~Stingray

Hey Guys,

Any idea of how to rid the "old car smell" from our car? I had tried fabreeze, leaving the windows open, and storing for the winter with an air freshener left in there the whole time. I still have that old car smell. Any way to get a neutral smell in the car? Permanently.

Thanks.

CA-Legal-Vette

Are you talking about that musty smell or something else?

If musty, it's all about moisture. If the garage is damp, you'll perpetually have that issue. You need to dry it out somehow, or heat it up so the humidity is down.

I've also noticed that the battery compartment on a lot of our cars have a peculiar scent. I washed mine down a couple of times with a heavy dose of baking soda which took care of it for good.

Jims66

Why would you want to do that? The "old car smell" is nostalgic, just like the "old car ride" and "old car sound".....

~Stingray

Not musty. Just old car smelling, like old parts with a hint of moth *****.
This garage is not climate controlled, but I wouldn't' say it feels humid. Unless its humid outside. lol.

I have been meaning to clean out the battery compartment. Looks awful in there. This might be the motivation I need.

~Stingray

Just don't like it. And it makes my clothes smell like it so when I go somewhere, everyone gets to share in the smell.

shaun8484

Personally, I like that smell, kinda give it character

Mr D.

Hot 20 year old in the passenger seat, you wont notice the smell.

revitup

My car spends so much time in the garage or under a car cover that it gets kind of a funky smell. Leaving it out in the sunshine with the tops off every once in a while helps.

MelWff

have you tried spraying lysol on the interior/carpets and the intake ducts for the AC system?

Plain_white_t_tops

You can try using a humid pack container to draw out the moisture. I put them in my boat over the winter, they take the moisture out of the air using a salt. I also put some scented dryer sheets on the boat and in my Vette. Hope this helps.

~Stingray

I will give it shot.

~Stingray

Not lysol. Don't think I have ever turned on the AC.

clifish

Agreed I like the smell of my Vette and 74 TR6 between that and the hydrocarbon smell when driving it just brings you back in time...If I don't want that smell I would drive my DD.

vettebuyer6369

A few years ago I bought an old Bricklin SV1 that had been in storage a lot. It had a musty smell that I could not remove no matter what I did. I'd sold a Fiero GT years before that because I couldn't remove the smell of old rain that had gotten in it, so I didn't have much hope.

I started reading about Ionizers- sometimes called ozone generators. Sounded like hocus pocus to me. Figured what do I have to lose? After 2 nights running it inside the car, the smell was completely neutralized. I've lent it to my restorer buddy who has successfully used it on multiple customers' cars.

It absolutely, positively works.

Torqued Off

I wish I could get my 77 to have that old car smell......but with all new stuff, its smells like nothing.

Mr D.

~Stingray

With everyone telling me they want the old car smell I am starting to worry I will regret it once i get rid of it. lol.

Tell someone what, you want the old car smell, I will give you my old carpet in the car (replaced several years ago, still looks great) if you give me new carpet to replace it with.

vettebuyer6369

I actually put a new carpet in the Bricklin and it didn't get rid of the smell, but the ozone generator did.

There's a lot of different models and sizes. Hotels commonly use the big commercial ones for big room carpet problems. I bought this small unit on eBay for $65.

MelWff

It is the same duct work whether you turn it on or not.

Lakeside49

I got rid of 95% of the old car smell in mine but you'll have to put in rhe investment. I removed the seats and carpet and sprayed the entire floor pan with Lysol disinfectant. I then replaced the old smelly jute backup no with a double layer of Reflectix from The Home Depot. Followed by new carpet. I then replaced the seat foam and covers. The old car smell has been gone for four years.