5 Reasons Your Car Might Be Smelling Unpleasant From Its Vents

One of the most annoying and distracting odors in car vents is an odor in car vents that has no obvious source. When this happens, there are multiple causes that could be behind an odor in car vents. Knowing what these causes are and taking action to remedy them can help make sure your car remains free of the stench. Here are the five common causes of an odor in car vents and what you can do to eliminate them.

1. Smoking: If you or anyone else smokes in the car, you know how much it lingers inside the leather and upholstery of the vehicle. Even when you’ve stopped smoking, the car may retain the smell. You can cover up the smell, get the car professionally cleaned, or install a smoke filter on the vents. You can also put scented dryer sheets inside the vents to act as a filter for the unpleasant odors.

2. Small Animals: When small animals such as mice and squirrels seek refuge in the crevices of your car, they can leave their fur and scat behind. This, coupled with the heat of the vents, will spread the stink inside the car. To eliminate this, mix 2 cups of water with ½ cup of vinegar and wipe down the interior of the vents. You should also take the car to a car wash and get it professionally cleaned.

3. Dust: Dust particles can settle on the interior vents of your vehicle and eventually build up to cause an unpleasant odor. This dust contains not only regular dirt from outside but also pet dander and skin flakes. To remedy this, you should use the reverse suction setting on a vacuum cleaner to blow the dust out of the vents. Then you will have to clean the vent with water and vinegar.

4. Skunk Musks: Going through a skunk’s stench can embed the scent into the vents of your car, especially if you happen to be the one to have hit the skunk. To mitigate this, mix a cup of dry mustard with a bucket of warm water and use a rag to wipe down the tires, the undercarriage and the vents of the car.

5. Mold: Mold can form in the car vents if they are used little and moisture is allowed to accumulate. To clean this, you can use the same technique as to remove animal smells – mix two cups of water with ½ cup of vinegar, dab with a rag and spray inside the vents.

No matter what the source of the odor in car vents is, quickly identifying it and taking the necessary steps can help you get rid of the unpleasant smell and make sure your car remains fresh and welcoming.