Most liked posts in thread: How do I get rid of that smell???

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  1. BlwnAway

    BlwnAway Well-Known Member

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    #2 BlwnAway, Jul 20, 2016
    Last edited: Jul 20, 2016
  2. Red Bull

    Red Bull Active Member

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    #3 Red Bull, Jul 20, 2016
    Talk with a car detailer to see if an ozone treatment will eliminate the smell.
     
  3. ZippyNH

    ZippyNH Well-Known Member

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    #4 ZippyNH, Jul 20, 2016
    Baking soda...I have left a pan of it under the seats, and in the trunk....
    If it still comes back...Sprinkle it around....
    Let it sit... vacume it out...might work for an odor...but...
    maybe just rent a carpet cleaner...and clean away.

    If there is dried bits stuck....nothing is gonna get it out till you get it OUT OF THE CAR.
     
  4. TWISTER

    TWISTER Active Member

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    #5 TWISTER, Jul 20, 2016
  5. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    #6 Dave.0, Jul 20, 2016
    Go find a local detailer and ask them if they do ozone treatments?

    It is a machine that they put in you car and seal up your car and it kills all and any bacteria and smells.

    My friend has one at his detail shop and runs it on every used car he does for a local dealership. They put it in the car and let it run overnight and the next day the car smells like nothing was ever inside at all.
     
  6. dchernikoff

    dchernikoff New Member

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    #7 dchernikoff, Jul 20, 2016
    @red bull and @Dave.o: I've never heard of ozone treatments, sounds like it's worth a try. And safer than that DIY chlorine gas kit I got... Thanks.

    As far as charcoal bags and other smell absorbers, I've had a lava rock one in there for a while that is supposed to absorb all odors in a 9000 sq ft room, and it did nothing. :-( I think I need to bring out the big guns like the ozone treatment to kill the bacteria! And I probably should shampoo the rugs and scrub the upholstery, maybe with one of those pet odor remover solvents? But sounds like a lot of work, lol.

    -Dan
     
  7. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #8 Nathan, Jul 20, 2016
    [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj2rxFS0qDQ"]The Smelly Smell that Smells Smelly (HD) - YouTube[/ame]
     
  8. old81

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    #9 old81, Jul 20, 2016
    Did you change the cabin filter and clean the ducts to all the inside filters?

    Ozone treatment will kill most orders, but it has to be an overnight in a sealed up car to be effective.

    What is the history of the MINI, it has never been wet right, left open to the rain, sunk in a swamp, etc... etc ...

    Good luck.
    Don
     
  9. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    #10 Dave.0, Jul 20, 2016
  10. dchernikoff

    dchernikoff New Member

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    #11 dchernikoff, Jul 20, 2016
    I have a carbon cabin filer on order and will install when I get it. But the smell is NOT coming from the vents at all. I smell it strongest when the car has sat for several hours with the engine off and the windows closed. Even with the sunroof cracked open I still get the smell overnight.

    I bought the car from a guy up in the mountains who has a baby and a 10 year old daughter. He had it for a few years. There was standing water in the trunk under the tool tray -- he claimed he spilled a water jug back there a few days prior. I cleaned it out and scrubbed in there with ammonia. The smell isn't really coming from there, at least not that I can tell. There are no obvious stains or mold/mildew anywhere. It "looks" clean. Maybe it is in the vents -- how do you clean them?

    I found a place that does an overnight ozone treatment for $50. That's probably worth a try, but I'm thinking I should shampoo the rugs and upholstery first.

    -Dan
     
  11. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    #12 Dave.0, Jul 20, 2016
    See my link for what you should clean and remove from your car before you take it for an ozone treatment.

    Don't even bother cleaning the vents as it not worth the effort if you are doing an ozone treatment soon.
     
  12. ZippyNH

    ZippyNH Well-Known Member

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    #13 ZippyNH, Jul 20, 2016
    Imo DO swap the cabin airfilter...or inspect it at the very least...
    Many folks have found mice nests...know you say it not the vents...but costs you zero to check. About 5 minutes.
     
  13. caseydog

    caseydog Well-Known Member

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    #14 caseydog, Jul 20, 2016
    Yeah, I have seen this treatment in progress at a dealership, and it removes even cigarette odors.

    They do it with the car running and the vent system on full blast and the temperature on "hot". So, it deodorizes everything, including the vents.

    CD
     
  14. Firebro17

    Firebro17 Dazed, but not Confused
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    #15 Firebro17, Jul 20, 2016
    Replace the cabin filters and spill a few beers inside afterwards. Can't go wrong!
     
  15. caseydog

    caseydog Well-Known Member

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    #16 caseydog, Jul 21, 2016
    Very popular here in the South, but not so much in civilized places. :frown2:

    CD
     
  16. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    #17 MCS02, Jul 21, 2016
    Has the headliner been replaced lately. I redid my liner and it took over a month to quit stinking to high heaven.
     
  17. dchernikoff

    dchernikoff New Member

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    #18 dchernikoff, Jul 21, 2016
    No it has the original headliner still. It's not a chemical/glue/plastic smell. It's definitely something organic...

    I found a local detailing shop that will do the ozone treatment for $50 -- not too bad! Or $250 for the interior detailing plus ozone... I also looked into renting the ozone machines. They even rent them at the local tool rental place. But it was like $75 a day, so might be better to just have the detailer do it.

    Thanks all for the info, I'll let you know how things turn out.

    -Dan
     
  18. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    #19 MCS02, Jul 21, 2016
    Organic?............well um.................could it be coming from the DRIVER?:eek6::lol::lol:

    Sorry couldn't let that pass



    oops no pun intended:biggrin5:
     
  19. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    #20 Dave.0, Jul 22, 2016
    ^^^ I bet it smells like the previous driver couldn't either. :lol:
     
  20. minirab

    minirab Well-Known Member

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    #21 minirab, Jul 22, 2016
    Any possibility the car had been in a flood?
     
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