Hah I gotta stop using recirc all the time now lol. I use it so I dont breathe in exhaust fumes lol. My mom did the vinegar thing to my car and I was like wtf? I drove with all my vindows open after that. But it does work!

 

I use Renuzit car spray, I also use the dangle on the mirror ones..

 

As most said you change the cabin filter... but what i've been doing is I take a few small pieces of paper towel and lightly dampening them with some vanilla oil, and put them in the air filter when I change it out...

when i turn the heater on for a sec it warms it up and smells yummy

 

febreze kills 99.9% of germs =]

no but seriously dedicate one day to just scrubbing down EVERYTHING. and i would change your cabin filter, as already suggested.

 

What I used to do was take baking soda and cover the carpets and let it sit for a weekend, windows up... then just vacuum it all up. When that was done, clean the entire car (REALLY WELL) and it worked like a charm.

I've heard a lot or ppl talk about bacteria and what not. Killing bacteria will help, but bacteria in itself is orderless. Its the gas that they produce when they eat that smells. So you need to clean the smell out, killing bacteria will prevent smells from returning... but its the ability to either absorb or cover the smell that you're looking for. Only reason I bring this up is I had a professor who would rant about this everyday!

 

I am somewhat of a clean freak and I have a very sensitive nose, so this is how I do it...

1. Replace the cabin air filter. (I need help with this, please see the DIY thread!)
2. Depending on how long it's been since you've done this, you may want to take it to a car wash and have them vacuum the interior and wash the floor mats. Or, if you rent the Rug Doctor rug cleaner machines, you can also get an upholstery attatchment. Fill it with hot water and cleaner, then steam clean as much upholstery as you can. (I have leather interiors now, so I don't really do it as much.) This is esp. helpful if you drive your pets around a lot.
3. If you didn't wash the upholstery and carpeting, at least sprikle baking soda and let it sit for a day. Vacuum all surfaces well, and spray with Febreze Anti-Microbial.
4. Put in the air freshener of your choice. I like the Yankee Candle gel freshener kinds. I keep it in my rear cupholder. In my experience, the cheap air fresheners you get at the auto parts store smell too strong and wear out quickly.

If you do wash your upholstery and mats and such, hang the mats to dry and leave the windows down for an hour as it all dries. I didn't do this the last time and just jammed a powder-scented air freshener in my car. My car ended up smelling like a dirty diaper. GROSS.

 

i seriously try not to fart inside my car... the seats are like odor absorbent. then, whenever I sit again, the seat releases very generous amounts of stench ...
save a nose... don't fart in confined spaces...

 

here's the line

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here's you LOL

 

They make a scented 'bomb' that you activate in your interior and let it soak in. It is basically a spray can that releases a chemical that mists and soaks into your interior. I purchased a truck from a smoker and it smelled like butt-crack. It took that and a whole lot of baking powder to absorb that funk. I got these on the auto detailing sites on the web.

 

I think baking SODA not baking powder.

Also a pan of vinegar along with a separate pan of baking soda. Obviously you don't want to drive around & splash the vinegar all over, but you can drive around with a pan of baking soda under the seats.