How to remove Pet/dog smell from the car

[automass]

I have used many odour killer and air freshener to remove the odour of the pet from the car that I have recently bought. Now found out a video where lady suggested to use vinegar. Tonight I have put some vinegar in a bowl and kept it in the car.  

Is their any other proven method? people who have dogs, they may know well. please help me out.

 

Thank you.

[RicardoM]

Go to a special car detailing garage. People that own pets don't have a miraculous solution. They had to get used to the smell.

[automass]

Thanks for your useless advice. 

[NJRJ]

19 minutes ago, automass said:

Thanks for your useless advice. 

No he's exactly right.

No dog owner will admit to a smelly dog, OR they are 'nose blind'. I'm a dog owner (but obviously mine doesn't smell 😉)

Dog smell is usually from the dog's damp hair hanging around, so an upholstery clean will fix it, the smell must be in the upholstery/carpets and not the air.

Glad your sense of smell has returned since buying the car.

[Ttaskmaster]

Get a wife. Get her an SUV. Have her ferry the dogs in her car.

Works pretty well for me....

[penguin17]

I think this is an effective odour eliminator: 

 

https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/chemical-guys-new-car-smell-premium-air-freshener-odor-eliminator-16-oz-552992301?type=shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQiAiZPvBRDZARIsAORkq7flkBZfIywHudfwbopo9FO0s22U78HYKqPOkLkXw_GQo1a7ycC7j3UaAvFKEALw_wcB

 

I would argue that it's not exactly a new car smell but it's not unpleasant.  

 

Other options are to leave some charcoal in the car of some coffee granules, both are known to absorb odours.  I would give the car a good vacuum and leave the doors and boot lid open for as long as you can. Where practical wipe surfaces with a mild detergent or all-purpose cleaner, diluted with water.    You can also buy dog hair removal brushes:

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Martin-Cox-Hair-Removal-Brush/dp/B0039FYRAM

 

 

 

 

[gregoir]

Get a specialist to valet the interior. 

A DIY solution for my odours was to use Febreze fabric spray. This is actually sprayed onto the fabric. 

Edited 2 December, 2019 by gregoir

[Ootohere]

All of the above suggestions,  and the Cheap Scottish solution can do no harm but can help take smells out of cars, busses, caravans etc where there have been pets, smokers or smoking pets.

 

A lump of coal or 2 left in the vehicle, and disposed of after a few days, or keep it and take first footing.

Also an Onion or 2 cut in half and left in the vehicle for a few days, then disposed of.

 

If there is a smell of onion left in the car it will not stay there for long.

[automass]

I left vinegar overnight, now it smells vinegar. I am gonna keep one onion cut in two and hopefully it will small onion too. Then I will leave some coffee powder. Lets see how far I can go with these smells.

 

P.S: To be honest with you guys, I am very surprised where this smell could be trapped in the car. I did buy odour eliminator from Halfords..and gave the car interior a good clean including seats, ceilings, floor etc. had a good vacuum cleaning including under the hood. took the cabin filter out and gave it a good clean. drove the car with all windows open. so why this smells are still in the car?

Edited 2 December, 2019 by automass

[gregoir]

If you've ever squeezed out the anal glands of your beloved dog you might understand the smell. 😫

[penguin17]

4 minutes ago, gregoir said:

If you've ever squeezed out the anal glands of your beloved dog you might understand the smell. 😫

One of the great things a quality dry food will help with, a good solid turd and no need for that manky work! 

[Walterzkoda]

On 02/12/2019 at 20:02, penguin17 said:

One of the great things a quality dry food will help with, a good solid turd and no need for that manky work! 

Couldn’t agree more. My Lab is on dry food and squeezes his own glands every time he takes dump 😜

 

BUT.... the back of my car still stinks of dog, so I’m watching this thread for some tips !

[automass]

Car doesn't smell anything anymore. I think Onion treatment worked well, besides I bought rubber Car mats which had strong rubbery smell.  But as of now, I can not smell anything anymore except light rubbery smell which gives car a New car Smell (LEATHER SMELL). 

[cheezemonkhai]

On 30/11/2019 at 00:15, automass said:

Thanks for your useless advice. 

baking powder on dry carpets/cloth seats. Gently run is around and leave it 5 minutes.

 

Then hoover it out.

 

clean and treat any leather.

