MOTORISTS are being urged to use a cheap kitchen item under their car seats to banish foul smells.
The everyday item costs just 65p – but can eliminate “persistent car odours” and also prevent mold.
A jar of humble baking soda under a car seat can “work wonders” by absorbing and cleaning smells, said one cleaning expert.
The soda does this by getting rid of odour molecules and trapping particles.
Sprinkling baking soda will also absorb moisture and prevent mold and bacterial growth, which is crucial as temperatures begin to fall ahead of winter.
“To eliminate persistent car odours overnight, place an open container of baking soda infused with a few drops of your preferred essential oil,” Katie Newman, of Carfume, told the Express.
The soda, which can be mixed with lemon or vanilla, should then be placed under the car seat.
“The baking soda will absorb unwanted smells and moisture, while the essential oils will release a pleasant, lasting fragrance, giving your car the fresh scent of a new vehicle,” she added.
The cleaning tip comes after the AA recently issued similar advice to drivers looking to freshen up their cars.
In a blog post, a spokesperson for the AA said car smells can be “annoying and occasionally a bit embarrassing”, and suggested quick ways to solve the problem.
Essential tips
These included adding a few drops of your favourite essential oil to cotton balls and popping them under the seats.
Another piece of advice was to soak wooden pegs in essential oils overnight, then clip them on to your air vents.
“When you turn the air on, the fragrance should fill your car,” added the spokesperson.
They added: “If there’s a stain which smells, sprinkle bicarbonate of soda on it, leave for a few hours, then vacuum it away.”
The AA post includes lots of other handy advice for motorists – including the best way to clean vomit from car seats.
Meanwhile, the RAC agrees that baking soda is a great way to rid a car of foul smells.
In a blog post, a spokesperson said that it was a “crucial ingredient” in making a personalised air freshener.
They said that filling a small mason jar with baking soda and around five drops of essential oils should do the trick.
While most experts agree baking soda is one of the best ways to eliminate smells, it isn’t the only way.
Simple problem to beat
Other tips include regularly ventilating a car.
To get the best results, experts suggest leaving all of the windows open for about 15 minutes to remove lingering odors.
If drivers continue to be affected by smells, however, this could be the sign of a bigger and potentially more serious issue with dirty air vents.
Luckily, this is quite a simple problem to remedy.
To clean air vents, all you’ll need is an old toothbrush and some diluted shampoo or dish soap.
If the smells persist, the air vents may need to be replaced.
