A bad smell often gets you in the face when you open your car door for your daily walk. Last week, the intense rain in Ahmedabad covered my shoes before I could even reach the handle, so I had to deal with this identical problem.
While the open windows keep warm air inside the cabin overnight, the textile mats on your floor absorb all that filthy street water. In order to restore your enjoyment of driving, I would like to offer my unique methods for removing that nasty smell.
The Real Reason your car smells bad
As soon as you enter, street waste and rainwater combine. because the trapped moisture creates a suitable hiding place, bacteria develop quickly in the dark area below your dashboard. To maintain the purity of the air inside your car, you must remove that contaminated water as soon as possible.
My simple cleaning steps
This issue can be resolved without spending a lot of money on a vehicle wash. you can use common kitchen products to follow my instructions in your own driveway.
Step 1: Take the mats out fast
As soon as possible, remove the smelly mats from the car since leaving them inside lets the dirty street water absorb into the carpet of your primary vehicle. After laying them flat in a dry area on your porch, give them a couple strong shakings to get rid of any loose dirt or tiny stones.
Step 2: The Baking Soda Scrub
Baking soda safely extracts moisture from deep threads. using a stiff plastic brush, massage the white powder deeply into the material by putting a thick coating over the wet cloth. To fully absorb the stored water, let it sit for a few hours.
Read: How to stop your wet motorcycle helmet from smelling in Monsoon
Step 3: Wash with White Vinegar
Pour one cup of normal white vinegar into a bucket of warm water. To clean the mat, dip your brush into this bucket. the liquid’s acid removes any remaining bacteria that are causing the smell.
Step 4: Dry under a ceiling fan
Inside your home, hang the fresh mats under a swift ceiling fan. you have to leave them under the fan all night to make sure the thick rubber bottom dries out since putting a wet mat back into your car starts the breakdown cycle again.
What if the water soaked into your car carpet
The thick carpet attached to your metal car floor absorbs water quickly, so removing the mats only solves half of the issue. you must manually dry this cloth inside the car since it remains connected to the metal frame.
Take a few thick bath towels from your home and use your full weight to firmly push them into the wet areas of the floor. while keeping the car doors wide open to allow fresh air to move around the cabin and dry any remaining moisture, you want to transfer as much water as possible into the towels.
The Secret Charcoal Trick
The extra wetness from the heavy rain still remains in the closed car air even after washing the carpets to get rid of the bacteria that were producing a sharp smell. you should purchase little bags of bamboo charcoal online to place under your passenger seat.
Throughout the whole rainy season, the charcoal keeps the car smelling neutral by acting as a natural sponge for smells and wet air. Additionally, keeping a bag on the rear seat prevents moist smells from developing in the luggage.
Why turning on the car heater fails
Many drivers put the car heating up high in an effort to dry their damp seats. A major issue arises when the doors are closed and the engine is running because the intense heat bakes dirty water into the fabric.
This transforms a little wet smell into a long dissolving odor that is impossible to get rid of with a typical wash. to keep car cloth fresh, you must use moving room air rather than intense heat when drying it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I use a hair dryer to dry the mats?
No, you have to stay away from using a hair dryer. your car’s protective rubber spikes are melted by intense heat. Last monsoon, I rush through the drying process and destroyed my own costly liners. The bottom layer is completely secure when you rely on your bedroom ceiling fan.
How often should I clean them in August?
When it rains a lot, wash your cloth mats every two weeks. smelly germs have an opportunity to grow deep inside the threads when waste is let to sit longer. as we covered in my guide on how to clean a smelly washing machine drum during the rainy season, doing this routine task prevents serious odor problems.
Should I buy rubber mats for the monsoon?
Yes, your morning routine would be lot simpler if you convert to thick rubber floor mats. In just a few of seconds, you may use a dry cloth to clean the material. If your sneakers get wet while walking to the car, you can fix them by tomorrow morning if you follow my instructions on how to fast dry wet canvas shoes without contact with sunshine.
