Do aerosol cabin sanitizers work?

[MacDuck]

Been trying to get rid a sour smell from AC with no success, have done the following

 

1) Vacuum interior and clean carpets

2) Change AC cabin filter

 

I want to get rid of the sour smell and not mask it with a strong car fragrance.

 

Found several different brands of aerosol AC sanitizers at Autobacs, do they work?

 

Usage instructions is similar for all brands, leave AC on with fan at full blast and then place aerosol at footwell until entire can is empty.

 

Thanks.

 

[Gasguzzler]

Yes it works, but not all brands are equal. But then again I'm not sure if it is also a case of masking the smell.

I cannot remember the brand that I bought, but it was a white can with blue words on it.

 

This problem used to plaque both my wife's car and mine. So we tried all sorts of methods to get rid of it.

 

Here are some other (cheaper) solutions:

1) Park your car outdoors for a week under the hot sun for at least 2 hours.

2) Turn on your heater to full blast and let it run for 10mins 3x a week.

3) Change out your cabin air filters every 2 months

 

Haven't had that problem for the past 1.5 years ever since the last occurrence.

 

Good luck.

Edited February 13, 2012 by Gasguzzler

[Hiton]

perhaps you should find out why there is a sour smell?

[Gasguzzler]

  On 2/13/2012 at 1:35 PM, Hiton said:

perhaps you should find out why there is a sour smell?

 

Yes I know why it has. Everytime you turn off your aircon, there is condensation inside the ducts. Fungus and bacteria grows inside and releases the smell.

Hence, I suggest turning on heater and parking in hot sun to "dry out" the ducts so that these bacteria cannot thrive.

 

Of course, the expensive method is to dismantle and clean the air con system ($400 - $600)

 

[Darthrevan]

use dettol spray..switch on the heater and spray..leave heater on for few minutes..not only gets rid of smell but its a disinfectant as well

 

[Kb27]

I use eucalyptus spray. Smells nice and keep me from falling asleep at the wheel.

And yes, it does kill the bacteria causing the bad smell.

[Meganut]

It works... there is one call Kleen Air or something quite expensive, but it works very well for me... super smokey for a small hatch, i think small insect also die...

[Good-Carbuyer]

  On 2/13/2012 at 1:26 PM, MacDuck said:

Been trying to get rid a sour smell from AC with no success, have done the following

 

1) Vacuum interior and clean carpets

2) Change AC cabin filter

 

I want to get rid of the sour smell and not mask it with a strong car fragrance.

 

Found several different brands of aerosol AC sanitizers at Autobacs, do they work?

 

Usage instructions is similar for all brands, leave AC on with fan at full blast and then place aerosol at footwell until entire can is empty.

 

Thanks.

Try charcoal. It absorbs odour. Sanitizers only works if it is bad for our health.