Having a dog means many happy rides. But it can also bring a strong dog smell. This smell can stay inside your car for days or weeks. It can be hard to remove. But don’t worry. This guide will help you get rid of dog smell from your car. The steps are simple and easy to follow.
Why Does Dog Smell Stay in Cars?
Dogs have a natural smell. It comes from their fur, skin, and breath. When dogs ride in cars, their smell sticks to seats and carpets. Also, if your dog is wet or dirty, the smell gets stronger. Sometimes, dogs may drool or have accidents. These add to the bad smell. The smell hides in soft parts of the car. Like fabric seats, floor mats, and carpets. It can also get inside air vents.
Step 1: Remove Your Dog and Clean the Car
First, take your dog out of the car. Open all doors and windows to air the car well. Let fresh air come in for at least 30 minutes. This helps move the bad smell out.
Next, take out all items your dog used. This includes blankets, toys, and seat covers. Wash these items if possible. They can hold the dog smell too.
Step 2: Vacuum the Entire Car
Use a vacuum cleaner to clean the seats, carpets, and floor mats. Vacuum every corner. Don’t forget under the seats and in small spaces. Vacuuming removes hair, dirt, and dried drool. These things keep the dog smell strong.
If you don’t have a vacuum, use a brush to sweep the seats and carpets. It helps remove dirt and hair.
Step 3: Clean Fabrics and Carpets Deeply
Dog smell hides deep in fabrics. Use a fabric cleaner or carpet shampoo. Spray or apply the cleaner on the seats and carpets. Let it sit for a few minutes. Then scrub gently with a soft brush. After that, wipe with a clean, wet cloth to remove the cleaner.
Another option is steam cleaning. Steam cleaners use hot steam to clean and kill germs. You can rent a steam cleaner or visit a car wash that offers this service. Steam cleaning removes deep dirt and odors.
Step 4: Clean Hard Surfaces
Don’t forget the hard parts inside your car. These include the dashboard, door panels, and plastic parts. Use a damp cloth and mild soap or car cleaner. Wipe all these surfaces well. This removes any dirt or oils that carry the dog smell.
Step 5: Clean the Air Vents
Smell can live inside your car’s air vents. Use a small brush or a soft cloth to clean them. You can also spray a special cleaner made for air vents. This helps remove dust and odor inside the vents.
Some people use aerosol sprays like FrigiFresh. These sprays clean the air system and add a fresh scent. You can try them if the smell is very strong.
Step 6: Use Natural Odor Neutralizers
Many products cover bad smells but don’t remove them. Instead, use odor neutralizers that absorb smells.
- Baking Soda: Sprinkle baking soda on seats and carpets. Let it sit overnight. Vacuum it the next day. Baking soda absorbs bad odors well.
- Activated Charcoal: Place a small bag of charcoal in the car. Charcoal pulls bad smells from the air. Leave it in the car for a few days for best results.
- White Vinegar: Put some vinegar in a bowl inside the car. Leave it for a few hours. Vinegar helps neutralize smells but the vinegar smell fades fast.
Step 7: Shampoo or Steam Clean Floor Mats
Floor mats often keep the dog smell. Remove mats from the car. Wash them with soap and water. Use a brush to scrub dirt out. If you have a carpet shampoo, use it here as well. Let the mats dry completely before putting them back.
If mats are very dirty or smelly, consider steam cleaning them. This kills germs and removes odors deeply.
