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How-toCar1 min read

How to keep your car smelling fresh without the dangly tree

Air fresheners cover a smell up. These fixes take it away, and most of them cost nothing.

By The ArcadeWrld team

Published

View from the driver’s seat on a mountain road

Find the source first

Car smells come from a short list: food crumbs, damp mats, a forgotten gym bag, the cabin air filter, or the dog. A freshener on top of any of them gives you pine-scented damp mat.

The reset

  1. Take everything out. Mats, bags, the stuff under the seats. Bin what’s not needed.
  2. Vacuum, then wipe. Crumbs first, then a damp cloth on the plastics and the steering wheel.
  3. Dry the mats completely. Damp carpet is the number one cause of a musty car.
  4. Change the cabin air filter. If it’s been a year, it’s probably the smell.

Keep it fresh

  • A small bin bag hanging behind a seat
  • A moisture absorber over winter
  • Windows open for five minutes after a wet day

Cheat code

Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet, leave it overnight and vacuum it up. It soaks up smells instead of covering them.

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