinkle the product on the carpet and in your trunk, or make some sort of bag of kitty litter to keep in your car.
Absorb Odors With Activated Charcoal
Recommended Reading: What Is Lease To Own Car
What Is New Car Smell
While the interiors of new cars are nice to look that most car interiors use a wide variety of plastics, paints, sealants, and rubber compounds that are used to put together all of the various pieces of a car. These materials will off-gas chemicals called volatile organic compounds or VOC for short.
There can be hundreds of VOC chemicals that are detected in the interiors of new cars. Some of the most common chemicals found are benzene, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, styrene, and toluene.
Deep Clean Your Vehicle
Deep Clean the Seats
If you have cloth seats I would have the seats cleaned with a shampoo extraction, or possibly steam cleaned.
AFM Safecoat makes a carpet shampoo that can be used for this purpose in lieu of the more toxic products that car detailers use.
You want to use an extractor that pulls some of the chemical coatings off the fabric as well as toxins that got absorbed by the fabric when the car was brand new. You can use that on carpet floors as well.
Make sure the upholstery can dry out quickly and thoroughly to prevent mold growth. My post on preventing mold in cars goes into more detail.
HEPA Vacuum
To capture flame retardants you want to use a HEPA vacuum as often as is reasonable for you. FR are constantly coming out of the foam for the lifetime of the product. They are not gasses.
Wipe Down Surfaces
Phthalates and metals are other chemicals that live in dust. Wiping down all hard surfaces alongside vacuuming is a good way to mop up these chemicals.
While other websites recommend microfibers clothes because they are particularly good at grabbing on to dust where many of these chemicals live, I would also be concerned with bringing those back into the house carrying heavy metals, phthalates, and flame retardants, and I therefore might opt for more disposable clothes, like these ones.
You can use a gentle cleaner like AFM Super Clean or any gentle soap that you do well with. Here is my list of cleaning products.
Clean Up Oil Residue
You May Like: How To Sell A Car In Nc
How To Remove All Bad Smells From Car
Do you ever step into your car only to realize theres a strange, lingering smell? There are lots of different reasons why your car might be smelling bad, but were here to help.
Now, we all know that lovely new-car-smell cant last forever, but we can at least help you figure out how to remove car smells and get it back to smelling good enough for any passenger in your car.
How to Remove Smells From Cars
How To Get New Car Smell With These Top Detailer Secrets
That new car scent… Theres just something about the factory-fresh scent from the dealership that we cant get enough of. And when its finally faded away, we just want to get it back! Or maybe youve bought a used car that needs a freshen up!
“I have a 2020 Cadillac XT6 with pearl white exterior and light oyster color interior your new interior kit is fantastic it is easy to work and the results are incredible. This product is just like all your other products I purchased from you to keep my car looking better than new..” – Lillian M.
Its a strange mix of odors, and probably not one that wed ever choose in a lineup of aftershaves! But its come to symbolize the thrill that comes with taking delivery of a brand new car, of pristine perfection, and, of course, success.
Whatever the reason, we know that the new car smell comparable to a premium air freshener makes us feel like a million bucks. And we know we want it to last as long as possible.
If youre keen to keep your ride smelling like brand-new without going to the car wash, read a little further to find out what you need to do.
You May Like: How Much Does A Car Battery Cost
How To Clean Car Carpet And Upholstery
If you cant find the source, pull out the car vacuum. Many times, the upholstery, carpet or fabric interior can trap odors. Work the vacuum all around and down into crevices using the upholstery attachment. If this doesnt do the trick but you believe this is the source of your odor issue, try steam cleaning where possible. Use car cleaning tools to make cleaning the interior easier. If your car has leather seats, there are simple ways to clean leather seats.
Is New Car Smell Bad For Your Health
by Eugene Ng Apr 02, 2019
We will always remember the first time we got behind the wheel of our first, brand new car theres nothing like it. You get a high from that new car smell and everything it represents the perfect, gleaming glovebox, no scratches, no marks or dust.It feels so exhilarating and exciting that even after that new car smell is gone, you still long for it.
Well, little did we know, this new car smell that we so love can actually be quite harmful to our health. The smell comes from the glue, adhesives, paint, carpeting, leather and vinyl sealants, and other plastic parts that make up the interior components of your car. These volatile organic compounds can be harmful when inhaled or ingested, and can lead to severe health impacts.
Recommended Reading: How To Wire A Car Horn To A Push Button
Ozone Treatment For Your Car
Ionic air purifiers can remove stubborn odors. They use ozone to destroy smells, bacteria, germs and other nasty stuff that can be causing foul smells in your car that dont seem to disappear.
There are safe levels of ozone and unsafe levels. You always want to be careful with any product creating ozone and always read directions and use as directed. This ionic car air purifier states that the levels of ozone are safe.
Need to keep your car organized now that its clean and smells good? Heres my favorite car organizer.
The New Car Smell May Soon Cease To Exist
Sadly, for people of us who love the new car smell, this distinctive odor might be fading into history. An increasing number of automakers are working to eliminate it due to the potential health risks associated with VOCs. Toyota, Mazda, Ford, VW, and General Motors all now employ teams of people to manage the concentration of odors in their cars. Mazda, for example, has already reported a 78% reduction in VOC emissions from its vehicles!
Another factor is the shift to renewable materials. As the industry trends away from using petroleum-based products for interior finishes, the distinctive smell of these glues and plastics is becoming less and less common.
Don’t Miss: How To Choose Car Battery
Activated Charcoal In Car To Remove Odor
Activated charcoal is another one of the best solutions for getting rid of mold, mildew and odors in a car.
Unlike baking soda, you dont have to constantly reapply charcoal to get its odor neutralizer effects. Just add the product to your car and it works for up to 2 years. PLUS, all it takes to refresh the odor absorbing properties is to put the activated charcoal in the sun for a few hours, and it will work like new again.
Ive shared how activated charcoal products help me remove mold and mildew from my car. We have several charcoal air filters in our vehicles and they work well.
While activated charcoal can be shaken on surfaces just like baking soda, I DO NOT recommend it! Charcoal is dark and black and can stain light colors. Its messy and not something that I want to deal with.
Its so much easier using packaged charcoal odor neutralizers for a car. This charcoal air purifier is brilliant because it hangs on the back of a car seat. And I love these air purifying bags which can be laid underneath your seat, in your trunk, glove compartment, etc.
And if you like to smile on your commute, consider some of these weird and wacky natural air fresheners for your car that use activated charcoal.
What Chemicals Are In The New Car Smell
The CSIRO study listed the following VOCs as being emitted inside new cars, and the effects they may cause include:
- Benzene a known human carcinogen for which an annual exposure goal of 16 micrograms per cubic meter has been recommended in the UK
- Acetone a mucosal irritant
- Cyclohexanone a possible human carcinogen
- Ethylbenzene a systemic toxic agent
- MIBK a systemic toxic agent
- n-Hexane a neurotoxic agent
- Styrene a probable human carcinogen
- Toluene a central nervous system dysfunction agent
- Xylene isomers a foetal development toxic agent
They are especially potent indoors the Environmental Protection Agency recognise VOCs as being 10 times more powerful when in a confined space.
Read Also: How To Paint Your Own Car
Youve Got To Start By Identifying The Odor To Make Your Car Smell Better
RELATED: Longevity Realized: 6 Cars That Actually Passed 1,000,000 Miles
Do you know where the foul odors are coming from in your car? If the bad smell permeates from something that can be removed from the car, its a good idea to get the bad smell out. Is the odor coming from an old gym bag, a lunch container you forgot, or a pair of shoes one of your kids left in the car? Thankfully, these odors can easily be removed, and you can air out the car.
On the other hand, if the foul smell is in the seats or carpets, you might need to bring your car to a detailer to have the odors removed. Some smells are moisture-based, which means you should put a can of Damp Rid under the seats. This will soak up the foul smell.
Coffee To Remove Odor
Surprisingly, coffee beans and coffee grounds are highly effective at removing odors from your car. And if you love the smell of coffee, theyll make you pretty happy, too!
To use coffee beans or coffee grounds to neutralize odors, place the coffee beans or coffee grounds in a bowl or bag inside your car. Leave overnight.
If the smell is gone, you can remove the coffee. However, if you love the smell of coffee, consider keeping a small bowl of coffee beans in your car. Or make a little bag of coffee beans with some cheesecloth or muslin.
You May Like: Does The Military Ship Your Car For Free
How Long Does Off
between six months and five yearsOff-gassing doesnt stop when the smell stops either. The new smell may disappear after a week or so but the fumes are still being emitted theyre just much more subtle. Off-gassing can last between six months and five years depending on the household item and the chemicals used to treat it.
Why Is There Mold In My Car
Musty smells and mildew smells are caused by colonies of fungus releasing their reproductive spores into the air. Such car smells can usually be traced to excess moisture, over 50 percent relative humidity, providing the perfect breeding ground for these microorganisms. Add heat mold grows best between 77 °F and 120 °F and your car is the perfect place to raise a nation of mold and mildew colonies. Mold usually lives in porous materials, like leather, foam, felt, and paper, while mildew usually grows on non-porous surfaces, such as vinyl and plastic. What might give mold and mildew a place to live in your car?
- Forgotten Food Most food items and all drink items are moist to some extent. Similarly, spilled drinks can soak into the seat cushions and carpet padding. As food dries out and water evaporates, the humidity rises everywhere in your car, even places you cant see or access.
- Forgotten Clothes Not exercising, the average person sweats about 20 oz per day, though strenuous exercise can push that over 1 quart per hour. Much of that soaks into your clothes, socks, and shoes. Drying off after a dip in the pool or ocean will soak your towel. Forgotten in a trunk or in the back seat, evaporating sweat or water raises the relative humidity in the car.
Recommended Reading: How To Clean Car Battery Terminals With Vinegar
Trace The Origin Of The Smell
Wheres that smell coming from? Youll have to find it to thoroughly clean the affected area. Rat urine is always musky and smells like ammonia. Part of the reason is the bacteria found in it.
If the smell doesnt lead you to the source, you should use a black light. Sometimes referred to as UV light, the black light usually makes urine glow in the dark. It will show you where the smell is emanating from in seconds.
Check Likely Locations For Odors
Step 1: Check the vehicle floor. Look on the floors in the front and rear of the vehicle and under floor mats.
Pat the area with a paper towel to check for wetness. Check if the overwhelming odor has transferred to the paper towel.
Step 2: Check the seats. Check under seats or in the back where the seat joins the back support.
Lift the rear seat cushion to check underneath for the source of the offending smell.
- Tip: Most seats simply lift out of their mounting clips while others may require screws or bolts to be removed to look underneath.
Step 3: Check all storage areas inside the car. Open up storage compartments, especially center consoles. Check door compartments and other areas where food or drinks could be left out or spilled.
Step 4: Check the carpet. Feel the carpet and seats for wet spots that could create a moldy smell.
Step 5: Check the trunk. Check the trunk for any items left inside that may be the cause of your odor. Old gym clothes or forgotten food can leave a stench that reaches the cabin.
Look inside the spare tire well to see if the smell is emanating from that area.
If you look in one specific location and the smell intensifies, youre probably on the right track to find the source of the bad odor.
Recommended Reading: How To Disconnect A Car Battery
