Interior/Carpet Smell

[stever1000]

My previous owner had a large dog that they regularly took on trips in my 4runner. I don't know how often or for how long, but now there seems to be a permanent "wet dog" smell in my 4runner.

I have tried natural things like baking soda, vinegar/water, and combinations of, but it still smells like wet dog.

Does anyone have any suggestions or cures for this smell? My girlfriend won't even consider sitting in the 4runner now.

Thanks in advance!!

 

[JayRolla]

My previous owner had a large dog that they regularly took on trips in my 4runner. I don't know how often or for how long, but now there seems to be a permanent "wet dog" smell in my 4runner.

I have tried natural things like baking soda, vinegar/water, and combinations of, but it still smells like wet dog.

Does anyone have any suggestions or cures for this smell? My girlfriend won't even consider sitting in the 4runner now.

Thanks in advance!!

Best option is entire new carpet. They sell kits online.

 

[Mark_BC]

My dog got skunked a few weeks ago at 11 pm and one of the home remedies you find on google is peroxide with vinegar I think. That might do something. Someone on this site a few weeks ago recommended Simple Green. Also someone recommended a good cleaner which I looked up on Amazon and it gets decent reviews. Unfortunately I didn't save it and can't find it, but there are cleaners out there that do a good job. I would remove it and clean it with the cleaner, then hang it on a fence and powerwash it until the drips are clean, then let it air dry in the sun. Except the carpet on the back of the seats has cardboard in it so you can't get that too wet. On one of my 4runners I just cut the carpet so the seat backs aren't attached to the back carpet, you don't even notice.

 

[Renegade_Medic]

My dog got skunked a few weeks ago at 11 pm and one of the home remedies you find on google is peroxide with vinegar I think.

I have used Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda before for skunks, works great. It may stain the carpet, or bleach it more specifically.

 

[pluton]

I would remove the carpet, wash it in the bathtub or other large tank, using a stick to agitate it. Detergent cycle and as many rinses as it takes. It is a major hassle. I did it once with the carpet from a reg cab Toyota P/U.
The rug doctor type machines go to a certain depth, but are not capable of a true full cleaning. However, they may be good enough.

 

[stever1000]

On one of my 4runners I just cut the carpet so the seat backs aren't attached to the back carpet, you don't even notice.

This is a good idea because I assume the dog (it was a big golden retriever) stayed in the back area only, so only the back carpet would have the pet odour deeply

 

[RedSled]

I have been using Odermute for about 30 yrs. works great on just about any odor, go by the mixing directions, more is not better. Amazon has it.

 

[stever1000]

I used baking soda, vingear/water spray, and now have an air freshener hanging.
I don't have a shop-vac or wet/dry vac so using carpet cleaners is difficult

something else to add to the list

 

[TheDurk]

This is a good idea because I assume the dog (it was a big golden retriever) stayed in the back area only, so only the back carpet would have the pet odour deeply

Well, start by yanking that rear carpet. Pressure wash the rear, and then Spray 9 or your favorite cleaner. If that does it, the rear carpet can be had for not that much.

 

[1985taylor1925]

I used baking soda, vingear/water spray, and now have an air freshener hanging.
I don't have a shop-vac or wet/dry vac so using carpet cleaners is difficult

something else to add to the list

I was gonna say, pul,the carpet out and use a carpet cleaner on it. I did this to mine last year, and it eliminated all smell. Not to mention got all the stains out and made it look almost new.

But the odor might be in the insulation attached to the carpet as well. That stuff will hold all kinds of junk. I was concerned about mold, which makes me sick, so I pulled most of the insulation off when I cleaned my carpet

 

[UnderFire]

I just did this with my new taco, nasty smell throughout the interior. I doused the entire carpet in purple power first, I would think simple green would be a bit better. Then I lifted up the carpet and did the same underneath, while removing the factory fabric underlayment. You can replace it with carpet padding from lowes. After that I hit the entire top of the carpet with Tuff Stuff fabric cleaner, 2 cans for my standard cab, so you'll want a ton for a 4runner let it soak for 10 minutes and hit it with a stiff brush, then tool the shop vac to it hard, just sucking up any moisture I could. After that I hung a couple trees in there, pine I best if it still stinks a bit, and left it closed for 2 days.



Now it just smells like nice new car smell, no more musty odor.

