Comments on: How can I eliminate the smell of spilled soup?

Question: How can I eliminate the smell of spilled soup?

ignignokt — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 13:17:31 -0800

I've spilled some chicken noodle soup in my car. I wiped up what I could with napkins, but some of it soaked down beneath the surface of the seat. I suspect my car will now smell like chicken broth. What can I do?

By: Sassyfras

Sassyfras — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 13:32:09 -0800

get it steam cleaned. do you have a carpet cleaner? If not, go to a car wash - they usually have some there that you can use for mere dollars.

By: ZackTM

ZackTM — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 13:33:31 -0800

Febreeze it

By: tastybrains

tastybrains — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 13:42:10 -0800

Saturate it with an enzymatic cleaner like Nature's Miracle. It will help kill off any bacteria that grows as a result of the chicken brothiness.

You can buy this at any pet store, it's usually sold to remove odors from pet accidents, but it works on any sort of biological yuckiness, soup included.

By: voidcontext

voidcontext — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 13:52:32 -0800

Tastybrains is right, you don't have to worry about the chicken broth smell, it's the rotting chicken smell funkiness that will get to you. Use all the suggestions given above in combination to be sure of getting it out or killing it.

By: kc0dxh

kc0dxh — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 13:57:43 -0800

I used to do this for a living. Here's what you'll need:

-2 drops dish soap
-1 cup hot tap water (not boiling!)
-1 scrub brush (an old tooth brush won't cut it)
-2 more cups warm water
-1 wet/dry vac (at the car wash)

Put your dish soap and hot water in a thermos and take it, your scrub brush and 5lbs (kidding!) of quarters to the car wash. You should have 2 more cups of fresh water left.

Shake up your thermos and pour some of that frothy soap water on the spill. There should be enough to make it look wet. Cover the whole spill plus a bit more. Don't be afraid to use the whole cup.

Scrub for 30 seconds or more. There should be a fine foam when it's ready.

Vacuum your foam slurry out. Rinse with clean water 2 more times, vacuuming in between and after till near dry.

Park the car in the sun with a window cracked, or run the heater for 30 minutes with the blower on high.

By: Uncle Jimmy

Uncle Jimmy — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 14:04:10 -0800

Get pet stain remover from a pet store (sometimes Wal-Mart has it). That stuff has saved my car many times.

By: rob511

rob511 — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 14:11:05 -0800

Heed the old saying, "If life gives you lemons, make Lemsip." Spread the word in the nabe that you're now the proud owner of the Coldbuster. For a nominal fee, give healing rides to sniffly kids.

By: mostlymartha

mostlymartha — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 14:38:17 -0800

Seconding Nature's Miracle. That stuff gets out some awfully funky smells. It did wonders with vomit on a mattress, I bet it would help broth in a car seat.

By: IronLizard

IronLizard — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 17:43:10 -0800

Also, that oxyclean stuff and some water (or whatever it's called. white powder in a small plastic jar) works well for this type of stuff. Once you've done this, put a rag between your vacuum cleaner hose and the seat to suck up the moisture (warning: prolonged wet sucking will cause your bag to fall apart). I will now await the jokes.

By: IronLizard

IronLizard — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 17:44:32 -0800

Ack, I see someone covered the vacuum bit better with the car wash vac. (bad lizard, bad. read first.)

By: billybunny

billybunny — Wed, 13 Dec 2006 20:16:32 -0800

warning: prolonged wet sucking will cause your bag to fall apart

Oh God. Too many jokes. Can't... think... brain... melting...

By: tastybrains

tastybrains — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 19:17:16 -0800

warning: prolonged wet sucking will cause your bag to fall apart

[ insert juvenile giggling ]

thank you, lizard, you made my day. :-D