Prep first
Before you start
- Read the interior care section of your owner's manual for your seat material, since fabric, genuine leather and synthetic leather each have their own directions.
- If you can't tell leather from vinyl, follow the leather directions and ask the dealer.
- Vacuum loose dirt and trash first, and look for damp spots and spills that soaked in.
- Test any cleaner on a hidden spot before you use it across the seat.
Car interiors trap smells in places you can't see. Soft surfaces such as seat cushions, carpet and headliner soak up liquids and sweat, and they're usually the biggest odor sources. Rolling the windows down gives only brief relief, because the smell stays in the fabric.
Check your owner's manual for the seat material before you buy anything, then find where the smell is coming from. Whether it's spilled milk, dog smell, pee smell or vomit, the fix is to remove the source, clean it, and let it dry completely. A scented spray only covers the smell and won't remove what's causing it.
Before you start
What car interior can take
Use with care1
- Water
Avoid5
- Soaking
- Chlorine bleach
- Solvents (alcohol, spot removers)
- Acids (vinegar, lemon)
- Scrubbing and abrasives
10 items
What you'll need
Tap an item to get it on Amazon, or tick what you already have.
- Crevice tool or long-nosed vacuum attachmentReaches seams, corners, cup holders and the spaces under the seats.
- Microfiber towelsLift grime and odor from fabric and blot spills without spreading them. (opens Amazon)
- Mild soapMixed with lukewarm water, it is the solution for fabric seats. (opens Amazon)
- Neutral soapMixed 10 percent into water for genuine leather.
- Enzymatic odor eliminatorTargets the organic material behind pet, food and vomit odors on fabric and carpet. (opens Amazon)
- Baking sodaAbsorbs moisture and odor from carpet. (opens Amazon)
- Soft brushWorks the eliminator into fibers without damaging them. (opens Amazon)
- Vent brush or compressed airClears debris out of the vents before cleaning them.
- Odor eliminator sprayAn interior-safe finish for the vents once they are clean. (opens Amazon)
- Rubber cleaning gloves (opens Amazon)
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8 steps
Step by step
Step 1 of 8
Clear out trash and debris
Check seat crevices, side pockets, the area under the seats and the trunk, since forgotten food and trash often hide there. Remove anything you find, and wear gloves if you come across droppings or nesting material.
Step 2 of 8
Vacuum every seat and carpet
Vacuum each seat, the carpet, the floor mats and the trunk floor, using a crevice tool to reach seams, corners and cup holders. Seats usually don't need to come out, so a long-nosed or flexible attachment is enough.
Step 3 of 8
Remove mats and test a hidden spot
Remove the floor mats by unlocking their anchor knobs, and relock them when you put them back. Before you use any cleaner across a seat, test it on a hidden spot and check for a color change.
Step 4 of 8
Wipe the seat surfaces
Dampen a microfiber towel in a mild soap and lukewarm water solution and wring it out well. Work it into the seat surfaces in sections, lifting grime and odor as you go, then wipe again with a cloth dampened only in plain water to remove soap residue.
Tip. Work from the edges of a stain toward the center so it doesn't spread.
Careful. Never spray cleaner on the sides of seats with side airbags, and never use chemical solvents or strong detergents on them.
Step 5 of 85 to 10 minutes
Apply an enzymatic odor eliminator
Spray an enzymatic odor eliminator on the worst spots of the fabric and carpet, and let it dwell for at least 5 to 10 minutes. Work it into the fibers with a soft brush, then blot it up or extract it, and repeat once the first application dries if the area is saturated.
Step 6 of 8A few hours
Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet
Sprinkle baking soda generously over the carpet, especially the damp spots and worst areas, to absorb moisture and odor. Let it sit for a few hours, then vacuum it up completely.
Careful. Baking soda is alkaline, so keep it off leather.
Step 7 of 8
Clean and deodorize the vents
Clean the vents with compressed air or a vent brush, then wipe them with an interior-safe cleaner. Finish with an odor eliminator spray and let the vents dry before you run the fan.
Careful. Keep liquid away from electrical parts, and never spray water into the cabin.
Step 8 of 8
Dry the car and air it out
Make sure every damp spot is fully dry before you close up the car. Open the windows wide for fresh air, and check the carpet and seats once more before you drive.
Careful. Never leave leather wet; dry it promptly.
What makes the job easier
Products that help
Look for an enzymatic odor eliminator and a pH-balanced leather cleaner. Skip any product that lists bleach, alcohol or organic solvents.
Chemical Guys Lightning Fast Stain Extractor for Fabric
How we picked these: each product is made for this kind of odor or surface, its maker doesn't warn against using it on car interior, and its directions fit the steps above.
Finished? How does it look?
Nice work. Let it dry completely before you use it again.
How to tell it's really done →A faint smell often fades as everything dries and airs out; give it a day before a second round.
Find the guide for your stain →Heavy grime or a lingering smell usually needs a second round once it's fully dry.
See what to do for what you're seeing →When to call a professional →How to tell it's done
The car is clean when the seats, carpet and vents no longer smell and every spot you cleaned is fully dry to the touch. If a damp patch or smell is still there after drying, repeat the enzymatic odor eliminator on that spot rather than soaking it.
If there is a stain too
Related guides
A smell usually has a stain or a spill behind it. These guides cover the cleanup in detail:
What changes for yours
Adjust for the smell
Cloth seats
On cloth, the mild soap solution does the work, so keep the towel damp rather than wet. Fabric holds liquid, so the seat should be left to air dry.
