How To Get Rid Of Beer Smell in Cars

Whether a can exploded in your trunk or someone spilled some beer on the carpet, driving a car that reeks of beer can be pretty uncomfortable. Besides the stench, it can be potentially implicating. Here’s how to get rid of beer smells in the car. 

If you need to eliminate the smell of beer in a car, hang up some air fresheners while on the go. A healthy dose of fresh air and sunlight will also help, although this might take longer than a professional treatment. Cleaning possible residual stains with warm soapy water, car shampoo, or steam cleaners is also an effective remedy.

You can also employ other options, like natural materials, products, and methods to take care of this beer smell. This guide will take you through all the possible solutions and their efficacy in eliminating the problem. Read for more information on this. 

Tested and Trusted Remedies to Rid your Car of Beer Smell

Here, we discuss techniques and steps to eliminate the smell of beer in a car.

Step 1: Find and Remove the Problem

The first thing to do is find out what’s causing the stench and get rid of it. Once the source of the stench is gone, the problem is half solved. It could be old beer bottles destined for the recycle bin or a spill on the floorboard. 

Dispose of bottles, cans, cups, or any beer-holding item. Wipe off spills with dry towels. Blot any wet area with vinegar and water solution. You can prepare this by mixing one part vinegar with one part water. 

Step 2: Clean Residual Stains

You may find some persistent spots of beer stains or areas of dried beer spots. For this, cleaning with car shampoos, warm soapy water, steam cleaners, or a stain remover will do. 

You may also want to clean your car inside out; that way, you can take care of every surface possible. Allow your car to dry properly before doing anything further. 

Step 3: Neutralize the Air

There are quite several ways to resolve a beer stench-in-the-car problem. 

Method 1: Airflow and sunlight 

In adequate quantities, these two will eliminate the stubborn odors. But they are not time effective. Aerating and sun-baking your car can take several days, depending on the strength of the smell. While it is the safest and healthiest, it isn’t the most practical. 

Method 2: Home Remedies

Several household staples like baking soda and vinegar are considered to be cleaning holy grails. 

These two have proven their worth in not only stain removal but odor removal as well. 

Charcoal is another option that works in eliminating foul odors. These materials work in a closely similar manner. They soak up the bad odor from the air, allowing fresh air to circulate properly. These staples are quite cheap but worth a shot.

1. Put an open bag of charcoal inside your car, under the seat, or in the trunk. Close the doors and roll up the windows. Please leave it to bake under the sun for about three days. 

2. Spray vinegar and water solution on every surface in the car: upholstery, carpet, trunk, dashboard, and windows. Allow it to sit for about five to thirty minutes with the windows rolled up and doors closed. Then, wipe it off with a dry towel. 

3. Sprinkle baking soda amply over spills or leave an open box in the car. Let it sit for hours or days, depending on the odor, with the car’s doors and windows all closed. Vacuum up the baking soda and clean the car inside and out. 

These staples are non-toxic and can be used in the car. Other odor-removing staples are coffee grinds, cinnamon sticks, and lemon peels. They are quite efficient but also take time. 

Method 3: Air Purifiers 

Several air purifying devices and products are available today, ranging from electrical units, enzymatic cleaners, steam cleaners, sprays, and shampoos, to air fresheners. 

• Electrical Devices

Examples of air purifying devices 

1. Adsorbent purifiers: These devices contain adsorbents like activated charcoal which attract and sponge up air contaminants. This way, as the air flows through the devices, it is cleansed of these pollutants. It is safe to use as it has no byproducts, but it isn’t effective as a stand-alone remedy. 

2. Ionizers: These compact units create ions that bind to odoriferous compounds, causing them to bind to surfaces in the car that you can easily clean. Ionizers are easy to maintain and don’t make much noise but are not as effective as other devices. 

3. Air movers: These devices ensure adequate air change and circulation. It draws fresh air into your car and exhausts the stale one. They are more efficient at ventilating than air conditioning units. 

4. UV purifiers: are also called ozone generators. These machines produce ozone by exposing the air to ultraviolet light. Ozone breaks down airborne organisms that produce foul odors, permanently taking care of the problem. 

UV purifiers are very effective but require caution because ozone is considered healthy. Hence, ozone generators should only be used as a last resort in clearing beer smells. 

• Enzymatic cleaners

These were developed to treat pet-related issues like stains, urine, and feces. They also work in dispersing foul odors too. Commonly available examples are Simple solution extreme pet stain and odor remover and Nature’s Miracle Stain and Odor Remover. 

• Air fresheners 

These products can only mask the smell; they don’t clear it and can’t be used alone. They are better used in combination with other methods. Examples include Ozium, Febreze Hawaiian, and Freshfx. 

Method 4: Car Detailing

When you have tried all these, and the smell persists, your next call is a professional detailing option. It is the most effective method to disperse foul smells from cars. With professional car detailing, every nook and cranny of the car is cleaned. 

Final Thoughts

When it comes to removing bad beer odors, time is of the essence. The stench worsens over time which is why you need to act fast. To get your car smelling nice and fresh, follow the steps provided in our article!