Everyone loves the smell of a brand new car, but that smell quickly goes away due to heavy use, as well as things like perfumes, leftover food, and even pets.
One way to deal with this is to have the interior detailed or cleaned, but this only lasts so long, and can get expensive if it is done on a regular basis. Fortunately, there are several easy and affordable ways to do it at home.
Freshen The Air To Remove Stale Odors
Stale odors are often difficult to remove, and can make being in the car moderately unpleasant. Most end up having to rely on air fresheners, but these only mask some of the odor instead of removing the source.
The first step in dealing with the source is to locate it. To do this, thoroughly clean out the vehicle, making sure to remove any leftover food or other debris that may be causing the odor.
After removing the trash, the next step is to tackle the fabric itself by using a Rexafoamer on it to give it a deep cleaning. This will remove any last traces of the odor and leave the vehicle smelling fresh again.
Shampoo The Seats And Floormats
Shampooing the interior of the vehicle is the best way to clean it and remove any lingering odors. This step should be done only after removing any loose items. It is also a good idea to remove floormats for easier cleaning.
Start by shampooing the tops of the seats and work your way down to the floor. Because most vehicles are fairly small, try to make smaller passes with the wand or shampoo brush and really work it in to remove stubborn spots.
When shampooing the seats, make sure to shampoo along the edges, corners, and undersides as well as these areas tend to collect a good amount of dirt and dust.
Another key area to clean is underneath the floormats because liquids and debris tend to accumulate underneath them, especially in winter or after transporting plants or pets.
Some may find that they can shampoo the fabric on the ceiling of their vehicle. This can often help remove the smell of perfume or cigarettes, but it must be done carefully to avoid damaging it.
The best way to shampoo this fabric is to make very delicate and slow passes with the attachment to avoid pulling on it. The same can be said about the visors, though these need even more care when cleaning.
Clean Regularly For Best Results
The best way to keep any vehicle clean and smelling like new is to prevent it from getting dirty. This means taking steps to never let food linger in the car, and to avoid smoking in it.
It also may mean limiting heavy perfumes or fragrances as these can build up and may make it smell sour or stale. Instead of using fragrances, make a point to vacuum or shampoo regularly.
Using a Rexafoamer to clean the vehicle even every few months can make a tremendous difference in how clean the vehicle looks and smells. It can also save a lot of money compared to having it professionally cleaned.
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