Combine two quarts of water and one cup of vinegar and rub it on the area where the fishy smell is coming from with an old rag. Vinegar works as an odor absorber. It also performs as a natural cleaner. It penetrates the car’s upholstery fibers. We will break down some tips on how to get seafood smell out of car.
Generally, anglers or seafood enthusiasts are the most likely to encounter this problem, but it can affect anyone. At times, this odor can even make you hesitate to drive. Seafood odors are often highly overwhelming. They may feel nauseous. In that case, treat them as soon as possible.
Take action immediately to remove the odor from your car. Use a vinegar and water solution (one cup of vinegar for every two liters). Rub the answer into the carpet fibers and allow the area to dry. If you still smell it, sprinkle baking soda over the affected area.
How to Get Seafood Smell Out of Car
Air Your Car Out
The first thing you can do is ventilate your car. Open all the windows and let the odor dissipate with the air. For the most significant effects, do this on a windy day.
This speeds up the flow of air through your vehicle. This may be enough if you hurry to get rid of the odor.
It goes without saying that if the fishy odor is already present in your carpet, this will not be effective. You must eliminate the source of the odor to receive long-term treatment.
Scrub with Soapy Water
Soapy water can remove certain odors. Once the source of the odor has been identified, you can begin eliminating it. You’ll want to clean everything up as soon as possible, so don’t put it off.
Next, Dish soap and warm water should be combined until the soap begins to lather. Soak an old rag or a soft brush in the soap and water mixture for a few minutes before using it. Firmly but gently, scrub the stain into your carpet.
You should not use a bristle brush or scrub too hard. This could damage your carpet and clarify that a stain has occurred. Instead, use slower strokes and softer bristles to allow the soap to penetrate the carpet.
When you’re done scrubbing, use a towel to absorb as much water as possible from the area. If you have access to a waterproof vacuum, you can use it here. Repeat as needed to remove the odor.
Vinegar and Baking Soda Method
The vinegar and baking soda approach are inexpensive and effective methods to remove fishy smells.
- A filthy rag
- Sodium bicarbonate
- A brush with soft bristles
- A soiled towel
More Tips to Remove Fish Smell
To remove fish odors using these tools, follow these steps:
Mix Water and Vinegar
To start:
- Combine the water and vinegar.
- Ventilate the whole area, and add one cup of vinegar.
- Remember to prepare the vinegar by adding 1 cup every two quarts of water.
- Make sure the area is well ventilated.
Vinegar can have a strong odor, so it is essential to breathe it in well.
It is worth putting up with the pungent odor. Vinegar is an excellent absorbent and odor eliminator. Vinegar is effective against various scents and can neutralize even the most potent fish odors.
Apply with a Rag
Make an application of a vinegar and water solution to the affected area. With an old rag, gently rub the mixture into the carpet. Make certain to thoroughly wet the area.
It is essential to soak the area well. Once the stain is sufficiently wet, use the rag to wipe the surface. However, you may have to brush it off. After letting the vinegar soak in, you can scrub with the brush.
Scrub the Spot
Scrub the stain with a soft bristle brush to remove any remaining residue. First, you may need to wet the bristles with vinegar and water solution. After that, gently clean the affected area. Circular motions and multiple fiber angles are examples of this.
You refrain from scrubbing too vigorously if you’re concerned about damaging your carpet or upholstery. Excessive pressure can cause irreversible damage to the fibers in the carpet. Instead, gently massage the vinegar into the fibers with your fingertips.
Remove the Excess Water
Once you are satisfied with the cleaning, wring out the excess water. You can blot the area with an old towel. This removes the extra moisture and allows it to dry quickly. If you leave the room wet for an extended time, it increases the chance of bacteria growth.
Allow to Dry
A small fan or an open window may help speed up the process. Several scrubbing sessions may be necessary to remove the odor altogether. Once the area has dried, you will be able to judge if the smell has been completely removed.
Vinegar Alternatives
As an example, suppose you want to eliminate fish odor but don’t like the smell of vinegar. Unfortunately, many remedies include vinegar as an odor neutralizer. However, there are alternative possibilities.
In the cleaning area of your local supermarket, there should be a variety of odor-eliminating cleaners, carpet cleaners, and sprays.
You may apply these cleaners many times to remove fishy odors altogether. Intense aromas may not dissipate the first time completely. Reusing them until the smell goes may be the best option.
Bottom line
It can be highly infuriating to be forced to drive a car that smells fishy. This can happen for various reasons, and regardless of the cause, it will be infuriating.
Perhaps you’ve caught fish and transported it in your car, or maybe you’ve bought seafood and had a spill in your vehicle.
However, solving this problem is not impossible; you have to learn what to do. With the help of this material, you should now be able to drive your car without fear of smelling fishy.
In the future, you will almost certainly have to be more careful when transporting fish or any food containing fish. You don’t want to spill any of it in your car, but at least you’ll be ready if the worst-case scenario happens.
Coping with a fishy smell in your car doesn’t have to be time-consuming if you follow the tips above.
I am an Automotive specialist. I graduated from Michigan with Bachelor in Automotive Engineering and Management. Also, I hold degrees in Electrical and Automation Engineering (BEng), Automatic and Industrial Electronic Engineering, and Automotive Technology. I have worked at General Motors Company for over five years as the Marketing Operations Production Coordinator. Now, I own my garage in Miami, Florida. I love cars and love to share everything about them with my readers. I am the founder of the Automotiveex blog, where I share everything about automotive, like car news, car mechanical issues, and anything else that comes up in my blog posts.
