I bought my car new about five years ago. (I was so proud—it was my first purchase as a college grad.) Anyway, shortly after I purchased it, I drove to Idaho with my then 10-year-old sister who also happened to have the flu. Long story short, we made it into my parents’ driveway and were in the process of unlocking the doors when she lost it and threw up all over everything.
I don’t know if you’ve ever tried to get vomit stains out of car upholstery or carpet, but I will tell you that it was a nightmare. But the worst part was the smell. It was the middle of the summer, and even though I left my windows open 24/7, it still reeked. I tried shampooing, steam cleaning, scrubbing with cleaners, and what felt like everything in between. But in the process I did gather some valuable information about deodorizing a car, which I will now share with you.