Angelfish Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 Obviously the best way is to clean out the source of the smell, but if that proves elusive you're left with the ozone treatments and that sort of thing. I had the car professionally deodorized and it did help, but after that I found 3 dead mice inside the dash and center console (no wiring damage!) I vacuumed out everything I could reach and sprayed some enzyme treatment. But it still lingers. I will need to tear out the center console but that's a job for a long cold winter. So there's the sprays, gel cans, 12 volt air purifiers, etc. Have you had reasonable success with any of them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_Mack_CT Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 (edited) Fish a likely source of that issue is your climate control, they get right into those hoses. I have used a deoderizer for that purpose with pretty good success. I will check later but I also think MB has a sort of outlet under the car for AC related condensation build up, been a couple seasons since I messed with it but I think you can hit those vents w deoderizer from underneath as well which helps a lot. I also sprayed in door jambs where vents lead to perforations in door cards, to blow hot or cool air at you from the side... I suspect the 380 has same layout. Lucky break on wiring as they did a number on our car undef console and dash. Deoderizer a NAPA product will get the name later Edited June 14, 2023 by Steve_Mack_CT Added info (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Gregush Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 While I had a lot more then 3 dead mice, most of my smell was from the seats. The truck is unrestored so after removing the seats and vacuuming as well as I could, I sprayed/soaked everything down that I could with Hydroperoxide then a weak bleach solution. I would not recommend any of what I did for a restored car, the bleach solution could/would reck havoc on the fabric. I don't know how well it will work in the end but the smell might dissipate over time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
61polara Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 Leaving it in the hot sun with the windows down will help greatly. You may need to do this several days. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old car fan Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 Pet stores sell a product that would work,50.00 a gallon.Does not hurt any fabric or carpet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve_Mack_CT Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 This stuff. Under $10 I think, NAPA 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marty Roth Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 50 minutes ago, Steve_Mack_CT said: This stuff. Under $10 I think, NAPA Besides spraying into ALL ductwork, also spray it from where the air intake brings fresh air from outside the car, as well as where it recirculates from inside 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Kelso Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 A pan of uncooked coffee grounds, will remove the smell of fire and death 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 As will a pan of activated charcoal. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarNucopia Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 (edited) This has worked well for me. Edited June 14, 2023 by CarNucopia (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
31nash880 Posted June 14, 2023 Share Posted June 14, 2023 A pan of cheap coffee is the ticket. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gossp Posted June 15, 2023 Share Posted June 15, 2023 Most of the tool rental places will have ozone machines. They really work well but take a little longer than a professional detail shop will give a car space, so they are wasting their effort and your money when they sell you that treatment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Studemax Posted June 15, 2023 Share Posted June 15, 2023 Fresh Step kitty litter. Scatter a bunch of it around in the car, leave it for a week. Vacuum up all the kitty litter. Now your car will smell like laundry soap.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old car fan Posted June 15, 2023 Share Posted June 15, 2023 10 hours ago, 31nash880 said: A pan of cheap coffee is the ticket. Cheap coffee, not now. 2 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAKerry Posted June 15, 2023 Share Posted June 15, 2023 2 hours ago, old car fan said: Cheap coffee, not now. Our starbucks gives away their spent grounds, but not sure theres much left at that point, LOL. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
