Cleaning interior - Dog smell?

RocksForBrains · 10-03-2007, 02:21 PM

I just bought a used FJ a couple of months ago, but the car has an underlying musty odor. I don't know if the previous owner got the seats wet often (I live in san diego, so lots of surfers here including myself) or if he had a dog. What is the best product/method to use to clean the hell out of the seats and get rid of the odor, without ruining the seats or airbags? Thanks in advance.

Cannysage · 10-03-2007, 03:33 PM

pretty impossible to get rid of the ordor. the smell is embedded deeply into the upolstery (however you spell it). ozium (vanilla) is about the strongest stuff that I've used. spray a ton of it when leaving it somewhere for awhile. It'll take weeks.. and still there are no guarantees.

wesayso · 10-03-2007, 03:35 PM

Reminds me of the BO episode on Seinfeld.

PRCruiser · 10-03-2007, 03:38 PM

If you really think it comes from the seats, you may take them out and use some baking soda (or any other odor eliminator powder product) over the seats and vaccum. Let them out in sun for the whole sunny day.

You may also look underneith the plastic floor where the insulation is; maybe is humid and that creates really bad odor.

Manhattan · 10-03-2007, 03:55 PM

I know it sounds lame - but Febreze has worked for me. Example: My mother, a smoker, couldn't sell her perfect, low mile Explorer (cloth seats) after weeks of trying. I stopped by the house, stuck my head in the car and almost gagged - it smelled like the smoking room at the airport!

I used a 1/2 bottle of Febreze on the headliner, carpets, mats, seats, etc... left it open outside for a couple hours... closed it up... couple hours... it smelled like a "normal" car.

Honest to God, the thing sold 2 days later. That stuff really does work.

LW3 · 10-03-2007, 04:27 PM

If you can find a friend with one, use an air purifier with an OZONE or IONIZER plate in it. Put it on your car and run the wire through the top of the window and let it run for a few hours on full strength. You will have an almost chlorine smell for a couple of days but it really works well.
they are a little pricey ($350.00) which is why you need to find a friend with one. Here is where i bought mine from
The Official LightningAir Air Purifier and O3 Sanitizer Website

gnwhite · 10-03-2007, 04:34 PM

Could be somebody did some water crossing and took in water. Check under the rubber on the floor.

blown41willys · 10-03-2007, 05:11 PM

Might be mold your smelling

FJHOG · 10-03-2007, 05:52 PM

Maybe try switching out the ac air filter.

White Wolfe · 10-03-2007, 05:54 PM

Quote:

LW3 previously said:

If you can find a friend with one, use an air purifier with an OZONE or IONIZER plate in it. Put it on your car and run the wire through the top of the window and let it run for a few hours on full strength. You will have an almost chlorine smell for a couple of days but it really works well.
they are a little pricey ($350.00) which is why you need to find a friend with one. Here is where i bought mine from
The Official LightningAir Air Purifier and O3 Sanitizer Website

Big +1. They work.