Video tutorial on how to deodorize a vehicle’s interior. This was an older video I produced back in 2011, I wanted to increase the quality of this video by providing more information on unanswered questions. This is a common method used by mechanics and detailers. I’ve actually used this method many times when working at a dealership. Sometimes an odour can soak into the vehicle’s interior or mold or mildew may grow on the air conditioner’s condenser within the ventilation system. That condenser can be very hard to clean as the dashboard may need to be disassembled. With any foul smells, normally we would start with thoroughly cleaning the vehicle’s interior and replacing the cabin filter if equipped but unfortunately in some cases that doesn’t always work. So instead we used a chemical method.

Tools/Supplies Needed:
-tape
-clean cloth
-a/c treatment cleaner/evaporator cleaner and refresher/ac odour treatment/odour eliminator/foam coil cleaner

Procedure:
-here I am using an a/c treatment cleaner or also known as an evaporator cleaner and refresher, ac odour treatment, odour eliminator or foam coil cleaner
-the product can be purchased at your local automotive parts supplier, available in single cans or a kit
-there is usually a few difference scents available, this one has a citrus fragrance
-while this is intended for vehicles with air conditioning, is can be used on vehicles without it too
-the application must be done with the vehicle off, turn the fan off as well
-normally I insert it into the main center vent in the dashboard, it can also be applied in the other vents too, but this particular vent usually has the best access to the evaporator
-mix the product accordingly
-install the nozzle and be sure to hold onto it, I’ve had a few viewer that has had the nozzle pop off and end up behind the vent diffuser
-now spray the product into the vents for a few seconds
-the product will apply as a foam into the duct, expanding, and eventually vaporizing when circulated
-the product can also be sprayed on the exterior intake for the ventilation system, normally found in front of the windshield
-again using the long nozzle, insert it into the vent, spray for a few seconds and then remove
-make sure the windows are closed, start the vehicle, turn the fan on high, select the coolest setting and select the ac if equipped
-if you didn’t apply it to the exterior intake, then you can select the recirculate feature
-allow the system to circulate for 15-20min, we do not want to be inside the vehicle when the product is circulating
-once the time span has passed, set everything back to it’s regular setting and turn the vehicle off
-during the circulation process, the product will eventually evaporate and disappear, leaving a fresh clean scent

 

What works the best is Febreze to fix an odor problem. I had field mice make a nest inside the body work of my truck and I tried everything short of dismantling the dash. Sprayed the Febreze inside the cab on two successive days ant the odor was completely eliminated.

 

Used this method a few times myself, especially when I bought a used car that had that old “gym bag” smell, lol. The foam cleaner works, but ya gotta follow the steps. Also, if you’re around Naperville, these guys at auto car detailing Naperville https://www.tintingchicago.com/auto-...ng-naperville/ can totally hook you up—deep cleaning, odor removal, the whole package.