Sometimes the inside of vehicles can be stained with food and drink which can cause lingering, unpleasant smells. If you’ve ever spilt milk in your car, you’ll know exactly what we’re on about here. Then there are vehicle owners who smoke inside their car. It doesn’t take long for the smell of tobacco to hit you. And, you can’t ignore the aftermath that’s left by pets and kids… The list really could go on.

Opening the doors of a car that’s been sat in the sun all day can be a bit like opening the oven door after you’ve overcooked the dinner. You get an instant blast of hot air that doesn’t smell very pleasant.

So, if you’re trying to eliminate the nasty odours trapped in your vehicle’s upholstery, why not give one of these tricks a go. 

An obvious pointer to get us started - get rid of everything that you think may be causing the unpleasant smell. No matter how much time and effort you spend trying to clean your car, it’ll all be wasted if the source isn’t dealt with first.

If you have an ashtray that’s full of cigarette butts, empty it and wash the ashtray in detergent and warm water. Remove and vacuum the floor mats and interior carpets to get rid of any pet hair or crumbs. While the carpets are out, it’s also a good idea to treat them with some carpet cleaner.

In extreme cases, you may want to remove the seats to get to those hard to reach areas but, if your vehicle has airbags or sensors fitted, we’d recommend getting a professional to remove the seats for you.

Try using a fabric cleaner or deodoriser and apply it to the seats and trim inside your car to help neutralise any unwanted odours. Even if you don’t have pets, a pet odour eliminator will effectively do the job too. You can also buy air conditioning odour eliminators from most automotive stores and vehicle manufacturers. This is an aerosol which is sprayed into the vehicle air vents to help deodorise and clean them. It also removes any bacterial mould and mildew.

If your vehicle is fitted with a pollen filter, check and replace it if necessary as it could be clogged up with years of pollution from the atmosphere, such as leaves and pollen. This will re-introduce fresh air back into the cabin while preventing leaves from being sucked into the heater fan.

For a more natural remedy, try sprinkling baking soda on the seats and carpet and brushing it in. Let it sit there for up to a day before vacuuming it up. For stains on glass, the interior panels and fabrics, use a liquid made up of 1 part white vinegar and 8 parts water, and spray and wipe.

Coffee beans are also a great natural way to get rid of unwanted odours. Simply pop a handful of beans into a cupcake dish and store under the car seats.

UV air purifiers are units that can be placed inside your vehicle and left during the day or overnight with the doors and windows closed. By emitting a blue UV light that produces ozone, they eliminate pathogens while leaving a natural, sterile scent.

If you’re after a temporary solution before you give any of these tips a go, try hiding an air freshener in a compartment to gently release the fragrance. It’s less overpowering than having it clipped to your air vent or dangling from your rear view mirror.

For those who are reading this and think it sounds like a lot of hard work, you can always pay to get your car valeted by a professional. Or you can even request one at your car’s next service.