Removing McDonald's Smell: Making your car smell good again

Make your car smell good again.

McDonald’s… It’s one of those foods that was practically designed to be eaten in your car, on the go. I mean, that’s why they call it fast food, right?

It doesn’t matter what diet you’re on, what city you live in, what you do for a living, some days, you just gotta have it. Unfortunately, anyone who’s eaten McDonald’s in their car knows that eaten Mickey D’s in your vehicle means one thing without fail, and it’s not satisfaction. It’s the signature McDonald’s-in-car smell.

So how can you remove that McDonald’s smell from your car?

WHAT IS IT ABOUT MCDONALD’S SMELL?

Any fast, fried, or fatty foods, including McDonald’s, release small oil droplets into the air. The oil collides with dust in the air, which weighs down the dust, making it stick to things instead of just linger in the air. Essentially, the dust that’s floating around everyone’s car becomes less mobile, causing a smell that’ll stick around longer.

WHAT TO DO IF IT’S JUST NOT GOING AWAY

Check everywhere! In between seats, under seats, glove compartment—get rid of any wrappers, bags, or pieces of food.
Wipe down all surfaces. A good household cleaner should do the trick on everything but leather, but be sure to follow the instructions properly. Some cleaners stain, others just don’t jive with every surface. Pro-Tip: If you’re feeling lazy, whatever you do, don’t throw water on everything! Water takes days to dry and creates a musty, mildewy smell. Then you’ll have a new problem on your hands! Attempting to blow dry your car is a bad idea.
Brush the carpet with a soft, but firm brush. Then, vacuum.
After you’ve vacuumed the carpet, don’t forget the seats. If you had McDonald’s in your trunk (no judgment!), vacuum your trunk. It’s an easy place to neglect during the cleaning process!
If time allows and the smell is unbearable, shampoo the floor mats and steam clean. Pro-Tip: If the McDonald’s smell has been stuck in your car for days, it might be due in part to bacteria from crumbs, or a piece of food that fell and got stuck. Invest in an enzyme/bacteria digester to help move the process along.
Deodorize your car. Start your engine and put the fan on at full blast. Make sure your A.C. is on and fresh air is being pulled from outside, THEN spray a deodorizer of your choice.
Leave baking soda or charcoal on carpets (or floor) to absorb smells overnight, then vacuum. Repeat as necessary to keep car smelling fresh.
Now you may add air freshener. Might we suggest this awesome Jellybean one?

TL;DR?

Have a hot date tonight? Picking your grandmother up from the airport in 45 minutes? Just plain old don’t feel like following all those steps?

Get professional help! Luckily, most carwashes have express detailing services—someone else can clean your interior for you.

Stick with deodorizing your car – good luck! Because of the nature of McDonald’s smell, deodorizing your car alone might not help. We can say this though: driving with the window open is not enough and won’t work.