9 Cheap and Easy Ways to Rid your Car of Odours

Did you buy the car of your dreams from a guy with a 2-packets-a-day Chesterfield-habit? Or does your car smell like wet Great Dane? Getting rid of car-odours can be tricky, but with a little help from some inexpensive ingredients, a fresh-smelling set of wheels can be yours.

1. Kitty litter crystals
Ask any cat owner about the advancements that have been made in cat litter the past few years. It deodorizes and absorbs smells all in one. Leaving a bowl of (preferably unused!) cat litter crystals in a bowl inside your car will do a stellar job of removing any stink.
Left your window open one night, just to find out it rained? Because of its ability to absorb moisture, the litter crystals will also prevent windows from fogging up.

2. Ground coffee
Apart from caffeinating you for increased productivity, ground coffee also works as a great absorber of car smells. Leave some in an open container overnight, or longer, if needed.

3. Charcoal
Not only can charcoal save your life if you ingested something poisonous, it’s just as good at eliminating offensive odours, be it in your fridge or your car! Keep an open bag of briquettes in your car until the smell has disappeared.

4. White Vinegar
This multi-tasking salad enhancer, poured into a cup and stored in your car’s cupholder, is one of the oldest tricks to rid your car of icky odours.

5. Scrunched-up newspaper pieces
That thick wad of old Sunday paper still has its uses – and one of these is to absorb the more subtle smells. Scrunch up a couple and leave overnight.

6. Cinnamon
Boil cinnamon sticks in water, and use the liquid for a natural air-freshener. Keep it in a travel mug in your car. As the car heats up in the sun, the liquid will be diffused throughout the cabin.

7. Citrus Peels
Next time you peel that naartjie or orange, put those peels in a cup and keep it in your car. Odours will be masked by a natural, citrus scent.

8. ODARID
If your pet is a regular travel companion in your car, chances are he rolled in something nasty before entering. The smell of cat-urine is also well-known for sticking around no matter what. A product called ‘Odarid’ is known for obliterating it. Go to www.odaridsa.co.za for more info.

9. If all else fails, steam-clean.

Most car-valet institutions offer steam-cleaning services for stains and odours that are buried deep in your car’s cloth upholstery, so if none of the above methods work, spending a few bucks on a proper, deep clean is totally worth-it. Many carpet cleaning companies also do steam-cleaning for cars, and do deep extraction as well.