Marijuana has a strong smell that lingers in your car for some time. Whether you smoked in the backseat or stored some weed inside, you may not want anyone to realize it. That pungent smell will put off the passengers. But remember, it’s unwise to smoke in the car and still drive. You may face legal issues with the law enforcers, so it’s best to avoid smoking and drive.
However, for whatever reasons you find your car smelling weed, there are ways you can get rid of marijuana smell fast. You can use some homemade products or even commercial ones. Let’s find out which products are best to use and how.
Masking Fragrances
There are several items in this category that you can use. However, some of them may be more effective in removing the marijuana smell than others. These strongly scented products help cover the odor but only for a while. For best results, you have to keep reapplying the scents in your car.
Examples of the products are colognes, incense, and body spray. You can even make your fragrance by mixing water and essential oils in a spray bottle. However, the product’s odor lasts for about 4-6 hours and may not cover up the weed odor. Therefore, you require something more long-lasting to mask up the smell.
Odor Absorbers
Activated charcoal carbon is one of the most efficacious odor absorbers you can use. The product can eliminate marijuana smell, food odors, pet odors, and trash. The carbon in the charcoal has a negative charge that attracts the dissolved gases and toxins to its surface.
The charcoal is a safe product and contains no scent. It also prevents mold and bacteria and filters out allergens in the car. In addition, the product is affordable, and you can find it in nearby stores.
The weed odor mainly accumulates in the back seat. So take some amount of the charcoal and sprinkle it over the car seats. Give the charcoal some time to absorb the smell. The time will depend on how much weed smell is in the car, so add more charcoal for a faster absorption process. Afterwards, vacuum up the charcoal as you remove the remaining weed smell in the process.
Baking soda is another odor absorber you can consider. The powder is an alkaline substance meaning it can neutralize all acidic solid odors. It’s the most productive, readily available substance that does magic with nasty smells.
Sprinkle the substance on your car carpets and seats. Allow the powder to settle for 10-15 minutes before cleaning up with a vacuum. Also, you can place a bowl of baking soda in the car and leave it overnight.
Another third odor absorber substance that has proved best is white vinegar and vodka. You can use these two ingredients together to remove the weed smell from the car. Pour a cup of each product into a container and leave it overnight in the car. Again, you can mix a cup of each product and a cup of water and put them in a spray bottle. Later spray down the substance on the porous surfaces.
Odor Eliminators
If the other methods above have failed, then this is the last available one. You can consider a cleaner like ozium air sanitizer. However, the stuff is very potent and dangerous if inhaled. Therefore, you should be very cautious, masked while using it, and wait several hours before getting inside your car.
The substance contains strong chemicals like glycol and propylene glycol. It works by attaching to airborne particles that cause odors, especially those from smoke. The product is available both as gel or spray. You thus spray it in your vehicle or apply the gel on the affected areas.
Deep Clean Your Car
Giving your car a full cleaning detail could help to get rid of the weed smell. You can clean in the following ways;
- Vacuum cleaning– go over your entire car, cleaning it using a vacuum cleaner. Then, vacuum clean different parts like floor mats, carpets, footrests, armrests, storage compartments, and more.
- Steam cleaning– use a steam cleaner on the cloth upholstery, floorboards, headrest, and rear setting. The method will eliminate smoke particles from pores present, porous surfaces, and hard-to-clean areas.
- Clean air vents– car air vents are the main culprits behind the weed odor in the car. Remove the dash and reach the air vents. Use some vinegar and distilled water spray solution to clean the vents. Clean those areas, and later air dry them for at least 24 hours before re-attaching the vents. Kindly ensure the vents, vent tubes, cabin filter, and vents housing are fully clean before assembling them.
Best Commercial Products to Eliminate Weed Odor
Some of the proven commercial products you can use for eliminating the marijuana smell includes;
- Ozium air sanitizer
- Incense- Mag Champa
- Zep smoke odor eliminator
Ozium Air Sanitizer
Ozium is the most popular deodorizer spray that’s effective for eliminating odors in the air. The spray contains a natural ozone gas. The gas has three oxygen atoms bonded to form an O3 molecule which is unstable form.
When the ozone spreads in the atmosphere, it breaks down to O2, leaving the O atom alone. The atom left alone destroy odor-causing molecules by bonding with them. But, again, the one-atom can still break apart the odor molecular structure by taking an atom from them and bonds with it.
The spray can eliminate any smell in the car after 20 minutes of spraying it. After, fresh air blows and wipes out all odors leaving no lingering smells. It’s the most worthwhile product to consider while having a weed smell in your car.
Features
- Reduces bacteria and germs in the air
- It’s a multi-use product; you can use it anywhere in the kitchen, office, etc.
- Ozium uses natural ozone gas and not synthetic chemicals.
Pros
- Destroys odors instantly
- Eliminates smoke smells, even marijuana
- It coverts smoke particles into the clean, fresh air
Cons
- It doesn’t kill viruses
- If inhaled directly as the free-floating O3 can cause cellular damage in your body.
NB
- The product is not meant for cleaning surfaces.
- Do not inhale ozium directly.
- Do not use it near animals or children.
- Allow the spray to air out for like 20 minutes after using it.
Nag Champa Incense
The Champa is hand-rolled on bamboo sticks using traditional techniques. The main ingredient is the Champa flower, a plant cultivated in India. It’s mixed with essential sandalwood oils and herbs to add scent and aroma. Again, tree resins and gums are added for an enjoyable slow and lingering burn.
These sticks provide many benefits like air purifying. The incense has antibacterial properties that disinfect pathogenic bacteria in the air within enclosed spaces. As you burn the incense, it maintains the same levels of purifying the air, reducing bacteria, and removing lingering smells.
Features
- Non-toxic sticks from natural organic herbal
- Home fragrance for stress relief or any décor
- Delivers clean burn
Pros
- Lost-lasting smell
- Sweeter scent
- Low-smoke burn
- Good value for the bundle
Cons
- The scent may change when lit.
Zep Smoke Odor Eliminator
The product is the best option to combat the odor of all types of smoke like weed, tobacco, and burnt wood. However, the substance leaves a pleasant fresh scent that may be strong, especially to someone with high sensitivity. Therefore, you shouldn’t use a lot while spraying as you would do with any air freshener.
Check this too: How To Clean Weathertech Mats
Zep has advanced aerosol technology that encapsulates airborne odor molecules and removes them. The spray is very effective even in bars, restaurants, and breakrooms. Again you can use the spray to eliminate pet odors, garbage, food, and bathroom. Thus, the product works in any location in your house, car, or even public place.
Features
- Non-toxic formula
- Uses advances aerosol technology
Pros
- Works in any location
- You don’t need to use a lot
- Eliminates smoke odor in seconds
Cons
- Scent can be overpowering
- It uses chemicals; thus not best to use around children or pets.
Conclusion
If you want to remove weed odor in your car, you have great options to consider. First, you can decide to use the readily available home products like baking soda, vinegar or purchase from the store. The type of product you choose to use depends on how fast you want to eliminate the odor and spend.
For instant removal of the marijuana smell, go for commercial products like Zep eliminator. It works perfectly and leaves a pleasant fragrance that lasts in your car.