How to Get Bleach Smell Out of the Car: The Ultimate Guide

Have you ever accidentally spilled bleach in your car? You know the smell can be unbearably strong. But don’t fret – I’m here to help!

Not long ago, I accidentally spilled bleach in my trunk. To eliminate that unpleasant stench from my car, read on to discover how easy and affordable it can be to eliminate the bleach smell.

To eliminate bleach odors from a car, first, identify where it is coming from and vacuum away any dirt. Mix vinegar and baking soda into a spray bottle then spray on the affected area with a brush. Do this several times and let air dry overnight.

How to Get Bleach Smell Out of the Car

When dealing with a bleach smell in your car, don’t try to mask it. Bleach is highly reactive and masking only masks the odor for a short period of time; after that, the smell will return again.

Here’s how to eliminate the bleach smell from your vehicle:

1. Required tools for the job

• Baking soda
• Vinegar
• Scrubbing brush
• Spray bottle
• Microfiber towel

2. Locate where the bleach smell is coming from

If you know who spilled bleach in your vehicle, then you already know where it was located. But if not sure, open all doors and the trunk to try to locate where the smell of bleach comes from; usually, people carry bleach in their trunks so this is usually where to begin your investigation.

Removing the bleach smell from your car is more important than you might think.

Bleach is a chlorine-based chemical commonly found in many household cleaning products. It’s used for disinfecting surfaces and Whitening laundry but can also have hazardous consequences if not handled correctly.

Inhaling bleach may lead to respiratory problems while skin contact could result in burns if there has been a spillage of bleach on clothing or surfaces; that is why it is essential to identify where it was spilled and clean up any affected areas promptly.

3. Vacuum the area where the bleach was spilled

Before we tackle cleaning the bleach, first let’s clear away any spilled bleach. Use some cleaning solution and a scrubbing brush to rub in some dirt, dust, dog hair, or whatever may have landed there.

Grab a dog brush if there’s fur in there or use your vacuum to thoroughly vacuum away all traces of soil and grime from this area.

4. Mix the vinegar and baking soda

Add one tablespoon of baking soda, followed by one cup of water and one cup of vinegar to a spray bottle. Be sure to mix these ingredients in this order since baking soda and vinegar can cause an allergic reaction if not combined properly; water helps buffer both substances for maximum efficacy.

Baking soda works great for cleaning marks on fabrics while vinegar eliminates odors from fabrics too – combined together they are great at eliminating bleach smells from cars!

5. Spray the mixture onto the area where the bleach was spilled

If you spilled bleach in more than one place on the trunk or other location, make sure you spray the entire area rather than just where it was spilled.

Grab your spray bottle and spray away; don’t worry about getting too much cleaning solution on there as I will share a quick trick for quickly eliminating excess water from the fabric.

After spraying the area where bleach was spilled, let it sit for around five minutes and then begin scrubbing.

6. Get scrubbing

Use a clean scrubbing brush and begin to scrub. The bristles from the brush will get in between fabric fibers and help remove any bleach residue left there. If you feel like you have not sprayed enough baking soda and vinegar mixture on, feel free to add more as needed.

Given that you will be working close to a bleach source, I strongly advise wearing gloves or at least one glove on each hand that holds the scrubbing brush. Bleach can be harsh on the skin so it’s better to be safe than sorry when handling bleach.

7. Let it dry overnight

Once you finish scrubbing, spray some more of the baking soda and vinegar mixture on surfaces and let air dry overnight. Baking soda works effectively for eliminating foul odors due to its natural absorbency; it absorbs moisture and unpleasant odors from fabrics.

Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, is an easily obtainable natural substance that can be used as both a gentle abrasive and mild antacid. When baking soda comes into contact with an acidic substance, it neutralizes it and releases carbon dioxide gas for release into the atmosphere.

Vinegar is another natural absorbent and it works great to mask the smell of bleach. What’s even better about these two is that they’re both inexpensive and nontoxic!

8. Wipe the area with a microfiber towel

Once the fabric has dried overnight, baking soda should have left white spots that need cleaning. Before beginning any cleaning, smell to see if there’s still a bleach odor present. If so, repeat this entire process again.

Once you are happy with the results, it’s time to clean away any white residue left by baking soda. Use either a vacuum cleaner or a microfiber towel and do an effective clean – even if some water needs to be sprayed on there first!

Don’t worry if the area still looks wet; I’ll show you how to remove excess moisture quickly and easily.

9. Pro tip for removing excess water

If you don’t have access to a hair dryer to completely dry the area you were working on, don’t fret. All that’s necessary is one cup of rice! Rice absorbs moisture from fabrics while also eliminating odors, making it perfect in this instance.

Can Bleach Damage Your Car?

Yes, bleach can damage your car. If it gets on your vehicle, the bleach will eat through the paint and cause rust. Furthermore, bleach is corrosive so it may damage any metal underneath so be sure to rinse off any bleach immediately and dry the area to prevent rusting.

If you need to remove tough stains from your car’s paint, you may be tempted to reach for the bleach. But before you do, be mindful of how bleach reacts with car paint.

Bleach that comes into contact with car paint can fade and discolor it, in some cases eating away at it and leading to chipping or peeling. If using bleach for cleaning your vehicle, dilute it with water first to avoid getting it on the paint. If there is bleach left behind on your vehicle, be sure to immediately rinse it away using plenty of water.