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How do I remove the mothball smell from my car?
My aunt just bought a new car, so she gave me her old Chevy Impala so I’ll have a car when I go to college next fall. She took good care of it and it runs great, but there’s just one problem—it reeks of mothballs. How do I get the smell out?
Amy Bobinger · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Whew, mothballs can be overpowering, that’s for sure. And while it won’t get rid of the odor, it might make you feel better to know that mothballs are really effective at
keeping rodents out of a vehicle
—so your aunt was on to something there. To remove the mothball smell from your car, try airing it out.Open the doors and windows
If you can, point a fan so it blows through the car. If that’s not possible, park the car somewhere breezy. Let the air circulate for at least several hours—and if the smell is really strong, it might take several days. (It’s okay to close up the car at night if you’re concerned about leaving the windows down.)
Make your own odor-absorber
Fill a container with coffee grounds, baking soda, or charcoal. Place the container in your car for about three days—it should soak up some of the smell. You can even triple the odor-busting power by placing one bowl of each item in your car at the same time.
Use pet odor remover
If that doesn’t help, try spraying the interior of the car with an enzymatic pet-odor remover. These powerful sprays help break down the molecules that cause lingering smells.
Hopefully that will help get rid of the smell in the car before you head off to school! Before you leave, make sure you’re fully covered with the right
car insurance
. It’s easy with Jerry
!Jerry is a licensed car insurance broker and comparison app. We take all the guesswork out of finding the right insurance policy by comparing rates from some of the top insurers in the country. We’ll send you the most competitive quotes so you can find the coverage you need at a price that fits your budget.
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