Car Smells Like The Onion Carriage From Shrek? Here's What To Do

Watching the classic animated film ​​Shrek​, you notice at the end that the title character rides off in a giant, onion-shaped coach. While it is meant to be a funny take on Cinderella's pumpkin, you do have to wonder how ​bad ​a giant onion coach would smell. Then again, if your car smells exceedingly awful, you probably do not have to imagine that movie scenario at all. If your car smells as bad as (or worse than!) a giant onion carriage, here is what you can do to fix that foul problem. 

​Clear the Car out Completely

​This may sound like a no-brainer, but you would be really surprised at what accidentally gets shoved under car seats and in the crevices of things inside your vehicle, especially if you have kids. Clear the car out completely and do this task bi-weekly. Something as simple as a few remaining bites of a kid's cheeseburger with everything on it (including onions!) stuffed under a seat can really make your car stink when it begins to rot. Even after you have cleaned and cleared out the car, it is still likely to have a foul funk for a while, which leads you to Step Two.

Buy Bulk Car Air Fresheners

No joke; buy a box of bulk car air fresheners. Hang one from the rear view mirror as normal. Then place one under every seat in your vehicle, especially if you drive an SUV or mini-van where it is very easy to find remnants of lunch and dinner on the go. Then place at least two air fresheners in the very back of the vehicle, either on the floor or on the ledge by the rear windshield.

Initially, the air freshening effect might be a little overwhelming, but at least you will not smell that foul stench that has been hitting your nostrils for weeks. Eventually, all you will smell are the air fresheners, and that is what you want. If you begin to smell the funk again, clear out the car once more and place fresh air fresheners in all of the spots you had put air fresheners before. 

Consider Having the Car Professionally and Thoroughly Cleaned

Before car dealerships sell a used car, they send it to a detailer that cleans every square millimeter on that vehicle. The detailer will even vacuum and steam clean the upholstery and carpets to remove food, stains, and odors. If, after several months of cleaning out your car and using up boxes of air fresheners, you still cannot shake the noxious smell in your car, consider having it professionally and thoroughly cleaned.