How to Kill Bad Car Odours for Good

Chuck everything out. And I mean everything. Check the glovebox, under the seats, and that weird little gap between the console and the seat. I once found a half-eaten prawn cracker under a seat that had been there for six months. No wonder the car stunk.

Vacuum every square inch. Use the crevice tool for the seams. If you've got sand or red dust in the carpet, use a drill brush or just smack the carpet with your hand while vacuuming to vibrate the grit to the surface.

Find the 'Ground Zero' of the smell. Is it a stain on the floor? A spill on the passenger seat? You need to know exactly where the worst of it is coming from before you start wetting things down.

Wipe every hard surface with your APC and a microfibre. Don't forget the roof lining (be gentle here) and the tops of the windows. Smoke and dust stick to these areas and hold smells for years.

If the smell is organic (milk, sweat, food), spray your enzyme cleaner directly onto the area. Let it dwell for 5-10 minutes. These enzymes actually 'eat' the bacteria causing the pong.

Use your brush to work the cleaner into the fabric. If you've got a wet/dry vac, spray some warm water on the spot and suck it back out. If you don't have one, blot it firmly with a clean, dry towel. Never rub, you'll just push the gunk deeper.

If you've got a steamer, shoot some steam into the AC vents. It kills mould that lives in the condensation lines. (Just don't go nuts, you don't want to fry the electronics behind the dash).

Pop the glovebox (usually) and swap that filter out. Most cars after a trip to the outback have filters that look like a lamington covered in red dirt. A fresh one makes a massive difference to the air quality.

Clean the inside of the glass with a good glass cleaner. Smells actually film over the glass (especially if you're a smoker or use lots of interior 'shine' products). Use two cloths, one to clean, one to buff dry.

Pull the seatbelts all the way out and wipe them down. People forget how much sweat and skin oils get soaked into belts over a hot Aussie summer. It's a huge source of 'hidden' smell.

Once the interior is dry (and this is important, don't do this while the carpets are wet), use your odour bomb. Set the AC to 'recirculate', full blast, coldest setting. Pop the can, shut the doors, and let it run for 15 minutes. Then open all doors for another 15 to air it out.