How to Deal with Strong New Car Smell?
2 Answers
Solutions for strong new car smell: 1. High-temperature exposure: If the car is purchased during seasons with strong sunlight, exposing the car to direct sunlight with doors and sunroof open can quickly remove interior odors, especially helping formaldehyde to evaporate rapidly; 2. Window ventilation: Opening windows accelerates air circulation, reduces odor concentration inside the car, and speeds up odor dissipation; 3. Air fresheners: Air fresheners can temporarily mask new car odors but do not eliminate odorous gases. Users sensitive to new car smells can use this method to reduce odor irritation, or employ fruit peels or perfumes for the same purpose; 4. Photocatalyst: Photocatalyst deodorization utilizes chemical reactions. Under sunlight, photocatalyst materials react with substances like formaldehyde to eliminate odors, but the exposure time should not be too long—just about ten minutes.
The new car smell is indeed a headache, mainly coming from harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by interior materials like plastics and adhesives. My usual approach is to always open the windows for ventilation when parked, and park the car in sunny spots to let the heat accelerate odor dissipation. While driving, I also keep the windows open as much as possible, with the best effect on highways. Placing activated charcoal bags on seats and the rear window ledge is a cheap and efficient way to absorb odors, or using orange peels to release natural fragrance as a chemical-free alternative. Regularly wiping seats and door panels with a damp cloth to reduce dust buildup also helps. Avoid using air freshener sprays as they only mask the problem without solving it and may increase health risks. From a health perspective, minimize children's prolonged exposure to strong odors in the car to prevent allergies. Overall, safety comes first—persist for a few days and the smell will lessen.
