Everyone loves that “new car” smell. But what happens when an especially sneaky, stinky odor creeps in? Admit it: when it hits your nostrils first thing in the morning, that can kind of ruin your day. Don’t worry – there are some super-easy ways to rid your ride of hidden odors. Here are tips from the experts at Peruzzi Toyota.
- Start with the obvious. Give your car a serious thorough going-over. Is there anything lurking under a seat or wedged in a weird spot? All families have secrets – and that includes that half-eaten salami sandwich that got stuffed in a back seat.
- Clean the upholstery. Smelly substances – like sweat or food stains– can be tenacious, so attack them at the source. There are a variety of cleaning products to try, dependent on whether we’re talking cloth or leather. Leather is a bit easier to deal with; for stubborn smells on cloth-based upholstery, consider a hand-held steamer. Just ensure you don’t overdo the steam-cleaning: too much moisture on cloth can lead to mildew. Leave car windows down to help things dry out.
- Give floor mats a going-over. If you have rubber floor mats, hose ‘em clean. But, like seat upholstery, smells can embed themselves in cloth-based floor mats. Start by vacuuming, then use a mild detergent to clean them; let them air dry. The last step? Sprinkle with the original odor-eater, good old-fashioned baking soda. Let it sit, then vacuum it up.
- Check/replace the cabin filter. This is something most of us ignore. The cabin air filter (typically located on the passenger side, between the glove box and floor) does exactly what its name implies: filters out funky stuff like pollen and dust. If a smell on the level of a Haz-Mat threat has infiltrated your car, switching out to a fresh new filter is an easy step. It’s also a good idea to change it every 12K-15K miles anyway.
- Air-fresheners. We’ve come a long way from those tacky, tree-shaped air fresheners. Today, there are so many effective car deodorizer options that go a long way to knocking out the overpowering smell of the drive-thru. Whether it’s a dashboard plug-in or jar-based/open scent type, give them a try until you find one that works for your vehicle.
If none of these solutions work, replacing the upholstery or purchasing another new or used vehicle maybe be your only option left. The Peruzzi Toyota service center can help you with replacing parts and can also check for any other parts that may have issues with your vehicle. If you’re looking for a new vehicle, look no further than Peruzzi Toyota’s huge selection of nearly 300 new Toyota vehicles available for purchase or lease near Allentown, PA and Bethlehem, PA. If you’re looking for something less expensive or from a different brand, Peruzzi Toyota also has an inventory of nearly 500 pre-owned vehicles available for purchase in Hatfield, PA. Visit us today at 2601 Bethlehem Pike in Hatfield, PA or give us a call at 877-545-2111 to learn more or schedule an appointment.
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