 

[UnderFire]

I just did this with my new taco, nasty smell throughout the interior. I doused the entire carpet in purple power first, I would think simple green would be a bit better. Then I lifted up the carpet and did the same underneath, while removing the factory fabric underlayment. You can replace it with carpet padding from lowes. After that I hit the entire top of the carpet with Tuff Stuff fabric cleaner, 2 cans for my standard cab, so you'll want a ton for a 4runner let it soak for 10 minutes and hit it with a stiff brush, then tool the shop vac to it hard, just sucking up any moisture I could. After that I hung a couple trees in there, pine I best if it still stinks a bit, and left it closed for 2 days.



Now it just smells like nice new car smell, no more musty odor.

The same can be accomplished by taking out the carpet and hanging it up, hitting it with a pressure washers and giving it the same treatment.

 

[frodiesel]

I was gonna say, pul,the carpet out and use a carpet cleaner on it. I did this to mine last year, and it eliminated all smell. Not to mention got all the stains out and made it look almost new.

But the odor might be in the insulation attached to the carpet as well. That stuff will hold all kinds of junk. I was concerned about mold, which makes me sick, so I pulled most of the insulation off when I cleaned my carpet

X2 worth every ounce of work n time. Now i still need to finish doors n headliner w sound deadening

 

[Road Bull]

Besides what has already been said, I would also go to Home Depot or Lowe's and get some replacement carpet padding.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/196568-road-bulls-2002-sr-5-timeline-7.html#post2455866

A lot of that odor will be trapped in the padding as well. Yuck! Any new padding will do, cut to size. I used Stainmaster to assist in being a better barrier to moisture.

The other thing to look at is cleaning your blower fan. This can get fouled up and pump nasty stale smelling air into the cabin.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/113266-cleaning-blower-fan-write-up.html#post1042652

Maybe even check your AC drain lines too.

 

[Bigdogtrd]

I just had the same issue

Previous owner had a dog and smoked like a chimney. The truck was just gross. It's hard to believe how filthy it was. I took out the seats and carpet and pad. I threw away the pad and am replacing with some new padding I ordered on amazon for $39 shipped. I mixed a product you buy at the dollar store called Totally Awesome with Tide fabreeze laundry detergent in a bucket with a little water and then brushed that vigorously into the carpet and the seats and power washed them all. I honestly can't believe how great they turned out. Everything looks like new and smells great. It's a big job but it was well worth it to me. Make sure to get some good strong fans blowing on everything or it could mildew. Also, as mentioned earlier do not get the backs of the back seats wet or those boards will fall apart. I just popped them off the seats and cleaned that section by hand and avoided them with the power washer. Now I just need to figure out if the headliner can hold up to the power washer. Good luck

 

[Sean K.]

Besides what has already been said, I would also go to Home Depot or Lowe's and get some replacement carpet padding.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/196568-road-bulls-2002-sr-5-timeline-7.html#post2455866

A lot of that odor will be trapped in the padding as well. Yuck! Any new padding will do, cut to size. I used Stainmaster to assist in being a better barrier to moisture.

The other thing to look at is cleaning your blower fan. This can get fouled up and pump nasty stale smelling air into the cabin.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/113266-cleaning-blower-fan-write-up.html#post1042652

Maybe even check your AC drain lines too.

All points I would reiterate. It's not just the carpet, it's also likely the padding.

However, a musty smell may well not be from a dog, but the A/C itself. This is definitely worth looking into as you could replace all the carpet and still have the smell if it's coming from mold/mildew in the A/C system....which is extremely common.

 

[Bigdogtrd]

My carpet turned out so well I power washed everything

The interior was so gross I figure I had nothing to lose. I used a brush and used The dollar store totally awesome cleaner. I ended up doing my headliner, visors and my seats as well as my carpet. I put the power washer set on a 3 inch fan instead of the hard narrow stream. It turned out fantastic it looks and smells like new. The seat on the left is the after, the seat on the right is the before. The tide really helps them smell better too.

 

[Bigdogtrd]

Here's the headliner after and a visor that I hadn't done yet

Here's the headliner after and a visor that I hadn't done yet

 

[Bigdogtrd]

Make sure to get a good fan on it or get it in the sun.

 

[Bigdogtrd]

Some more pics. I'm really happy with how it turned out. I was going to buy a new interior from a wrecked one. This now looks great.