Updated 04/04/2025

Keeping your vehicle smelling fresh and clean is important, even if you’re the only one who uses it. Unfortunately, odors from spills, smoke, pets, and more can quickly overpower a car’s interior. There are a lot of home remedies floating around for getting rid of bad smells—but most of them either just mask odors or fall short of a real solution. That’s where PuroClenz comes in.

Don’t Just Mask Odors

Many products on the market don’t even promise to deodorize your car—they just mask the smell. I recently saw a product in the store with an asterisk next to “odor elimination.” The fine print? “*Eliminates the perception of odor.” That made me laugh. These products don’t address the root issue, they just cover it up—and keep you buying more.
Let’s break down some commonly shared car deodorizing “tips”—and why most of them just don’t cut it.

10 Common Car Deodorizing Tips — And Why PuroClenz Is Better

1.“Investigate the source of the odor” sounds helpful…

…but assuming that simply removing the source will “solve the problem” isn’t realistic. Odors seep into fabric, ventilation systems, and materials. Just removing the source doesn’t eliminate the lingering smell.

2. Throwing out obvious causes of bad smell is obvious—

but again, it assumes the odor hasn’t already permeated your car’s soft surfaces. Once it has, tossing a fast food bag won’t restore freshness.

3. Vacuum your seats and carpets

This helps remove dust and dirt and prepares your car for the PuroClenz treatment. This is a smart first step—but on its own, it won’t fully eliminate odors.

4. Wipe surfaces

Use a damp cloth to wipe down surfaces. This removes debris and light dirt, which helps set the stage for deeper odor treatment.

5. Spot cleaning sounds useful, but it only addresses surface-level issues

Most lingering smells are embedded in fabric and materials. Spot treating alone won’t resolve deeper odor problems.

6. White vinegar for smelly seats?

Skip it. PuroClenz offers targeted treatments that outperform vinegar every time. Use PuroClenz carpet and seat treatments instead—like our ready-to-spray 4g mini tabs in a 30 oz bottle, specially formulated to eliminate—not mask—smells.

7. Dryer sheets under your seats?

This is a scent-masking hack that goes completely against what PuroClenz stands for. We don’t mask odors with fragrance—we eliminate them.

8. Sprinkle baking soda?

It may help with light surface smells, but it’s not nearly as effective as PuroClenz, and definitely won’t tackle smoke, pet, or moldy odors.

9.Coffee beans to absorb odor?

Another masking tactic that contradicts our purpose. You don’t want your car to smell like stale coffee—you want it to smell like nothing at all. That’s what PuroClenz delivers.

10. Use a PuroClenz treatment

PuroClenz penetrates deep into fabrics, ventilation, and surfaces to break down odor molecules at the source. Unlike the previous “hacks,” it doesn’t just cover the smell or treat the surface—it eliminates it entirely.

The Bottom Line

While the internet is full of DIY car deodorizing tips, most of them either don’t work or only provide a temporary fix. Don’t waste time on vinegar, baking soda, dryer sheets, or coffee beans. PuroClenz was designed to eliminate odors completely—without masking or fragrance. That’s the crux of our business.
Whether you’re dealing with cigarette smoke, pet odors, spilled food, or mildew, PuroClenz is the professional-grade solution you need.

You can order PuroClenz right here on our website in different sizes and quantities. If you have questions about your specific odor problem, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us by phone (1-844-ODOR-911) or email ([email protected]) and we’d be happy to advise.