Professional Vehicle Odour Elimination and Interior Sanitisation

Thoroughly inspect the cabin, including under seats, inside spare tyre wells, and within seat track rails. Remove all physical debris, including forgotten gym gear, food scraps, or organic matter. If the odour is coming from the vents, check the cabin air filter immediately—in Australia, these often become clogged with red dust and organic leaf litter which then rots in the evaporator housing.

Turn on the AC and identify if the smell is 'musty' (evaporator mould) or 'sweet' (coolant leak). If it is sweet, stop the process and check for a heater core leak. If musty, prepare for a dedicated evaporator foam treatment. Ensure the vehicle is parked in a shaded, well-ventilated area to prevent chemical flash-off during the cleaning process.

Perform an intensive vacuum of the entire interior. Use a crevice tool to reach between the seat bolsters and the centre console. In Australian conditions, fine dust acts as a carrier for odour molecules. Agitate carpets with a stiff brush to bring deep-seated grit to the surface, as this grit holds moisture and fuels bacterial growth.

Dilute your All-Purpose Cleaner (APC) or enzymatic solution according to the manufacturer’s instructions (typically 10:1 for general cleaning). Don Nitrile gloves and eye protection. Ensure the vehicle battery is fully charged or connected to a tender, as you may need to run the climate control system during the final neutralisation phases.

Wipe down all non-porous surfaces (dashboard, door cards, centre console) using a mild APC and microfibre towel. For textured plastics, use a detailing brush to agitate the cleaner. This removes the 'biofilm'—a layer of skin oils and environmental grime that traps odours. Pay special attention to the steering wheel and gear shifter, which are primary sites for bacterial accumulation.

Spray an enzymatic cleaner liberally onto carpets and fabric seats. Do not oversaturate; the goal is to dampen the fibres, not soak the under-felt padding. Work the solution into the fibres using a medium-stiff upholstery brush in a cross-hatch pattern. Allow the enzymes to dwell for 10-15 minutes to break down organic proteins.

Using a commercial-grade steam cleaner, work over the fabrics in slow, deliberate passes. The high temperature (120°C+) kills bacteria and mites on contact while the moisture helps lift the broken-down proteins. Immediately follow with a dry microfibre towel or a wet-dry vacuum to extract the moisture and loosened contaminants.

Odours, particularly smoke, rise and settle in the headliner. WARNING: Do not soak the headliner as this will dissolve the adhesive and cause sagging. Instead, spray your cleaner onto a microfibre towel and gently blot the fabric. Use a 'dabbing' motion rather than scrubbing to maintain the structural integrity of the delicate material.

Clean all interior glass with a dedicated glass cleaner. Smoke and VOCs leave a greasy film on glass that holds odours. Use a two-towel method: one towel for spreading the cleaner and agitating, and a second clean, dry towel for buffing to a streak-free finish. Don't forget the rear-view mirror and the tops of the windows.

Locate the AC drain tube under the car. If possible, inject an evaporator foam cleaner through this tube. Alternatively, use a 'vent freshener' foam that is sprayed directly into the cabin vents. This kills the mould that forms on the evaporator fins due to the condensation caused by the extreme temperature differential in Australian summers.

Discard the old cabin air filter. Before installing the new one, spray the filter housing with a disinfectant. Install a high-quality carbon-activated filter if available, as the charcoal layer provides an additional stage of chemical filtration against outside pollutants and smoke.

Ensure the interior is completely dry. Ozone is less effective in high humidity and can potentially form nitric acid if surfaces are wet. Remove any rubber floor mats that might off-gas when exposed to high concentrations of ozone. Set the vehicle's AC to 'Recirculate', lowest temperature, and medium fan speed.

Place the ozone generator on a flat surface inside the car (or feed the hose through a cracked window sealed with tape). Run the machine for 30 to 60 minutes depending on the odour severity. Ozone (O3) is an unstable molecule that oxidises organic and inorganic matter, effectively 'burning' the odour molecules away at a microscopic level.

After the cycle completes, open all doors and the boot. Allow the vehicle to air out for at least 45-60 minutes before entering. Do not breathe in the ozone, as it is a respiratory irritant. The 'metallic' smell left behind is normal and will dissipate within 24-48 hours, leaving a neutral scent.