So you've had a little accident with vinegar in your car, huh? 

Don't sweat it! It happens to the best of us. Maybe you were moving some stuff around and a bottle tipped over, or maybe you got a bit too enthusiastic with your DIY car cleaning. 

Whatever the reason, that vinegar smell can really take over your car's interior.

In this post, I’ll show you what to do if you spilled vinegar in cars, and how to get rid of the vinegar smell.

What To Do If You Spilled Vinegar In Your Car?

If you spilled vinegar in your car, you need to act quickly. The sooner you deal with it, the easier it will be to prevent the smell from setting in.

Here's what you need to do:

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#1 Soak Up The Spill

Grab some paper towels or clean clothes - whatever you've got on hand. 

You want to soak up as much of that vinegar as you can. If it's on your car seat or carpet, don't rub it in - that'll just make things worse. Instead, press down firmly and let the towels do the work. 

Keep swapping out for fresh towels until you've soaked up as much as possible.

#2 Clean The Area

Now that you've soaked up the worst of it, it's time to clean. 

Mix some warm water with a bit of dish soap. Grab a clean cloth, dip it in your soapy water, and start dabbing at the spill. Work from the outside in so you don't spread it around. 

If you've got leather seats, use a special leather cleaner instead - we don't want to damage your nice interior! 

Once you've cleaned it all up, use a fresh, damp cloth to wipe away any leftover soap.

#3 Dry Thoroughly

You’re almost done now. You just need to get that area nice and dry. 

Use some dry towels to soak up any water left behind. If you can, park your car in the sun and leave the windows open - this will help dry things out faster. 

You can even use a fan or a hair dryer on cool if you want to speed things up. 

Just make sure it's completely dry - we don't want any mold setting up shop in there!

Also Read: How to get vaseline out of couch

How To Get Rid Of Vinegar Smell In Car

Even after all that cleaning, you might still catch a whiff of vinegar. 

Don't worry, we're not done yet. Here are some ways to get rid of that vinegar smell for good:

Ventilate The Car

One of the simplest yet most effective ways to combat odors is through proper ventilation.

Open up all your car doors and windows and let that fresh air flow through! If you can, leave them open for a few hours or even overnight. 

It's amazing what a bit of fresh air can do. 

For an extra boost, turn on your car's fan on the highest setting with the "fresh air" (not recirculation) mode on to help push out the stale, vinegar-scented air.

Use Baking Soda

Baking soda is a powerful, natural odor absorber and it can get rid of the vinegar smell. 

Go ahead and sprinkle it all over the area where you spilled the vinegar and let it sit for a while - overnight is great if you can manage it. The baking soda will soak up that vinegar smell. 

When you're done, just vacuum it all up. 

You can even put some open containers of baking soda under your seats to help freshen up the whole car.

Also Read: bleach smell stuck in nose after cleaning

Use Activated Charcoal

Activated charcoal is another excellent odor absorber. 

You can find this stuff at pet stores or online. Just put a few small bags or containers of it in your car, especially near where you spilled the vinegar. 

Leave them there for at least a day - longer if the smell is really stubborn. 

The charcoal will neutralize the vinegar smell and leave your car smelling fresh.

Wrapping Up

Spilling vinegar in your car isn't fun, but it's not the end of the world either. If you act fast and follow these steps, you'll have your car smelling good as new in no time.

Just remember: soak it up, clean it thoroughly, and then go after that smell with everything you've got. 

And if all else fails, don't be afraid to call in the pros. There are cleaning services out there that specialize in getting rid of tough smells in cars.

FAQs

How Long Does Vinegar Smell Last In Carpet

Well, it depends. If you clean it up right away and treat it properly, you should notice the smell getting a lot better within a day or two. But if you don't take care of it, that smell could hang around for days or even weeks.

The type of carpet and how much vinegar you spilled can make a difference too.

Does Vinegar Smell Go Away When Dry

The smell will probably get less strong as the vinegar dries, but it might not disappear completely on its own. That's because vinegar contains acetic acid, which can leave a residual odor even after the liquid has evaporated.