Bad Smell in Carpet. Help.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 380
Likes: 0
From: Cedarburg WI
Bad Smell in Carpet. Help.
I need to get a bad smell out of the carpet in the back. The smell came from spilling food in the trunk. The car has been detailed but, the smell has returned. Any suggestions?
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 459
Likes: 5
From: Atlanta GA
You want to remove the smell, not cover it up with perfumes. I would remove the carpet and wash it with Simple Green or similar. Use full strength, agitate the nap of the carpet vigorously with a stiff brush and rinse completely. You may need to do this more than once to get rid of the stuff embedded in the carpet.
If successful, now you have a carpet that smells like Simple Green - not great either. But by leaving the carpet outside in the sun this should go away quickly. You can try products that are supposed to remove odors without adding any more, like Febrez, but I've found these DO have a smell of their own and I don't like it.
If you want to try adding a scent to your vehicle the only one I like is Griot's Garage leather scent. I'm not sure it smells like leather, but it kinda smells like a new car - rubber, leather, plastic. I spray a small amount under the seats and that lasts for a week or so.
If successful, now you have a carpet that smells like Simple Green - not great either. But by leaving the carpet outside in the sun this should go away quickly. You can try products that are supposed to remove odors without adding any more, like Febrez, but I've found these DO have a smell of their own and I don't like it.
If you want to try adding a scent to your vehicle the only one I like is Griot's Garage leather scent. I'm not sure it smells like leather, but it kinda smells like a new car - rubber, leather, plastic. I spray a small amount under the seats and that lasts for a week or so.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 459
Likes: 5
From: Atlanta GA
One other thing - if the smell is from spilled milk you may have to replace the carpet. I had this happen a long time ago, 1969 BMW, and no matter how much I cleaned the smell always came back on hot days. Not good.
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 186
Likes: 0
From: Greenville NC
Originally Posted by garymilgrom
One other thing - if the smell is from spilled milk you may have to replace the carpet. I had this happen a long time ago, 1969 BMW, and no matter how much I cleaned the smell always came back on hot days. Not good.
May try a steam cleaner on the carpet. My father spilled milk in his car an no matter what, the smell came back. Good luck
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 18,401
Likes: 3
From: Retired but working
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Try placing a glass pie pan in the back with about a 1/4"of ammonia in it at night for a day or two. Ammonia smells bad so you will have to have the windows down when you drive it. (of course remove the amonia when you drive)
Follow that up with a box, bout the size of a shoebox, with baking soda in it for a few more days.
I don't know what was spilled, but this this works good with most auto odors.
Good luck.
Follow that up with a box, bout the size of a shoebox, with baking soda in it for a few more days.
I don't know what was spilled, but this this works good with most auto odors.
Good luck.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 579
Likes: 0
Where are you located? You should attempt to find a MARS guy in your area. This stands for for Mobile Appearance Reconditioning Services. He should be able to inject the carpet, fog the interior, and remove the smell. I could do this for you, but I'm in Georgia
A qualified MARS rep can remove this smell if he was properly trained, and uses the odor removal system.
A qualified MARS rep can remove this smell if he was properly trained, and uses the odor removal system.
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Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,566
Likes: 52
From: Colorado Springs CO
Originally Posted by garymilgrom
One other thing - if the smell is from spilled milk you may have to replace the carpet. I had this happen a long time ago, 1969 BMW, and no matter how much I cleaned the smell always came back on hot days. Not good.
