Car perfume leaked into AC vent in 2012; strong smell remains

I don't know how to tackle the situation. Family members feel dizzy because of the smell. It becomes uncomfortable to stay in the car.

BHPian Piyush Kanthak recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

I own a Maruti Suzuki SX4 2007 ZXI model. Around 2012, An Ambi Pur car perfume had leaked into the AC vent. Almost looked like this.

From then on, the smell persists even to this day. I don't know how to tackle the situation. Family members feel dizzy because of the smell. It becomes uncomfortable to stay in the car. Here are some things I have thought.

1. Should I do a deep interior clean? Will it remove the odor? If yes then from whom? 3M?

2. Should I change the seat covers (they are in perfect condition)?

3. Should I remove the seat covers and deep clean the fabric seats below the seat cover?

4. When I turn on the Heater of the car, this perfume's smell comes even more strong. Is there a problem with my heater core?

Note: No such problem when A/C is on, so I think the Heater core has perfume in it.

I will also deep clean the headliner, dashboard, floor.

Should I clean the A/C vent too?

Really need your help fellow BHPians. Any other suggestions are happily accepted.

Here's what BHPian gkveda had to say on the matter:

Open all the doors for a day in a safe place and switch on AC with full fan speed and air intake from external source. With this, smell should reduce to great extent.

If it still continues, then you may have to think of cleaning AC ducts.

I really don't think the Ambi Pur perfume is so strong that it gives fragrance of almost 10 years.

Here's what BHPian TrackDay had to say on the matter:

1. Take the car to a car wash first and get it cleaned properly inside and out. If possible, go to a place where they have pressurized air and ask them to blow the air on the inside floorings/mats/seats/headliner of the car.

2. Next, place the car in an open air area with all the doors, bonnet, boot open. If possible run the A/C with both fresh air as well as in recirculation mode for 10-15 minutes.

3. Do get 3-4 packs Charcoal based air purifier/odor absorber. Those things are easily available online or in most accessory shops. They are tiny and can be hung from the IRVM while the remaining can be placed at other strategic points.

If the above steps do not work, it might be better to visit an A/C car service center. One thing I do find strange is how you managed to spill Ambi Pur inside the vents and that the smell is still retaining after a decade! Stopped using them long back, but even back then those things ran a maximum of 3-4 months.

Here's what BHPian viXit had to say on the matter:

Law of diminishing returns will apply as you progress through each step.

• Park in Sun. The heat will free the smell and the air inside will hold the smell.
• Once car is sufficiently hot inside, at least a few hours in the sun, open and air it out. As the car heats up, you will smell it more, that's what you're noticing with heater on.
• Next step will be to wet wipe everything in the car. Wipe with wet cloth, then wipe dry with a separate (important) cloth.
• Buy small pieces of hookah charcoal from your local paan dabba. Actually, any charcoal piece will work. Very good odour removers.
• Buy camphor. Place it near your AC intake. This will rid the perfume smell slightly but your car will smell like camphor. (the elders might like it).
• Now the expensive stuff (very effective step). Wet vacuum the entire exposed fabric in the car. Spray shampoo water agitate with brush, steam it and vacuum it. Professionally done from a detailer.
• Smell still persistent? Replace cabin air filter. It will have caught on to some of the smell. But I think in 9 years, you would've replaced it a couple of times, if not please check.

Most important is to physically clean your AC vent where the liquid went in from. A toothbrush, some soapy water sprayed and a stick wrapped in cloth can be inserted into the vent and cleaned.

3M germkleen has foam sprayed into the vents, should help but only to a certain extent.

Most benefit from least investment is parking under the sun.

The smell has retained since it's in a place that has only cold air blowing. Perfumes and smells are designed to diffuse. And rate of diffusion is highly dependent on Temperature. Directly proportional. Now my best guess is that the perfume has turned into a gel like consistency and deposited itself in the air ducts right below the vents. Blowing cooler air won't help much. Heater will let the smell diffuse faster and help eradicate it.

Does your car not get used a lot? It looks pristine. Really well kept.

Even cold air for a long time should've removed the smell.

I see marks around your AC vents OP, did you try prying it open? Prying them open and directing steam into the vents with a pressurised steam cleaner will help. It will also disinfect all surfaces. But be sure to wipe off wet surfaces if possible. Cloth on a stick is best imo.

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