Car seats are where we spill everything, from drinks to food, to you name it. And the worst of all, in my experience, is that inevitable cat pee. No matter how much you clean them, the smell lingers. No one likes to drive around in a smelly car. That's why we need to get rid of the bad smell. Here is a how-to guide on how to get smells out of car seats so you can ride in freshness!
For your convenience, we have listed remedies for different kinds of smells.
How To Get Cat Pee Or Dog Pee Smell Out Of Car Seats
As a pet owner, you know cats and dogs love to pee on everything to mark their territory. While we can control this habit, sometimes accidents happen. According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, humans and animals release ammonia in urine. The smell can be strong or mild, according to the ammonia concentration, and it stinks.
Pet urine can also contain bacteria and parasites transmitted to humans. These are called zoonotic diseases, and they can be dangerous sometimes." If you've ever had a pet that's had an accident in the car, you know how hard it can be to get that smell out. Here are the steps to help get rid of the smell:
Vacuum the Seats
Start by vacuuming the seats and carpets. This will remove as much of the urine as possible. We recommend buying a powerful vacuum cleaner as it will make your life much easier.
Wash the Seats
After you've vacuumed, it's time to wash the seats. The best method is to use a steam cleaner. If you don't have one, you can rent one from a local store or buy one online.
If you don't own a steam cleaner, you can use a mixture of water and vinegar. The ratio should be 1 part water to 1 part vinegar. After you've cleaned the seats, leave the windows open to air out the car.
Spray The Seats And Carpets With A Pet Odor Eliminator
Pet odor eliminators are designed to remove pet smells and usually work well. To use a pet odor eliminator, simply spray it on the seats and carpets and vacuum it up. If you like, you can leave the liquid on the seats so that they will dry with the scent of the eliminator.
Some of our favorites are:
- Nature's Miracle Just for Cats Stain and Odor Remover
- Rocco & Roxie Professional Strength Pet Stain & Odor Eliminator
- Bissell Pet Stain and Odor remover
Apply A Carpet Freshener
After you've sprayed the seats and carpets with a pet odor eliminator, you can apply a carpet freshener. This will help to mask any remaining smells.
Use Baking Soda Or Coffee Grounds
If there is still some odor remaining, put a bowl of baking soda or coffee grounds in your car overnight. Ensure that the car windows and doors are completely shut. In the morning, dispose of or compost the baking soda and coffee grounds. Repeat with a fresh bowl as necessary.
Using coffee grounds will leave a coffee smell in your car. If you don't want this, use baking soda instead.
Tip: Peeing may be caused by stomach issues, a urinary tract infection, or anxiety in your pet. Check for any medical problems to rule out any health concerns. In the meantime, check out these Top Ten Bloating Medications For Dogs that can help with stomach issues.
How to Remove Fish Odor From Car Seat
Have you ever accidentally spilled fish or fish oil in your car? If so, you know how difficult it can be to remove the odor. Fish and fish oil are very pungent and can be hard to eliminate the smell. This is because they contain different smelly compounds such as Ammonia, Sulfer, acids, and aldehydes, as stated in "Odors in the Food Industry" released by the official website of Maine state.
Fortunately, there are ways to get rid of these bad smells. Here is how;
Vacuum The Seats
Start by vacuuming the seats and carpets. This will remove as much fish or fish oil as possible. A wet and dry vacuum is required, as a regular vacuum will not work.
Check out these Best Quality Car Carpet Cleaners for the vacuuming job.
Wash The Seats
After you've vacuumed, it's time to wash the seats. Wash the seats using a steam cleaner. If you don't own one, you can rent one from a nearby store or buy one online.
Use Baking Soda
Baking soda is an organic odor absorber and will help remove your car's fishy smell. Simply apply baking soda to the seats and carpets and let it sit for a few hours. Then vacuum it up.
Note: You will need to redo this process a few times to eradicate the odor.
Use A Pet Odor Eliminator
You probably have a pet odor eliminator in your house if you have a pet. You can use a pet odor eliminator if you still have a fishy smell in your car seat. These products are designed to remove pet smells and usually work well on other kinds of smells too.
How To Get Cigar Smell Out Of Your Car Seat
Cigarette smell is among the most difficult to remove from your car seat. This is because the smoke gets into the fabric and clings to it. Over time, the smell worsens and can be very difficult to remove.
Fortunately, there are a few things that you can do to get rid of the cigarette smell in your car.
Sprinkle Baking Soda Over Smelly Areas
First, sprinkle baking soda over the smelly areas. Baking soda is a natural odor absorber that will aid in the removal of cigarette odor. Allow the sprinkled baking soda to sit for a few hours before vacuuming.
You may need to repeat this process several times to remove the odor.
Use White Vinegar
White vinegar is an organic odor neutralizer that will aid in the removal of cigar odor. Wipe down the affected areas with a soaked cloth or sponge dipped in dissolved white vinegar. The water-to-vinegar ratio should be one part vinegar to one part water.
Allow the area to dry naturally, or wipe it down with a clean cloth.
Note: You may need to do this step several times to remove the odor completely.
Use an Air Freshener
If the cigar smell still lingers, you can try using an air freshener. Air fresheners come in various scents and can help mask the cigar smell. Choose an air freshener that you like the smell of and spray it generously on the car upholstery.
How to Get Skunk Odor Out of Your Car Seat
Although skunks are beautiful, their sprayed scent is not. If you are unlucky enough to have your car sprayed by a skunk, you must act quickly to remove the foul odors.