31nash880 Posted June 15, 2023 Share Posted June 15, 2023 Any dry coffee. Dollar tree is cheap 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angelfish Posted June 15, 2023 Author Share Posted June 15, 2023 (edited) 23 hours ago, Steve_Mack_CT said: Fish a likely source of that issue is your climate control... Deodorizer a NAPA product will get the name later Bought a can, I'll try it this weekend. 18 hours ago, JAK said: A pan of uncooked coffee grounds, will remove the smell of fire and death Sounds like a good solution for winter storage. Edited June 15, 2023 by Angelfish (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Restorer32 Posted June 15, 2023 Share Posted June 15, 2023 When you find the solution let me know. I know where there is supposed to be a low mileage '63 Vette that a guy died in. They are selling it for $500 because of the smell..... 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted June 15, 2023 Share Posted June 15, 2023 Here is a scientific write up on malorder counterreactants. https://www.sciencedirect.com/sdfe/pdf/download/eid/1-s2.0-1046199X95901280/first-page-pdf There are quite a few brands listed online. I used to sell two types sold by Aratari Auto Finishers in Rochester, NY. One was for mold, the other for smoke. I still have a couple bottles in my garage. It worked great and one friend really liked it for freshening his boat. I am not sure if Aratari does mail order. You could try them. Otherwise the online available brands should be similar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cudaman Posted June 15, 2023 Share Posted June 15, 2023 Scotty Kilmer has an ozone generator that he puts in cars to deoderize them. https://www.google.com/search?q=scotty+kilmer+ozone+generator&rlz=1C1CHBD_enUS737US737&oq=scotty+kilmer+ozone+generator&aqs=chrome..69i57.8310j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocketraider Posted June 15, 2023 Share Posted June 15, 2023 3 hours ago, TAKerry said: Our starbucks gives away their spent grounds, but not sure theres much left at that point, LOL. Those work great as plant food. Not sure about deodorizing. I garondamntee coffee grounds are the only thing Starbucks gives away! At our monthly Ruritan fundraising breakfast I'm in charge of beverages. I have to save the spent coffee grounds for one of the little old ladies to put in her flower beds. We usually feed 100-125 people and they'll go thru ten, sometimes twelve, pots of coffee. They tell me I make good coffee. I rarely drink it so I don't know if it is or not!😛 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Guy Posted June 15, 2023 Share Posted June 15, 2023 Arm & Hammer Baking Soda in a pie plate or pan has worked pretty well for me. Not a miracle cure for really strong odor issues, but helps with cars that one might call "musty." I have also tired an inexpensive set of 5 of those activated charcoal "air purification" bags and would call those just okay - I don't find them particularly good at dealing with the musty smells, but I suppose these are absorbing some small amount of moisture which is likely beneficial. I have never used an ozone machine or any stronger chemicals. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3macboys Posted June 15, 2023 Share Posted June 15, 2023 2 hours ago, Restorer32 said: When you find the solution let me know. I know where there is supposed to be a low mileage '63 Vette that a guy died in. They are selling it for $500 because of the smell..... If you know someone in the funeral business they've got stuff that works wonders....don't ask how I know 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vintage1 Posted June 15, 2023 Share Posted June 15, 2023 I used charcoal in a car I bought that had been smoked in. I put several plates of charcoal in the car, front and back, left it for a week and had no more smell. Also a company BG Products makes a deodorizer that can be sprayed in the vents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drhach Posted June 15, 2023 Share Posted June 15, 2023 Definitely some good ideas here that seem worth trying. I bought an ozone generator, and it made things better but didn't fully eliminate the musty smell. The other problem with having an ozone generator is that it has no practical use after you use it once. So now I have an ozone generator kicking around the house. I guess I need to buy another car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHa Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 A plate of Vanilla. Just pour some in a plate and leave it in the car sealed up. It will absorb any odors. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcapra Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 I think Seinfeld had this problem, but he couldn't get it to go away. Made his car unsellable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
60FlatTop Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 Reminds me of The Ozone Generator Song. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baby blue Posted June 16, 2023 Share Posted June 16, 2023 Be careful with an O-zone generator, they are powerful, and if left on too long they can corrode exposed unpainted steel. Ask me how I know.......... They can help, but cleanup is the first large step. Sometimes the smell permeates the rubber or plastic. Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan G Posted June 17, 2023 Share Posted June 17, 2023 In working to get rid of the odor of mothballs, I tried a bunch of stuff. I succeeded with a large amount of baking soda (several giant size boxes spread all over the interior for a week.) Careful when using on fabric because if anything gets damp it will be a bear to get out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Dobbin Posted June 24, 2023 Share Posted June 24, 2023 On 6/15/2023 at 10:22 AM, Restorer32 said: When you find the solution let me know. I know where there is supposed to be a low mileage '63 Vette that a guy died in. They are selling it for $500 because of the smell..... Sounds like an old wives tale, like the Dusenberg in the garage only a block away. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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