Being a mechanic, I’ve driven a bunch of cars into my bay and not all of them have smelled like roses. I’ve actually had cars that smelled so bad that I almost refused to get in them (I probably could refuse to do it, but to not embarrass anyone, I just deal with it sometimes). There are certain smells that air fresheners can’t fix (they only mask the odor), and one sure fire method that I have found to eliminate car odors is by using activated charcoal.
How does Charcoal Eliminate Car Odors?
Have you ever heard of a charcoal canister? Most vehicles with gas engines have them. Their job is to absorb fuel vapor because your gas tank has to be vented and it is vented to the atmosphere. The charcoal canister removes the fuel vapors before they get out into the atmosphere. Activated charcoal has been a remedy of removing odors for years and not only works with cars but just about anywhere that is in a confined space. Activated charcoal is so good, you only need 1 teaspoon to cover an entire football field! Charcoal is able to absorb mostly any odor and it can also help with moisture and mold.
How to Use Activated Charcoal in Your Car?
It’s actually pretty simple. Make sure all the windows are up and throw an open bag of activated charcoal (some like to use charcoal briquettes) and let it sit overnight. When you go to the car the next day, take the bag out and get in and see how it smells. It normally doesn’t take long to get the odor out but for more serious odors, you may want to continue to do it for a few days. Once you have used it a couple times, you can reactivate the carbon in the charcoal by leaving it in direct sunlight. It’s definitely possible to have a bag last for 2 years! Some people have asked because regular charcoal has a smell, does activated charcoal have a smell also? Well, in a way it does but once you remove it from the car, you won’t smell it anymore.
Where can I get Activated Charcoal?
There are several different places to buy activated charcoal. Just remember that it’s a little different from the charcoal that you use on your grill. Most activated charcoal is actually not in a form but more of a powdery / dirty substance. They also have some activated charcoal with scent but it’s been my experience that it’s best to use an unscented brand and then use air fresheners afterwards. Here’s a list of a few activated charcoal products you can use in your car:
All of the above products are from Bamboo, which I have personally tested on a few different vehicles. I have not found a car yet that could keep the odor of using the bamboo activated charcoal and the reviews on amazon prove it. Even if you notice some mild odor in your car or want to freshen it up, try this out and let me know in the comments how it goes!
