What Causes Odors Inside the Car?
3 Answers
Reasons for odors inside the car are as follows: Odors from items in the car: Odors from items in the car, such as smoking, eating, or placing unclean items inside, can cause unpleasant smells. In such cases, simply opening the windows for ventilation can help. New car odor: New car odor occurs because plastic panels or rubber seals inside the vehicle may still contain substances like formaldehyde that haven't dissipated yet. This is normal and will go away after driving for some time. Air conditioning odor: Air conditioning odor happens when the air filter is not cleaned for a long time, allowing bacteria and dirt to accumulate. Air passing through these contaminants and circulating inside the car will inevitably produce odors.
There's a strange smell in the car, and I reckon it might be related to our usual car habits. When you first bring home a new car, the plastic and leather materials in the interior will gradually release odors—you need to roll down the windows for ventilation, and it’ll take some time to fade. In summer, if the air conditioning condensate tube doesn’t drain properly and mold grows inside, the air blowing out will have a sour stench. Remember last time when a friend’s kid spilled yogurt in the back seat and didn’t clean it up properly? A few days later, that fermented spoiled smell almost knocked us out. And for car owners who smoke, the tobacco residue seeps into the seat fabric and can’t be washed away no matter what. You’ve got to be careful when eating in the car—potato chip crumbs falling into the seat crevices can eventually mold and stink. It’s best to regularly clean the floor mats and replace the cabin air filter—these small expenses can prevent bigger headaches.
The issue of odors in cars should not be taken lightly, especially for sensitive individuals like the elderly and children. I recently researched that adhesives and synthetic materials in new car interiors release volatile compounds like formaldehyde, so it's essential to place activated charcoal bags to absorb them. For those who drive frequently, rainwater or melted snow that seeps under the floor mats should be aired out regularly, as prolonged dampness can breed mold. The tar smell left by smoking is the most stubborn—simply spraying air fresheners only addresses the symptoms, not the root cause. Once, I noticed a dead rat smell in a colleague's car; upon lifting the hood, we found a small animal had crawled in and died behind the radiator. Also, avoid choosing low-quality car perfumes, as chemical fragrances mixed with existing car odors can make the smell even worse. For interior cleaning, it's best to visit a professional shop for thorough steam disinfection.