 

new pollen filter and an AC cleaner bomb.

 

Lazy version is the autoglym Oder neutralising spray which is ok for a bit.

 

Also the neutradol works ok if you shut the doors/windows put the AC on recirc and spray it in then shut the drivers door and make sure you’re out.

[Jfhuk]

I’ve found that oust air freshener works fairly well, just keep it away from any leather, or you’ll get white spots or dark patches on it. Leather cleaner will shift them though.

[Munfred]

Neutradol spray and leave to air then one of the apple sized neutradol pods left inside the cup holder. Worked for me.

[SkarySkoda]

Do you use any sort of car seat covers or at least put towels down on the seats/in the boot while your dog is in the car? This would be a good option moving forward and will also help keep your car smelling fresh for longer once you get rid of the smell. Of course it depends on how often you travel with your dog but you can always just store the covers and only use them when you take your dog out. 

[VWD]

On 02/12/2019 at 12:53, Roottootemblowinootsoot said:

All of the above suggestions,  and the Cheap Scottish solution can do no harm but can help take smells out of cars, busses, caravans etc where there have been pets, smokers or smoking pets.

 

A lump of coal or 2 left in the vehicle, and disposed of after a few days, or keep it and take first footing.

Also an Onion or 2 cut in half and left in the vehicle for a few days, then disposed of.

 

If there is a smell of onion left in the car it will not stay there for long.

Onion is poison to a dog, so make sure you get it all out before letting dog in   . Last dog had a coat problem which made the coat and anything she lay on smell. We found a waterproof rear seat cover ( with a dog blanket on top) worked well, but really  we found only real cure was Febreeze - take  covers off and spray well last thing at night.

[Ootohere]

@VWD  Well spotted.

So they were not so daft in the old days, it not only gets rid of the smell, that is the end of the dog or cat.

[automass]

Everybody is forgetting about Cabin filter change. I think cabin filter change for the new driver would be ideal if the car was used for pat animals. 

[Tilt]

On 11/03/2020 at 12:31, automass said:

Everybody is forgetting about Cabin filter change. I think cabin filter change for the new driver would be ideal if the car was used for pat animals. 

 

^^^See cheezemonkhai's post on 17th Jan............4th suggestion - New pollen filter.

 

Obviously you are sorted now (29th Dec post), unless the smell has returned, or you became 'nose blind', Lol.

 

If the smell has returned then a proper wet vac valet is required on any fabric that smells, depends where the previous owners pet travelled in the car. Probably the back seats.

A proper wet vac being a machine that pumps water / fabric cleaning solution into the fabric whilst also vaccuming it out at the same time.

 

 

[Tilt]

On 02/12/2019 at 19:57, gregoir said:

If you've ever squeezed out the anal glands of your beloved dog you might understand the smell. 😫

 

Quality food, both dry complete and quality tinned (no, not crappy 4% meat stuff like winalot* or pedigree chum*) meat alike Arden Grange for instance.....

And a good exercise regime can help negate this.

 

*look at the ingredients / composition, 4% meat*.........................Arden Grange 70% fresh chicken.

 

If on the other hand the dog is just old or / and has underlying health issues then squeezing maybe a necessary evil.

[automass]

On 15/03/2020 at 14:47, Tilt said:

 

^^^See cheezemonkhai's post on 17th Jan............4th suggestion - New pollen filter.

 

Obviously you are sorted now (29th Dec post), unless the smell has returned, or you became 'nose blind', Lol.

 

If the smell has returned then a proper wet vac valet is required on any fabric that smells, depends where the previous owners pet travelled in the car. Probably the back seats.

A proper wet vac being a machine that pumps water / fabric cleaning solution into the fabric whilst also vaccuming it out at the same time.

 

 

 

Sorry...I might have escaped it. Smell is long gone..but still i had some other issue like every morning i used to get sticky eyes after driving the car from evening till midnight. Once pollen filter is changed, its all fresh now. 

Edited 16 March, 2020 by automass

[sakta]

I’m surprised no ones mentioned it - you can buy a cheap ozone generator on eBay or amazon. Professional, very expensive cleaners will charge a big fee to use one, but it’s much cheaper and economical to buy your own and use it whenever need be!

[Ootohere]

Re Ozone Generators and Cheap Ozone Generators, people might want to read up on them. 

Maybe see if a cheap one or a professional using one of theirs is something for them.