# How do you get rid of sick smell in a car? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 20, 2003, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-sick-smell-in-a-car/183250 "2003-06-20T19:12:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Griffin)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-sick-smell-in-a-car/183250/1 "2003-06-20T19:12:36Z")
A mate vomitted in my car a couple months ago and the smell keeps coming back! I’ve washed the affected areas with domestic cleaner, a month ago I tried using a Bicarbonate of Soda slution on it to neutralise any acid, and then sprayed it with Neutradol. I keep spraying stuff on the affected seat but it just keeps coming back! ---
**Author:** ![Zenster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/cdc98d/32.png) [@Zenster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zenster)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-sick-smell-in-a-car/183250/2 "2003-06-20T20:03:28Z")
Look into a product called, “Ozium.” It is an aerosolized glycerine compound that actually binds to particles and odors. You may also wish to locate some orange or lemon oils as they are incredibly effective at masking smells. If the vomit soaked into the seat cushions you may be sh!t out of luck. If it’s been absorbed by the floor mats, think of peeling them back and replacing the underlayment. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-sick-smell-in-a-car/183250/3 "2003-06-20T21:22:49Z")
When it happened to me, I took it to a carpet cleaner. He steam-cleaned the carpet and the seats. When I got it back, it looked and smelled brand new. ---
**Author:** ![kunoichi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/4da419/32.png) [@kunoichi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kunoichi)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-sick-smell-in-a-car/183250/4 "2003-06-20T21:54:17Z")
Do they have Febreze spray in Scotland? I used it successfully to get rid of vomit smell in my car. ---
**Author:** ![Eats\_Crayons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/278dde/32.png) [@Eats\_Crayons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eats_Crayons)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2003, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-sick-smell-in-a-car/183250/5 "2003-06-20T23:25:21Z")
There are also many enzyme-based cleaners easily found in pet stores. Often ezymatic cleaners (which are usually clear liquid, by the way) are often the only solution for dealing with vomit (pet or human) as well as poo-poo and urine stains. Go to a pet store and tell them your dog threw up all over the rug (save your friend a little embarassment) and they’ll give you the right stuff. You need to saturate the area heaivly and let it sit for a bit and then mop up the excess liquid. If the odor is still there, then it means that your cleaning efforts are not getting to the source of the problem (e.g. yuck stuff pooled somewhere and isn’t getting cleaned away.) I’ve two cats and a white wool rug – if the stuff can take care of the horrible, horible things they do, I’m sure it’ll work in your car. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2003, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-sick-smell-in-a-car/183250/6 "2003-06-21T15:19:27Z")
It’s Easier if you take the seat out… Might be something at: > **[How To Clean Anything - A Resource of Helpful Cleaning Tips](http://www.howtocleananything.com/)** > > A Resource of Helpful Cleaning Tips ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2003, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-sick-smell-in-a-car/183250/7 "2003-06-21T18:40:31Z")
Buy a breather bag of zeolite. This is a mineral that will take the smell of anything out of anything. Check your health food store, or go to [www.zeolite.com](http://www.zeolite.com). GROSS ALERT: We used it at work to clean out a house of the smell of a body that had been dead for three days in the middle of July. This stuff works. ---
**Author:** ![SnoopyFan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d07c76/32.png) [@SnoopyFan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnoopyFan)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2003, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-sick-smell-in-a-car/183250/8 "2003-06-21T23:28:01Z")
Try to find some Febreze or if not get an American buddy to send you some. I use it anytime my daughter gets carsick. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-sick-smell-in-a-car/183250/10 "2018-03-06T11:28:23Z")
Have it professionally valeted, and get your mate to pay for it. Interior only should be around £50 or so. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-sick-smell-in-a-car/183250/11 "2018-03-06T12:56:28Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > Have it professionally valeted, and get your mate to pay for it. Interior only should be around £50 or so. If the smell is still there since 2003, I’d say give it up, it’s time anyway for a new car. But to answer the OP, I would try a ozone generator after the initial attempts to remove the substance. Also reported as it is too close to spam not to report and let the mods review it. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-sick-smell-in-a-car/183250/12 "2018-03-06T13:13:27Z")
Oops - I did not notice the date. I am sure that the car is long gone by now. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-sick-smell-in-a-car/183250/13 "2018-03-06T13:39:01Z")
> [@bob\_2](#): > > Oops - I did not notice the date. I am sure that the car is long gone by now. The smell might not be. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 1:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-sick-smell-in-a-car/183250/14 "2018-03-06T13:42:49Z")
Note: This thread was bumped by a spammer (whom I’ve nuked), not by **bob++**. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2018, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-get-rid-of-sick-smell-in-a-car/183250/15 "2018-03-06T14:47:42Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Note: This thread was bumped by a spammer (whom I’ve nuked), not by **bob++**. Thanks. Since this is an old thread that was revived by a spammer, I’m closing it. Colibri General Questions Moderator