The last thing you want to worry about on a date is a bad-smelling car.
Car scent is the first thing your date notices, especially if you plan a long travel date. Unfortunately, a part of the brain can associate smells with memories. That won’t help much as a first impression, especially if your car isn’t smelling good. It's essential to make your car smell good before you go on a date, or else they'll turn around and leave right away.
There are tons of new products for a car that smells “date-ready.” But sometimes, a car smell isn’t just about the smell. There might be a lurking culprit in the unseen space causing the smell.
Follow these curated tips, and be amazed at how to make your car smelling great before a date!
What Makes Cars Smell?
A new car can smell like an adhesive and sealant used in manufacturing. Though tolerable, some people might even pay for the muskiness of the scent. The opposite happens as the car gets old. Though old, it is also noble with lots of wounds and spillage from the morning coffee, everyday food, and humidity sweats.
Moreover, The smell of an old car that is not properly maintained sucks. We don’t want your date to think that you take things for granted.
One of the most common culprits of a smelly car is the buildup of dirt, dust, and debris in the vents and crevices around the dashboard. This will cause an unpleasant odor to your vehicle as these particles heat up from the air conditioner or heater. If this happens in your car, it’s time for deep cleaning.
The good news is that there are many ways to make your car smell better, some of which won’t cost you anything.
Make Your Car Smell Good
A car is a place where a lot of time is spent, especially if dating. We use it to drive to work, pick up groceries, travel dates, or visit friends and family.
There are many ways to keep your car from smelling bad. Practice can range from a one-time spritz of fragrance oil to as routinely as opening all the windows and doors every morning.
If you have a date but are not confident about the scent of your car, here are some techniques that can help your car smell good.
1. Air Fresheners and Odor Eliminators
Air fresheners and odor eliminators are a must-have for those who want to make their car smell good. However, it is not just about the scent but also about your family's health.
Car freshies and odor eliminators come in many different forms, such as gels, sprays, and wax melts, come in many various forms. It eliminates unpleasant smells from any source - from pets to spilled milk!
Suppose you are an odor eliminators fan and want to spice up your date night. Bargz Lick Me All Over Fragrance Oil can be refilled in your odor eliminator bottle. However, if you are more of a neutral person and get nauseated, a charcoal-based air freshener or top-note scents like lavender essential oil can help you.
You can also opt for a fresh scent, like citrusy lemon and orange essential oil.
2. Vacuuming the Floor Mats and Carpet Surfaces
Correct the way you vacuum mats and carpets. Many cleaning products are available in the market that offers promising result in cleaning carpets and rugs. For example, applying carpet powder and shampoo can eliminate the foul odor of your car. To optimize the effect, leave them overnight and drop fragrance oil before vacuuming.
The vacuum cleaner doesn’t have to be as long as standard vacuums purchased in the market. There are handy vacuum cleaners that are made specifically for your car.
3. Cleaning the Interior Windows
Cars with dirty windows can make the whole vehicle look messy and unkempt. Cleaning windows inside a car is a tedious and time-consuming task. But there is always a product for that need.
The best window cleaner for cars will typically contain some combination of ammonia and alcohol as these are two powerful cleaning agents that make it possible to clean even tricky stains from glass surfaces with ease.
A vacuum for car window cleaners is a great way to keep your car looking good. Cleaning the interior windows is not as hard as it may seem initially. All you need is a squeegee, water, and some window cleaner.
4. Get Rid of Wet Rags and Molds
A great way to remove musty smells in the car is to use a 50:50 solution of vinegar and water. Vinegar stimulates chemical reactions which absorb the odors and cover them up. It can also be used for cleaning surfaces that might be affected by pet or child vomit, spilled drinks, food, or other household accidents. Just remember to avoid using them on electrical surfaces.
Spray solution or use a rag to wipe this into the wet area and leave it there for a few hours. You can also use a wet vacuum in the meantime. Otherwise, use a cloth to clean up the remaining residue before you soak up any damp patches.
An alternative solution also exists using a baking soda that is effective in eliminating bad odors.
5. Mix Essential Oils with Water in a Spray Bottle
Mixing water and essential oils in a spray bottle is a great way to clean your car. For example, you can mix Lemon oil (fresh), Lavender oil (calming), Eucalyptus oil (minty), and Tea tree oil (antibacterial).
Some people like to use citrus oils because they smell fresh and clean. Other people prefer floral oils because they are more soothing for the senses. For some people who want to spice up the car for their next date, many options for fragrance oils set the mood right.
If you are on a budget, keeping cotton balls dropped with fragrance oils or essential oil inside a mason jar is also a best solution on making your car smelling fresh. Keeping and placing them in your cup holders can come in handy.
6. Get Rid of the Old Food in Your Car
The old food in your car can make a mess and attract pests. It can also take up valuable space in your vehicle. If you are a fan of travel dates, you know that you can’t help but eat inside a car. If this event is unavoidable, the solution is to keep a resealable bag in your vehicle for leftovers.
If possible, avoid crumby, smelly, or oily foods. For example, ice cream is a big NO if you don’t want any sweet drops from your newly cleaned seats.
7. Keep Your Purse Organized and Cleaned Out Regularly
Different types of purses can be installed in your car. Just type car seat organizer or car purses, and google will show you thousands of recommendations. Unfortunately, while they can be tempting, purses are often the worst offenders when it comes to cluttered messes. They're usually filled up with junk, from receipts to old makeup to random pieces of paper. And while we all know that cleaning out our purses is essential, finding the time can be challenging.
Set aside a weekly cleaning on those purses to avoid accumulating dirt and unnecessary clutter.
8. Open the windows
The air inside your car can be up to 10 times more polluted than outside, thanks to the lack of airflow and constant exposure to oil, smoke, and other chemicals.
While this might not be something you want to do if it's cold outside, you should try opening the windows for at least an hour or two before a date. This will help eliminate some foul odors while allowing in some fresh air (which will help with any lingering smells). Also, open the windows before turning on the air conditioner to avoid trapping any odors as air conditioning can trap unecessary odors.
9. Use a Fabric Freshener
Fabric fresheners are not just for clothes anymore! You can now use them on your car seats to avoid foul odors before a date with your significant other. Choose less overwhelming scents, especially if you are fond of using an air freshener and odor eliminator. We don’t want to be nauseous about different fragrances.
If you wanted a long lasting and a sophisticated treat for your car, try Egyptian Musk Essential Oil mixed with your unscented fabric freshener. Your car will smell like new and definitely date ready.
While if you want a similar effect a car freshies can also be your go-to solution.
10. Avoid Smoking and Eating Inside the Car
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) states that eating and smoking while driving is a “secondary task distraction.” Not only can these two factors leave an unwanted lingering smell, but this two are also health hazards.
Smoking in the car can expose loved ones to secondhand smoke with higher effects than smoking outside. However, if your problem is how to get weed smell out of car, you may tackle the issue with a different solution.
Takeaways
Check around the vehicle for the malodor-causing culprit. Look inside pockets, under the seats, on floor carpets, and in the compartment. This can be anything from baby bottles, moldy fruit, or unknown blobs someone's shoe may have dragged. Remove and throw any of these away immediately. Then, open the doors for a while to let any lingering odor dissipate.
If you smoke frequently inside your car, it's not the end of your car's freshness. Read more on our blog about how to get smoke smell out of car and transform your car smell into a fresher one.
Don’t forget that sometimes a bad smell can signify an overheated car – or you may need an oil change. Impressed someone on your first date by giving a squeaky clean car makeover.
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