Here is how to get rid of skunk odor.
Open The Car Window and Let the Sunshine In
The first step is to open the car windows and let the sunshine in onto the car upholstery. The sun will help to neutralize the skunk odor.
Note: You may need to open the car windows for a few days to obliterate the odor.
Wash The Car Seat With Bleach and Water
The next step is to clean the car seat with bleach and water. A bleach solution can eliminate the skunk car smell. However, the ratio should be 1 part bleach to 9 parts water.
Wash the car seats with the bleach solution and let them air dry in the sun.
Note: You may need to redo this process a few times to remove the odor altogether.
Use Hydrogen Peroxide, Baby Shampoo, and Water
If you don't want to use bleach, or if you don't have any on hand, you can use hydrogen peroxide, baby shampoo, and water. This solution is safe to use on the car interior and will help to remove the skunk car smell.
Tip: These are The Best Hydrogen Peroxide Cleaners we could find online.
To make this solution:
- Mix 1 part hydrogen peroxide, 1 part baby shampoo, and two parts water.
- Use a sponge or cloth to apply the solution to the car upholstery and scrub it in.
- Let the solution sit for several minutes, then rinse it with clean water.
Note: You may have to repeat this process a few times to eradicate the odor.
Place Vinegar, Charcoal, or Baking Soda Bowls Inside The Car
Another thing that you can do is place bowls of vinegar, charcoal, or baking soda inside the car. These materials are all-natural odor absorbers and will help to eliminate car odors.
Place the bowls in the front and back seats and leave them there for a few days. The bowls will need to be replaced every few days until the skunk odor is gone.
How to Get Poop Smell Out of Your Car
If you have kids, then you know that accidents happen. And when they happen in the car, it can be difficult to remove the poop smell. Fortunately, you can do quite a few things to eliminate the poop smell in your car.
Clean The Affected Area Immediately
The first step is to clean the affected area ASAP thoroughly. The longer the poop sits, the harder it will be to remove the smell.
So, as soon as the accident happens, use a cloth or paper towel to clean up the poop.
Use A Vinegar Solution
The following step is to prepare a vinegar solution. Vinegar is a natural deodorizer and will help to remove the poop smell from the car.
To make the vinegar solution, combine 1 part water and 1 part vinegar. Use a cloth or a sponge to apply the solution to the affected area and scrub it in. Let the solution sit for a few minutes, then rinse it with clean water.
Note: You may have to repeat this process a few times to eradicate the odor.
Sprinkle Baking Soda on The Affected Area
Baking soda is another all-natural deodorizer that can help remove the poop smell from your car.
Allow the baking soda to sit on the affected area for a few hours. After that, vacuum it up.
Note: You may need to redo this step several times to remove the odor completely.
Use An Enzime Digester
If you've tried every method above and still have a stinky car, you might need to use an enzyme digester. Enzyme digesters are commercial products that are designed to remove tough odors.
Follow the enzyme digester bottle instructions and apply it to the affected area. Let the chemical sit for a few hours before vacuuming it.
You may need to repeat this process several times to remove the odor.
How To Get Wet Dog Smell Out Of The Car
Taking your dog out in your car is fun until your dog gets wet and starts to smell. When this happens, removing the wet dog smell from the car will be difficult.
If your car smells like a wet dog, don't worry--there are a few things you can do to get rid of the scent.
Open The Windows and Dry Your Dog And The Seats
While returning home or to your destination, open the windows and let fresh air in. This will help to dry your dog and the seats.
Once you're at your destination, use a towel to dry your dog off as much as possible. If the seats are wet, you can use a hairdryer to dry them off.
Use Baking Soda Or Vinegar
If your car is still smelling after drying off, you can apply baking soda or vinegar to the affected areas. Let the baking soda or vinegar sit for a few hours, then vacuum it up.
Use An Odor Remover
Usually, the wet dog smell goes away after following the above methods, but if the smell lingers, you may need to use an odor remover.
Odor removers are commercial products that are designed to remove tough smells. You can buy an odor remover from grocery stores or online.
Follow the odor remover bottle instructions and apply it to the affected area. Allow the chemical to sit for the recommended time before vacuuming it.
Conclusion
These are just a few tips on getting smells out of car seats. And if you end up with other unpleasant smells than those listed here, we advise you to follow every method we have given above so that you can have an odorless car.
Additional Tips
- When using any of the above solutions, test it on a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure it won't damage the car's upholstery.
- Use rubber gloves when cleaning up any type of bodily fluid to protect your hands.
- Use a cleaner instead of water to avoid damaging the leather if you have leather seats.
- Activated charcoal is an alternative to baking soda. However, it is more expensive and can be difficult to find.
- Keeping an air freshener and a stain remover in your car is handy to help cover up any lingering smells.
If you have other tips on getting smells out of car seats, please share them in the comments below!
FAQ
[sc_fs_multi_faq headline-0="h2" question-0="How to get smells out of leather car seats?" answer-0="To get smells out of leather car seats, use a leather cleaner and follow the instructions on the bottle. Test it on a small, inconspicuous area first to ensure that it won't damage the leather. If the smell persists, you can try using one of the methods above." image-0="" headline-1="h2" question-1="Can I use Febreze to get smells out of my car?" answer-1="Yes, you can use Febreze to get smells out of your car. Just spray it on the affected area and let it sit for a few hours. Then, vacuum it up. You may need to repeat this process a few times to remove the odor completely." image-1="" count="2" html="true" css_class=""]
