DampRid smell in my Z after storage
 

I stored my Z for about 4 months this winter. I put two DampRid packs in the car while it was in storage to remove the moisture and prevent bad smells. Now that I have the car out of storage, it actually smells just like the DampRid - basically like a cheap/smelly air freshener. While it's not insufferable, it's pretty bad. I need to get that smell OUT, which I thought was the whole purpose of the DampRid in the first place.

So what products should I use to get rid of the smell or perhaps replace it with something better? I do have some leather cleaner/conditioner that I haven't used yet but I'm not sure if that would just make the smell worse.

Or do I just need to air it out during spirited driving for a few weeks and hopefully the smell will go away on its own?

I suggest leaving your car out in the sun (shining on dashboard/seats) with windows down for an hour or so
Also get new air fresheners. These Japanese brand ones smell really nice and last forever. GotoGiga - Japanese Auto Accessories

Park it in the sun with the windows down for a few days.

If that doesn't do it, find a shop that can treat it with ozone. It gets rid of anything!

Windows down + cruising on the freeway = my way of airing out the car. See if that works

oh +1 on the air fresheners.

yah, definitely air it out. if you have a garage, park it with the window down and get a fan or something to blow into the car.

btw, i dont use dessiccants during storage..

Squash is the absolute best! :tup:

And you can get the refill packs to start with and just use them (you don't have to have the original case). They have the ability to open/close as much as you want so you can allow it to last a bit longer.

yah, phelan was saying good things about squash too. he's more jdm than i am. lol

Yeah I like Squash too but my favorite is Samurai. It's really hard to find in Vancouver, perhaps it's easier in the states?

The place I bought my squash (which isn't everywhere here either) I only saw it and one other scent, but I don't remember which one it was.

I'll have to sniff'em all next time I go to get one. :icon17:

Thanks, guys! I'll probably pick up one of those air fresheners and try the open window bake in the sun. Now I just need some sun... :ughdance:

How come? Everything I read about car storage said I was supposed to, but when I got the car out of storage, there was just a tiny bit of water in the packs anyway. Really I just didn't want it to smell like mildew/mold.

Whether you need it or not depends alot on storage conditions. If temperature is stable and humidity is reasonable, you aren't as likely to need it.

Try using an unscented desiccant. Instead of letting the interior steep in the scent, put a freshener in the car a week or so before hitting the road.