Smelly car!?

Question

About a month ago, one of my friends put leftovers in my trunk (seafood alfredo) and it spilled on an old gym bag of mine. I threw the leftovers out, but forgot to take the gym bag up and wash it. About a week ago, I noticed a horrible smell in my car and quickly remembered the smelly gym bag, took it up, and washed it. The smell lingered in my car, so I got it detailed. I also pulled out and washed the trunk liner and literally got in the trunk and SCRUBBED with Lysol and put a bunch of dryer sheets back there. But there is still a smell. I don't know where else to clean to try and get rid of it. The smell now confines itself to my trunk and you can't smell it in the regular part of the car, but I am about ready to take a road trip and I dont' want my luggage to pick up this smell. Is there somethign I can do to neutrlize this odor? I am out of ideas. By the way, I know there is nothing rotting in or under the car. I have been all through it and I just had it serviced.

Answer 1

seafood is very persistant. Try an acid based solution, lemon juice or something like that. be sure to rinse carefully. Can you remove the carpet from the trunk? if so, I would soak the stain with lemon juice and then take the carpet to a pressure washer place and really blast it good, then let dry thoroughly in the sun.

some people say tomato juice is better for smells, but I would be concerned about what it would smell like if you don't get it rinsed out well. Lemon always smells good. :)

Answer 2

Lemon usually takes the smell out of fabrics. I would suggest that you get some "Capture" carpet cleaner from Sears. It spreads over carpet area and has a fresh, lemon smell to it -- It is also made by Milliken, Inc. and is a great product in the house, as well. That should get rid of the smell. If not, get some lemon scented votive candles and crush them, put them in little potpourri bags around the trunk. Leave them there. Your smell will go away in several weeks, but for your trip, spread a sheet over the carpet before your luggage is placed inside, the sheet with draw in the smell -- freebreeze would be great to get to spray on your sheet and luggage before leaving.

Answer 3

you should steam the carpet it will definatly take out the smell thats on the top layer of the carpet but if it soak through the top layer than unfortunatly unless you change the carpet the smell will still be there or if you have time and your at home or outside somewhere leave the trunk open as long as you can in the sun and the sun will kill some of the smell (beleive me the sun helps out with odors ) and then apply some vacumm powder like a pet one so it can be strong enough to get the smell out but try the sun one it will help out a lot

Answer 4

I know an air freshiner (sp??) would only mix with the smell, you really need to de-oderise it instead of covering it up. I sympathise with you, i have the same problem with my sofas because of my dog... I always use oust, it kills the particles that makes it smell. I dont know if it will work in a boot but maybe something by the same brand of oust like a shampoo or something might work.

Hope that helps, and that your trip goes well!!

Ruth xx

Answer 5

Hello, Try oust it is a neutralizer. Febreeze covers the smell oust i believe eliminates the odor! Good Luck Dorothy

Answer 6

Oh dear!

Well, you could try Febreeze. Or perhaps you could sprinkle lots of baking soda in your trunk, or even set an open box of it there to try to absorb the odor.

Good luck!

Answer 7

Dont spray with anything, it just covers the odor for a while it doesn't take care of it. You could although spray baking soda water on it. or put baking powder on a cloth dry and wipe the seats. and then vac.

Answer 8

Try Fabreeze.

Answer 9

leave the trunk open as much as possible, it will air out.

Answer 10

try a car air freshner in the boot.