Cars can very easily start to smell for a number of reasons; whiffy dogs, cigarettes, abandoned food and long-forgotten gym equipment are the usual suspects and can make sitting in your car a miserable affair.
Obviously, you can buy a traditional car air freshener, but sometimes you need something that'll blast that awful smell away. That is where air freshener bombs come in. They are a single-use product that will remove even the most stubborn smells from a car. We've found the best bombs on the market so you'll know which one will suit you perfectly.
The best car air freshener bomb
1. Holts Sanitiser Air Con Bomb,
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This car air freshener bomb supposedly sanitises your interior as well as removing bad odours. Some users report a smell of talcum powder once the process is complete, but at least that's better than wet dog stench.
Pros: Sanitises your interior and removes smells
Cons: Smells like talc which some may not enjoy
2. Autoglym Anti-Viral Car Fogger Bomb
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Feeling like treating yourself and your car to a touch of luxury sanitising? Then the Autoglym anti-viral car fogger is well worth the money. Designed to kill bacteria, this fogger leaves behind a nice citrus smell and doesn't leave much residue.
Pros: Will sanitise your car and make it smell nice
Cons: At a high cost
3. Meguiar's Air Re-Fresher
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An effective way to remove a stubborn smell from your car, this option from Meguiar's will remove odours and leave a fresh scent instead. While the scent fades quickly, the odour shouldn't return. It also works through the air-con system.
Pros: Great selection of scents available
Cons: The smell can be sickly to some
4. Dakota Odour Bomb
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A simple option for removing embedded smells, this bomb from Dakota is designed to work in more than just your car. Dakota claims it'll also work in motorhomes. boats and even your home. You do need to be wary of the pressure however, it can leave marks on your headlining if you aren't careful.
Pros: Great odour remover
Cons: Can leave greasy marks on your car
5. Wynns Clean Air Air Con Cleaner
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An odour bomb that actively targets your air-con system is a great option when the system starts to smell. Not only does it remove bad odours, but it'll also kill the bacteria that live in the system, making your car more hygienic in the process.
Pros: Make your car more hygienic and remove bad smells, mint fragrance
Cons: Only targets your air-con
6. Turtle Wax Odor-X
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Available in Caribbean Crush or Kinetic scent, this is a solid choice of air freshener bomb if you're buying on a budget. It works the same as other air freshener bombs, removing bad smells and replacing them with a rather strong scent that dissipates after a few days.
Pros: Effective against bad odours
Cons: Scent left can be overwhelming
What you need to know about air freshener bombs:
What does an air freshener bomb do?
A car air freshener bomb is essentially an aerosol that won't turn off once activated. If you've ever gone paintballing, it works a bit like a smoke grenade; you pull the pin and smoke comes out until the vessel is empty. Unlike a smoke bomb, however, this smoke will leave a nice smell and remove bad odours.
How do I use it?
The general rule of thumb is to first make sure your windows are closed and the air-con set to recirculate. Then, you place the air freshener bomb centrally in your car, set it going and make sure all the doors are closed. You'll probably have to wait around 15 minutes for the car to fill, after which you should open your doors and allow the smoke to dissipate. All that's left to do after that is enjoy the nice smell.
Why would I need one?
Air freshener bombs are quite an extreme option so aren't really required that often. One of the best opportunities to use one is if you're either buying or selling a used car and want an odour gone. For example, if you are a smoker, you'll probably be aware that the smell of stale smoke can damage your car's resale value. One of these should remove even the most engrained stench and allow you to get a better price for your car.