Vacuum with a crevice tool first so the eliminator can reach into the weave. Let the seat air dry fully before anyone sits on it.
Leather and vinyl seats
Leather needs a gentler approach: dampen a soft cloth with a mix of 90 percent water and 10 percent neutral soap, and wring out the excess. Buff the seat afterward with a clean dry cloth.
Vacuum leather often, paying attention to pleats and seams, to prevent abrasion. Leather is a natural material, so its surface isn't uniform and may show natural scars and wrinkles. If the manual lists synthetic leather, follow its own directions instead.
Dog smell
Start with a rubber brush to lift pet hair, then vacuum under the seats and across the trunk floor. Rear seats and the trunk floor hold the most dog odor, so give them extra attention.
Pet urine is treated the same way, since pet odor compounds aren't water-soluble and airing out the car won't remove them. Repeat the application on the rear seats and trunk floor if the odor remains.
Vomit on leather seats
On leather, put the pH-balanced leather cleaner on a cloth rather than directly on the seat, and skip the enzymatic odor eliminator there. Don't over-soak leather if the smell remains; repeat the cleaning and condition the seat afterward.
Prevention
Keep the smell from coming back
Deep clean the interior on a regular schedule, and sooner if it gets heavily soiled, since lighter interiors need more frequent cleaning. Leather upholstery care is recommended about twice a year.
Between cleans, vacuum the seats, carpets and mats often, including cup holders and crevices. Take the trash out every time you refuel, and blot spills or wet snow and rain right away.
Keep a small open container of baking soda or activated charcoal under a seat, and crack the windows on sunny days.
Vinegar, baking soda, peroxide and more
Do home remedies get rid of the smell?
Most home remedies don't belong in a car, since bleach and alcohol are off limits on the interior and acid or alkaline cleaners on leather. Baking soda is the only household remedy that belongs in a car, and only on carpet and fabric.
Works1Avoid6
What makes it worse
Mistakes to avoid
Don't scrub the spill
Scrubbing pushes the mess deeper into the fabric, so blot it with paper towels or microfiber instead. Never scrape or rub a stain on fabric, since that can damage it.
Don't soak the seats
Too much liquid leaves a ring that sets in the fabric. If the smell remains, repeat the cleaning on that spot instead of soaking it.
Don't reach for bleach or alcohol
Bleach, alcohol and organic solvents such as thinner or naphtha are ruled out on the interior, even for stubborn smells. Leather is especially sensitive, so avoid high-alcohol, acid and alkaline cleaners there too.
Don't use a stiff brush
A stiff brush can damage the surface, so stick with a soft brush. Also avoid any brush that has been used with a harsh chemical.
Don't use household cleaners on fabric
Household cleaners and glass cleaners can stain fabric and affect its flame-retardant properties. Scented or bleach-containing wipes are also a poor choice on interior surfaces.
Troubleshooting
If the smell comes back
Pick what you're seeing:
A ring shows up after the seat dries
Too much liquid oversaturated the fabric and the ring set. Work the spot again with a towel wrung out well, then let it dry fully.
The smell returns a few days later
The source is probably still in the cushion, carpet or under the seats, so search those spots again. Repeat the enzymatic odor eliminator there once the first application dries, and make sure it's fully dry.
Leather still smells after cleaning
Repeat the cleaning with a pH-balanced leather cleaner on a cloth, not directly on the seat. Avoid soaking the leather again.
Vents smell when the fan runs
Odor can stay in the vents, so repeat the vent cleaning with compressed air or a vent brush, then the odor eliminator spray. Let the vents dry fully before you run the fan.
When to call a professional
Consult a specialist before you apply any leather coating or protective agent to the seats. If you're not sure which cleaning agent suits your seats, contact the manufacturer's customer support.
Questions
Why does my car smell like vinegar?
A sour smell like vinegar usually points to a spill that soaked in, so start by checking the carpets and seats for damp spots. Check under the seats and in the side pockets too, then clean any spot you find with an enzymatic odor eliminator and let it dry fully.
Why does my car A/C smell bad?
Vents can hold odor, so start by clearing them with compressed air or a vent brush. Then wipe them with an interior-safe cleaner and finish with an odor eliminator spray, letting the vents dry fully before you run the fan.
How do I get rid of new car smell?
The steps here target odors from spills, food, pets and sweat rather than factory smells from new materials, so they may not remove that smell. Opening the windows gives only brief relief, and if the smell stays after a full clean, ask the dealer.
How do I get fish smell out of a car?
Fish smells usually come from a spill or leftover food that soaked into the carpet or seats, so search under the seats and in the trunk first. Once you've found it, treat that spot with an enzymatic odor eliminator and let everything dry fully.
How do I get mouse smell out of a car?
Mouse smell usually comes from droppings or nesting material hidden under the seats or in the trunk, so remove those first, wearing gloves. Then clean the area, let it dry fully and air the car out with the windows open.
How do I get spilled milk smell out of a car?
Milk soaks into carpet and cushions, so the smell can run deeper than the visible spot. Blot up what you can with paper towels, since scrubbing pushes it further in, then treat the area with an enzymatic odor eliminator and let it dry completely.
How do I get pee smell out of a car seat?
Treat urine as a pet odor, since its compounds aren't water-soluble and don't wash out just by airing the car. Blot the spot, then work an enzymatic odor eliminator into the fibers and let it dwell before you dry it.
Start from the bigger picture
More odor guides
How we know this
Every method, amount and warning here comes from university extension services, industry bodies and product makers. We read them, check every step for unsafe combinations and changed amounts, and write it up so you can follow it.