Our car smells of dog. It makes sense as it was used to transport the dog a lot, but it isn't any more (RIP Woodie 🙁 )
He was always in the boot, and the addition of a plastic bootliner helped as it was easier to hoover up the hair and stopped it getting embedded in the fabric and going stale and stinky. However, even though the whole thing has had a good hoover post dog demise, there's still a residual whiff.
I'm going to attack it again with a hoover and probably some Fabreze, but the real issue is the aircon - when the aircon is on it properly stinks, much more so than when it's just the 'normal' fans running through the vents.
I've found out where the cabin air filter is and I'll change that, but why would the aircon specifically smell more and what can I do about it?
Oh, it's a 2019 Honda Jazz.
I would assume that just by running the aircon for a bit will flush out the smell.
I would assume that just by running the aircon for a bit will flush out the smell.
Nope, it's been run a lot post-dog and it still pongs.
I've found out where the cabin air filter is and I'll change that, but why would the aircon specifically smell more and what can I do about it?
I presume aircon being on recycles more of air within the car rather than drawing fresh air in
I presume aircon recycles air within the car rather than draws fresh air in
Yeah, that was my thought too. There is a vent in the boot, my concern is that's part of the recycling system and it's full of dog hair...
There is a vent in the boot
That could be to do with venting air so the the boot can slam - theres normally a vent to the outside somewhere in the boot with a flap (usually positioned so its masked by the bumper plastic on the outside) that lets air blow out so the boot will slam properly. In a non estate type car I wouldn't expect the ventilation system to the blowing into the boot (or sucking air in from it)
Maybe look at enzyme based cleaners for pet smells. Some biological pongs aren't really dealt with by detergents or air fresheners and need to be 'digested' to make them go away
Change the filter and use on of these (or similar):
https://www.holtsauto.com/products/car-cleaning/air-con-cleaner/
With air con, I run mine all the time. I had a car that would smell musty when the a/c wasn't run. This is how you are supposed to use it. You may need to use an anti-bac spray - you don't need specialist stuff, but crank up the a/c on re-circulation, and spray some Dettol anti-bac into the front foot wells. The aircon will pull that through the system. I do this a few times (don't stay in the car). Do change the cabin filter - usually near the glove box.
You also might just want to lightly shampoo/wipe down seats, mat's and carpets.
That Holt's stuff will work fine too.
Cheers all, this is really useful. Is it worth taking the filter out, running the aircon with the cleaner stuff with no filter there, then putting the new filter in?
Cheers all, this is really useful. Is it worth taking the filter out, running the aircon with the cleaner stuff with no filter there, then putting the new filter in?
Yeah I've done that before. Worked a treat.
New cabin filter is a cheap and easy fix that most people never replace. Those aerosol AC bomb things are pretty good.
Many years ago we got a car which was clean but stank of dog. After along while for some reason we had to take the panels off in the boot. (Volvo 240 estate probably rust related).
And there was a matt of dog hair in all the joints and in all the handles and nooks and crannies. Particulary the internal boot release well and handle pocket in the door.
It might not be aircon and just the aircon is recycling mist stench from a "not as free of the fog hair as you might think" situation.
I would pop everything, seats forward etc and lift anything out that can and making sure its absolutely free of the stuff.
Or open all the windows and floor it down the motorway for half an hour.
Once the Aircon is sorted I would take the seats out to properly wet wash all the carpets and the seats.
Maybe not a good idea removing front seats unless you have a code reader to clear the ABS fault which you will trigger disconnecting the seat from the loom.
Have you tried getting the heating system properly hot?
Like going for a drive on the motorway, with the heating on max, fan on max, then parking on the drive, and leaving it running like that? Aiming to properly dry out the heating system? Same problem, different solution, is the drain on the AC blocked so the system has a pool of distilled eau-du-damp-dog sat in the heat exchanger box?
Those AC disinfectant bombs do work, I've used them a few times on cars with both self inflicted and inherited (previous owner was a chain-smoking dog walker) issues. Have a look on EuroCarParts for them as sometimes they fall into their offers and cost 99p.
When you change the cabin filter get a charcoal & anti-bacterial one like this if you can
https://www.gsfcarparts.com/products/cabin-filter-carbon-with-polyphenol-manfp26009
When you change the cabin filter get a charcoal & anti-bacterial one like this if you can
Yeah, was planning on it. I'll try the filter/AC cleaner/hoover into all the nooks and crannies approach first before worrying about lifting seats out.
I've seen some aircon cleaning foams as well that I think you squirt into the filter box (with the filter removed, obvs) and into all the dashboard vents? Is that worth doing too?
I've used THIS, from Halfords, to good effect on stinky air con in the past. Worth £4 IMO.
Or open all the windows and floor it down the motorway for half an hour.
then park it and walk home - from that distance you shouldn't still be able to smell it. 🙂
Good excuse for a new car.
Dog or sweaty socks smell from aircon is not uncommon. It isn't the dogs fault. Its bacteria in the pipework. There are spots in the pipeline where moisture gathers and then bacteria can get hold.
Swap in a new cabin filter which may help but I think you need an aircon disinfect. Can be done professionally as part of a regas or buy and use some aerosol 'bombs'. Get the car hot, set the aircon to full and recirculation, all windows closed, set the bomb off where the intake from the cabin is (passenger footwell, where the cabin filter is, likely). Leave for 15 minutes or so, ventilate the car...hopefully no soggy dog smell.
I've done it fairly successfully on my car with Go4 I think its called. About £3.75 at eurocarparts. (Plus postage) order 2 or 3. My first worked for 3 months before smell started to return, then 6 more months. Needs redoing now so I just bought 4 more.
My car sits unused for long periods so that probably doesn't help, but £4 ish every 6 months isn't a problem so for now I will continue with the bombs
(previous owner was a chain-smoking dog walker)
That's terrible, it's bad enough when people smoke.
😀 I didn't mean replacing the smelly dog (RIP Woodie) , after all they all stink. I meant if you get another dog then the car will continue smelling of dog and you don't need to de-smell the a/c.
It's the AC that's the issue. If you have it, run it all year round, stops misting up in winter. People forget this. Don't use it, then seal failures etc as the fluids aren't moving about the system.
I'd never have a car without these days.
(previous owner was a chain-smoking dog walker)
Bit niche - only walking beagles
Dog or sweaty socks smell from aircon is not uncommon. It isn't the dogs fault. Its bacteria in the pipework. There are spots in the pipeline where moisture gathers and then bacteria can get hold.
This its a classic anerobic bacteria called pseudomonas IIRC
Spray cat piss down the aircon vents. It will no longer smell of dog.
I've had success closing the vents and firing the steam cleaner into one and occilating between the heating positions. Then taking it for a long drive with the heating on full to dry it out.
I got a lot of flakey black gunk out and the smell went away.
Also if you disconnect the 12v and give it 10 mins before unplugging seat (as is sensible anyway so you don't set off the pretensioners)
And reconnect it before you connect 12v back up.
You won't have to reset anything with a code tool
If the Holts AC treatment doesn't do the job, the nuclear option is run an ozone generator in the car for a while. You can buy these pretty cheap but I'd recommend finding a car detailer who offers this service and having them do it.
