You Should Be Using a Car Deodorizer-- Here’s Why

Odors at home are frustrating enough, but odors in the car can be downright annoying. In 2019, the New York Post reported that the average American spends approximately 35 minutes on their daily work commute. When added up, that equals about 19 workdays a year spent sitting in the car. 

That means that on average, we are spending 19 days breathing in car cabin air...and that’s just on our way to work.  Don’t you want to spend those commuting hours breathing in clean air?

Automobile Air Quality

When we’re sitting in our cars with the windows rolled up, we are effectively sitting indoors. The car’s air system is pumping through filtered air that keeps us from having to breathe in noxious car fumes, dust, and other pollutants that inhabit the air around us. 

Exposure to particle pollution can cause such issues as irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, coughing, and even have effects as extreme as asthma attacks and heart problems. 

While air pollutants can cause health issues in adults, children are more prone to the effects of air pollutants. With this in mind, it’s pretty clear why we should be concerned about the quality of air in our car.

Air filters in cars help block out particulate matter such as dust, pollen, and mold that can be harmful to a person’s health. Car deodorizers add an extra line of defense against odors that can act as irritants.

Car Smells to Look Out For 

Mysterious car odors aren’t just annoying, they can also be dangerous to your health. That’s why car odors are nothing to turn your nose up at. Depending on the smell you’re noticing, that stink in your vehicle might actually be telling you that the car needs maintenance.

Can you sniff out these potentially dangerous indicators?

• Antifreeze will smell a little sweet and indicates that there’s an issue with your vehicle’s cooling system. You definitely don’t want to expose yourself to breathing antifreeze for any extent of time.
• Burnt odors might mean a few different things. Check for debris under the hood of your car, oil leaks, and electrical short circuits. 
• Gasoline smells in the car cabin can mean your fuel system is leaking or the evaporative emissions control system that contains fuel vapors is faulty.

On the other hand, you might be inhaling these non-dangerous but pesky smells.

• Mold and mildew gives off a musty, stale scent that tells you to check on the state of your AC. You might also have a leak that’s allowing moisture to collect in the interior and creating a hotbed of bacteria on carpeting.
• If you’re catching whiffs of rotten food, the bad smell is probably coming from rotten food. No mystery here, just make sure you’re clearing out trash and wiping up spills. 

Four Steps to Fresh Car Air

You probably noticed that quite a few causes of bad odors in your car have nothing to do with the air system. Car smells can originate from within and outside of the vehicle. For those smells that don’t indicate an issue that requires a mechanic, you can freshen up your car and improve air quality with these four simple steps:

1. Replace your cabin air filter regularly. This filter collects spores, dust, pollen and other irritants that affect how easily you can breathe.
2. Treat your car’s air conditioning system with an antibacterial solution. Bacteria that build up in the HVAC are potentially harmful to you and your passengers’ health.
3. Reduce buildup of dust and debris that circulates throughout the vehicle by cleaning and vacuuming the interior.
4. Use a car deodorizer in the auto’s interior to help purify the air and produce a fresh, clean scent to keep you breathing free of irritants.

You spend a lot of time in your car--shouldn’t it be enjoyable? Get rid of the bad smell in your car and breathe easier.