Monsoon Car Care: Ditch the Freshener, Beat the Smell!

The onset of rains brings along the fresh greenery and cool weather but it also means there will be a problem of odor and moisture in the car. A closed car or a car which is parked in a humid environment, will certainly have an odor when it is opened. Most people purchase air fresheners to mask these odors, but these can be expensive and do not always work. Instead, it is best to use home remedies because they really help to improve the health of the person using them and are also eco friendly.1. Dried Neem Leaves: Natural Anti-BacterialHome remedies come in handy to eliminate various kinds of odors. Simply, fill dry neem leaves in a cloth bag and hang it in your car or keep it under the seat. Alternatives to dry neem non only work to mask the odor, but also eliminates bad smells for good. Just make sure to change the leaves every week and a half to keep the neem leaves working effectively.2. Wood ash: A tried and tested remedy from the hilly areasIf problems do arise from odor and does not improve over time, remedies made from natural resources could provide the required value. An example of an effective wood ash remedy is a cloth filled with ash which can be stuffed into the cars' glove compartment. In my experience, such remedies work wonders when removing deep set odors from heavily used carpets or upholstery.3. Onion: Remove odor while you sleepTake one whole onion, slice it and place it in a bowl. Leaving the bowl in your car overnight helps the onion smell absorb any rot smell present in the car. Make sure later to open the windows to get rid of the onion smell as well.4. Bay Leaves and cloves: Classy de-freshnerTake some bay leaves along with 4 to 5 cloves and place em inside a small cloth sack. Hang this close to the rearview mirror and it shall keep a light, natural scent while removing stale odors.5. Salt and lemon: Fights off both, moisture and smellRemove half a lemon and fill it with some salt. Now keep it in your car. So long as you replace the lemon every two to three days, the moisture absorbing capabilities of salt and the zest of lemon will work wonders.6. Fresh air and sterility: Binding elementsRefrain from leaving any damp items like umbrellas or towels in the car. Ensure to open windows and doors from time to time for fresh air. Wet mats should be dried out and AC filters must be cleared out as well.7. Baking soda and vinegar To address the bad smell in a car, pour a small amount of baking soda or vinegar inside it. Both compounds will serve to help absorb nasty odors as well as eliminate them. 8. Avoid wet shoes and slippers You should not get into the car while wearing slippers or shoes that are wet due to rain. In case the floor mats get soaked, make sure to dry them immediately, otherwise they will provide an environment for fungi which will improve the smell.