To maintain the value of your car and keep it looking and smelling nice for a long time, you should detail the interior on a regular basis. If stubborn smells require extra attention even after detailing, deodorizers can help. Occasionally, however, deodorizers merely mask unpleasant smells rather than neutralizing odors. Professional chemicals and equipment, such as odor foggers and ozone generators, offer a more permanent option to eliminate foul smells from your car.
Remove all trash, debris and loose items from the car, especially any that cause odors. Throw away the trash and debris in the garbage bags. This is a good time to clear your car of items you do not need.
Remove all mats and shake them out.
Vacuum the mats, floorboard and seats. You may need to use special attachments to reach small areas.
Shampoo the mats and floorboards. Mix some car shampoo with water in a spray bottle and apply with a stiff bristle brush. Do not soak the mats for the floorboards. Concentrate on any spills or spots.
Shampoo the car seats. Spray the seats with the car shampoo and water mix, then scrub gently with a scrub pad. Wipe the dirt away with an old towel. If you have cloth seats, do not soak the material.
Clean the dashboard and all plastic, vinyl and leather trim. Use the car shampoo and water mix and a lint-free cloth. You may need to rub stubborn stains gently with the scrub pad. Use a cotton swab to get into hard-to-reach crevices.
Condition all leather using the leather conditioner and a lint-free cloth. Follow the instructions on the bottle.
Spray the plastic and vinyl protector onto the dashboard, door moldings and console. Wipe it off with a clean lint-free cloth.
Spray interior of windows with window cleaner. Clean using a clean lint-free cloth. Repeat for the exterior of the windows.
Take a deep breath and smell the car. If it smells clean, you can add a deodorizer as a final step if you desire.
Spray a fabric deodorizer on all soft surfaces. Make sure to use one that can neutralize odors.
Start the odor fogger. Follow the instructions on the can.
Ventilate the car after the fogger has finished. Open all windows and run the air conditioner for a few minutes to air out the car.
