Odor removal question

I have a 72 Satellite that smells kind of like an old car inside. It isn't overwhelming, but I would like to significantly reduce the potency level. The carpet is brand new, so I think the odor is mostly in the seat foam. I will be recovering the seats soon, and wonder if it might be best to replace the seat foam to reduce the source of the smell. Has anyone been successful in eliminating or substantially reducing odors using ozone generators, Febreeze, dozens of Christmas tree fresheners, or any other method? This is not a smokers car odor. Just a little musty, about twice as strong as old man/old lady smell. Hope this description doesn't offend anyone- I just couldn't think of a better comparison to use. :yuk:

Say what! What do you do at family gatherings.......slip a deodorizer in Uncle Benny's pocket when he isn't paying attention? :edgy:

:rolling::rolling::rolling::rolling:

We used to sprinkle baking soda on Uncle Bernie, but one time he had a bad case of acid reflux and went off like a volcano at a 6th grade science fair! :dancing_monkey:

pyu a pan of opened ammonia in the car for a week or so. it will kill alot of odors. Other than that it would be Fafezse fabric deodorizer.

I have a Ozone (O3) generator that I use on the old cars. Extensive use of them can dry out an interior though. 1 shot deal? fine...

I have a Ozone (O3) generator that I use on the old cars. Extensive use of them can dry out an interior though. 1 shot deal? fine... Did not know that an ozone generator would dry out interiors. Are we talking about foam becoming brittle, plastic getting chalky, Carpet backing aging more rapidly? I do not currently own an O3 generator, but am thinking I could live without one now.

pyu a pan of opened ammonia in the car for a week or so. it will kill alot of odors. Other than that it would be Fafezse fabric deodorizer.

My first thought about ammonia was now the smell will change from old man smell to old man with bladder control problems smell, but this seems to be a recommended technique on household hints type sites also. Think I will try the lemon scented ammonia and see what happens. Thanks for your advice

Guess I'm getting morbid here, but a place that does crime-scene-clean-up would be the best folks to ask. Sometimes folks die and aren't discovered quickly. I'll bet there is a forum for that too! HaHa! I'm NOT kidding.

Used Car Lots use Ozone type units to get rid of tobacco smells ect.

Used Car Lots use Ozone type units to get rid of tobacco smells ect.

works great we had a car come in that was wrecked in the winter , had a gallon of milk in it , then by the time we got it it was summer . Nasty ? ozone did the trick .

Spray vinegar on the seats, roll back the carpet and let the jute dry, then spray with vinegar. May require two treatments.

i put white vinegar in a pie pan set it on the floor in the front then do the same in the back and leave the windows cracked open leave that for a couple of days

Never tried "pickling" one before...

You'd be surprised how much the old wiring smells.

Has anyone been successful in eliminating or substantially reducing odors using ozone generators, Febreeze, dozens of Christmas tree fresheners, or any other method?

Moth balls will do the job.

Have you ever smelled moth balls?












How did you pry their little legs open?

:sixpack:

Used Car Lots use Ozone type units to get rid of tobacco smells ect.


That's correct. I use a ALPINE XL air purifier with Ozone and Ionization. Crank it up roll up windows, close doors and let it run overnight. All smell gone. Its incredible. We cant live w/o it in our house.

Just a little musty, about twice as strong as old man/old lady smell. Hope this description doesn't offend anyone- I just couldn't think of a better comparison to use. :yuk:

That hilarious....Someone's probably flicking off their computer screen at ya right about now.

Used Car Lots use Ozone type units to get rid of tobacco smells ect.

Yes, today that is what they use, but the pan of ammonia I mentioned above is what we used 40 years ago before the ozone units were invented. I just figured most people don't have on of these machines at their disposal.

Pan of baking soda for a week or so...

One of my Carpets a ways back had an odor also.



Good ole "Summers Eve" took care of that smell :rofl:

blownalcoholhemihead One of my Carpets a ways back had an odor also.



Good ole "Summers Eve" took care of that smell


lol

Buy a bar of irish spring soap and slice it in strips. I put some under the seats on both sides in the front and a piece or two in the glove box when the car was in storage and I put some on paper towels on the back floor boards and the smell was gone. I took all of them out in the spring except the one in the glove box. This works well if you are a smoker also in your daily driver. Just put a couple of strips about 1/2 inch thick and the smoke smell gets eaten up. The fabreeze works, it just involves alot of reappling to keep the bad smell gone.

Since u replaced carpet ? Is did u also replace padding if not thats most likely were odor is from u change the padding change carpet put int back together put in ozone machine in set timer let it sit next day its great inside but the seat padding does get oders also but the headliner door panels dash vents its everywhere ozone machine does eliminate it i worked at detail shop for years alot of oders just come from padding and insulation in the cars seats can b masked

My fridge went off while on vacation and all went bad. No matter what i did I couldn't get the fish smell out. I emptied the fridge and set 2 paper plates of fresh (new) coffee grinds in for 2 weeks. The smell is all gone !! Absolutely 110%. Maybe try this idea???
AL B

hey if you made YOURSELF smell like "old man" all the time, you'd never smell it in the car ever again...hahahaaha :puke: