Recommendations for getting "the smell" out..

[BigBrother]

Hey all. My 4th gen 4R is great but the interior has a slight odor that really crops up when it gets hot or humid (I got it used, so don't know the source.) I had it shampooed, which didn't really do much (though they didn't hit the rear cab, just the front two rows and carpet).

Anyway, I heard of ozone or ionization and was thinking of giving it a shot. My other alternative is a full interior detailing.

Which would you recommend? Have you had experience with ionization?

Thanks,
BB

 

[nc211]

It's not the moldy smell associated with an a/c unit used in hot and humid times "mold in the ducts-very common on all cars"? If not, and you think it's in the seats, then I've the got answer for you right here:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8724179&type=product&id=1200703057233


When I bought my 4runner (used too with 53k miles), the previous owner was obviously a smoker. And when it got hot out, man did that thing stink like hell. I tried all the tricks, ranging from fabric sheets placed through out, to coffee cans, to fabreez, to that spray on fabric cleaner crap....none of it worked beyond a few days. I realized that I had to actually "remove" the elements causing the odor, and bought one of these. Man, that was the ticket!

My interior "looked" new. No real stains in the seats, no "matted" down fibers to the fabric. I thought it was "clean"...I was mistaken. All I used was hot water in the machine, no detergents. After doing the front passenger seat, I went to empty the used water container and refill the clean one. I kid you not, the dirty water looked like dark chocolate milk! I was simply stunned! At first, I thought maybe there was a stain "soda probably" in that seat which caused the used water to look so bad. But, EVERY time I went to empty the used water container, it looked like chocolate milk. I thought my seats looked new before, but I quickly realized I simply didn't know what "new" was meant to look like.

It's been a year since I did that process....not a single hint of any sort of odor in the car now. Smells new, and the seat fabric has remained super soft and fresh.

If you don't have one of these machines, I highly suggest you get one, if not just for the car, but for the home as well. Best $80 you'll spend. If your odor isn't related to the a/c, then this is the ticket to get that stink OUT of the seats and carpet throughout. Unless you're actually removing the elements of the odor from the fabric, then you're just trying to layer a masking over it, which heat and humidity will always defeat.

 

[peter78]

When I bought the 2004 last year, it had a slightly funky smell. I cleaned the car and my wife brought out something called Febreze and I sprayed it on the carpets and seats and it really seemed to work. It didn't cover it up and there is still a touch of the smell, but pretty much worked for me.

When in doubt on how to clean things, ask your wife.:biggrin2:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Febreze

 

[eskimochaos]

Thats one of the main reasons I like leather more - its so much easier to just wipe down with leather wipes to get everything off of it. The fabric just holds the stench in the SR5 and SE.

I plan on doing this as well as I think my sweat from the gym etc has gotten into the seats and I am getting the same odor when its hot out as well.

Ill prolly throw some detergent in there just to make it "smell" like something.