Automotive Odor
There are a few common odor problems found in automobiles and trucks. The most frequent is tobacco smoke. This odor is problematic due to residues, because of the obnoxious (to a non-smoker) smell and due to the way it "hides" itself.
The average person drives for approximately 30 minutes each way to and from work. If that person is a smoker, he or she will have at least one cigarette during each trip. In addition, that person will also smoke in the car in the evening and/or on weekends in the course of normal pleasure driving. In the course of a normal year, that person will smoke over 1000 cigarettes in that car, and heavy smokers will smoke even more.
This problem is compounded when the car is closed up while driving, as in the winter when the heater is on or summer when the air conditioning is used. When this happens, the car's interior is pressurized (there is higher air pressure inside than outside) and, as a result, the tobacco related odor penetrates into empty cavities such as doors, the trunk, the heat and air conditioning vents and the flow through ventilation vents, as well as into soft surfaces such as seat cover fabrics and headliners. Because of the nature of the smoke produced, residues from smoking will be deposited on virtually every surface in which the smoke comes into contact. After the car has been driven for a period of years, the brown buildup that you see on interior surfaces is also present in all of these cavities. And the odors that this buildup gives off will be a permanent part of that car if left untreated.
A second common odor problem is automobiles is body odor. Seat, skin oils, dog and cat hair, and even perfumes and colognes will permeate fabrics and carpeting in vehicles, and each leaves it's distinctive trace. As with tobacco smoke, the repeated deposit of these types of odor sources can result in a buildup that the cleaning done during the detailing of the vehicle will not eliminate.
Spilled food is another source of problem odors, and can be particularly difficult because liquids from the spill will penetrate into seat cushion materials and carpet padding. The problem is compounded by the fact that the spilled foods are relatively dense, and because of the their nature are difficult to remove.
A fourth, and very common, source of odor is mold and mildew. Automobiles are an ideal breading ground for these micro-organisms since all of the factors necessary for their growth are present. Heat dark, lack of air movement, dampness and food sources are all found in cars, and especially in cars which sit closed, as on an automobile dealer's lot or in an owner's garage, and in cars that have leaks.
The last group of odors that are commonly found are the odors associated with products used in automobile driving and maintenance. This group includes everything from gasoline and diesel fuel to lubricants. most of these products will have a petroleum base.