Car air fresheners: PSA

[CarDoc66]

Hey I’ve known this for a while but I just had a nice clean C class roll in the shop with this air freshener laying on the console. Look at what it did to the gloss black plastic in that console. Permanently damaged. Keep in mind it’s not just the brand pictured, most will do this.
Just wanted to share this in case you weren’t aware.

 

[Astro14]

Air fresheners seem to be common among people who are too lazy to keep the car clean.

Accumulated dirt, food, spilled drinks, etc. cause the car to smell bad, and that’s the lazy fix.

 

[nomas]

I've never wasted my money on those things .

 

[CarDoc66]

Well I’m guilty of buying “leather scent” trees and putting them under the seats. As your car gets older the scent of leather fades, it’s something I love to smell getting in a car.
Kind of like smelling your own farts

 

[MasterSolenoid]

.

 

[Sayjac]

I use Glade Vent New Car Scent in all my vehicles. Never had any issues like topic, just like the smell. Not overwhelming, just pleasant.

Don't know about people using them being lazy, never did a study to confirm. I'd say my vehicles are kept relatively clean inside and out. Then again I don't make practice of stereotyping folks based on a personal preference.

Thanks for the heads up though, I'll be sure to avoid Little Tree AFs.

 

[Kira]

If "Tea Rose" (a lady's perfume scent) AFs were made, I'd consider one. Maybe cedar.

 

[CarDoc66]

I use Glade Vent New Car Scent in all my vehicles. Never had any issues like topic, just like the smell. Not overwhelming, just pleasant.

Don't know about people using them being lazy, never did a study to confirm. I'd say my vehicles are kept relatively clean inside and out. Then again I don't make practice of stereotyping folks based on a personal preference.

Thanks for the heads up though, I'll be sure to avoid Little Tree AFs.

From what I’ve been told (service bulletin at work) it’s a chemical that most all fresheners use, not just the little tree.

 

[Sayjac]

^^^Perhaps IDK. I do know I've been using the vent type for a very long time, more recently the aforementioned Glade Vent. As noted never an issue and very satisfied. And certainly nothing as indicated in pic. Perhaps somewhat location/placement dependent. Only issue with liquid type similar to the Glade Vent/(Fabreze) I've read of but never experienced, a membrane puncture/failure. Obviously a risk I'm ok with.

 

[Spyderman24_7]

I've never wasted my money on those things .

Same here as by far the best thing I've ever used is fresh coffee, as in whole bean that I roast. Once ground it does give off MUCH more aroma, but very short lived. Whole bean gives me upwards of 1 month of solid use... Have a tiny Rubbermaid container with holes drilled in the lid and the coffee is in it, then placed down in a console opening. My car is kept near factory clean, but fresh coffee just does it and is a great odor absorber if anybody has that sort of thing to deal with.

 

[AutoMechanic]

I love those things especially the Royal Pine scent and New Car Scent my truck is loaded with them simply because I love the smell. The only ones I can’t do is the Vanillaroma those give me a headache after awhile. I didn’t know they could damage anything I have mine hanging off the vent selector things. I have seen the ones that go in the vent bust and ruin the trim or the interior of a car.

 

[sk_pete]

Nice plastic etched, now you breathe the mess. .....

 

[92saturnsl2]

I've used the little trees (as pictured) for some 20+ years now. I always stick a new one in after a good detailing, it's the finishing touch.

That said, I don't like anything brushing against interior (or exterior) surfaces, especially not something loaded with chemicals, my OCD won't let me. If I hang a tree it's from the rearview mirror (20+ years and no cop has busted me yet) or some other "hanger" like the cigarette lighter on my '96 GP, where it can just dangle. Never an issue. This is one of those things where common sense prevails.

 

[Malo83]

Put a bar of Irish Springs soap under the front seats for a fresh scent.

 

[CleanSump]

I guess I am a lazy cleaner.
I keep the Mercedes spotless, but I like the smell of sandalwood.
The old blazer smells like whatever I last carried in it.

 

[Tomioka]

I've used air fresheners in roach coaches. Either that I've hardly used an air freshener and take in the natural interior scents.

I like the scented novelty character ones though. Punch to release parking brake.

 

[el Nuke]

You can have my Vanilla-roma vent clip air fresheners when you pry them out of my cold, dead hands!

 

[xgmad]

what type of shift knob is that

 

[CleanSump]

You can have my Vanilla-roma vent clip air fresheners when you pry them out of my cold, dead hands!

You're welcome to go live with my sister and keep your stinky vanilla cardboard wafers together and far, far, away from me!

 

[CarDoc66]

what type of shift knob is that

It’s s factory installed knob on a late model Mercedes C300.