5 steps to keep your car interior clean and fragrant

Step 1: Clean

The first thing to do is remove damp, wet, dirty objects inside the car such as clothes, shoes, towels... Leaving these things for too long will cause mold to grow, creating an unpleasant odor.

After that, the car owner needs to vacuum the dust in places such as the car floor, seats, narrow crevices in the interior... where dust can stick. Note to use a vacuum cleaner with soft bristles to vacuum dust more effectively. The floor mats should be removed and cleaned separately, vacuuming the dust under this layer of mats.

If you don’t have a dedicated car vacuum cleaner, you can use a handheld vacuum cleaner or a household vacuum cleaner. Pay attention to dirty areas such as seat slots, dashboard, door slots, etc.

One mistake that often causes the car to smell and feel damp is that the owner covers the floor with leather mats but does not clean them. With this type of mat, the ability to absorb water and air is poor, so after a long time of use, water can accumulate underneath the mat. Therefore, it is necessary to periodically remove the mats to clean and dry underneath.

Step 2: Deodorize

After cleaning the car interior, you should use a specialized spray chemical to spray directly into the car and then close the door for about 5 minutes.

While using the car, you can hang scented bags with the scent of coffee, green tea, cinnamon and mild citrus in the car. They not only help eliminate odors from the car engine but also help purify the air, bringing a more relaxing and pleasant feeling.

You can also use vinegar to deodorize. Mix vinegar with water in a 1:1 ratio, then dip a clean cloth in the solution, wring it out and wipe the smelly areas or the entire interior. This solution is safe on almost all materials, except suede or Alcantara. After cleaning, open all the car doors to ventilate and let the sour smell of vinegar evaporate.

If you have a steam iron, you can use it to soften stains, clean and disinfect. The method involves spraying steam onto the surfaces that need to be cleaned, then using a towel to wipe off the water. This method is effective for stains that have been stuck for a long time inside the car, especially in places like the floor mats, ceiling, and seats.

Step 3: Interior care

After deodorizing, the interior needs to be nourished with a specialized interior cleaning solution, which helps to refresh the material and at the same time creates a protective layer for the interior. The simplest way is to buy a solution that can be applied to many types of materials. To be more careful, car owners can find a solution specifically for each material.

Step 4: Prevent odor naturally

After cleaning the interior, car owners can apply natural odor-preventing measures such as placing activated carbon bags or cat litter in neat places such as under the seats or in the trunk to absorb odors and moisture. With litter, it needs to be replaced periodically, while with activated carbon, it only needs to be exposed to the sun for about a month at a time.

Step 5: Replace the air conditioner filter and clean the air vent

Replacing the air conditioner filter and cleaning the air vent is an effective way to eliminate unpleasant odors in the cabin. The air filter can be replaced at home, cleaning the air vent should be done at reputable car care facilities, because this position requires specialized equipment and chemicals to perform.

Hanging essential oils, perfumes, and scented waxes is not actually to prevent or absorb odors, but simply to mask odors. These products should be limited in families with small children. Instead, you can use natural products such as pandan leaves and coffee in cloth bags.