Lots of people notice a strange odor coming from the air conditioning vents of their car, SUV or truck, which reminds them of vinegar – or some people say it smells like stinky gym socks, or simply like dampness, mold or mildew.
But what is this strange smell? Is it dangerous? What can you do about it? That’s exactly what we’re here to talk about.
In this article we will discuss exactly what causes the vinegar smell in your car, and what you can and should do about it.
Along the way we’ll answer some of these questions and more:
- What is that vinegar smell coming from my air conditioning vents?
- What causes the vinegar odor?
- Is it dangerous?
- How can I get rid of the smell?
- What else could be causing this smell?
What Is That Vinegar Smell in My Car?
The most likely reason for a vinegar smell coming from your car’s AC vents is mold and mildew – specifically, we mean trapped and built up dust and other particulates in the vents combining with moisture and beginning to form mildew spores.
We have to be really careful here, and stay focused, because I have noticed a lot of other informational articles on the web that discuss this very subject, and talk about the top 12 or 15 reasons your car’s air conditioner smells like vinegar.
But the thing is, it is almost certainly moisture and fungus, and not any of the other slight possibilities. Most likely there is at least a very mild buildup of mildew or mold, and it kind of needs to be taken care of – by cleaning your vents and preventing excess moisture in your car and its cooling system.
Is the Vinegar Odor in my Air Conditioning Dangerous?
We are not doctors, and cannot offer any medical advice, but we can say this – if the vinegar odor you notice is indeed mildew in your AC ducts, which it most likely is, it is being blown all throughout the cab of your car, and isn’t the most healthful thing to be breathing in.
So while there may be no real reason for alarm, to ensure the best health possible for you, your family and your passengers it should be taken care of as soon as possible – and it’s a good idea to try to prevent it from happening again in the future.
And please, if you ever feel dizzy, have headaches while driving, have any discomfort or difficulty in breathing, feel overly tired or fatigued or anything else along those lines, don’t risk your health or safety – pull over, call a friend or a cab, let your car sit and air out and then clean your ducts.
How Can You Get Rid Of the Vinegary Smell in Your Car’s AC?
Because that’s the best way to deal with this – clean your ducts and keep them clean, and so we’ll detail a two-part plan:
- Thoroughly clean and dry out your air conditioning ducts
- Keep moisture from forming in the future
How To Clean Your Car’s AC Vents
Again, we are most likely talking about a buildup of dirt, dust and all kinds of organic and inorganic particles, which forms with excess moisture and begins to mildew and mold.
So what we need to do is to clean out the vents as thoroughly as possible, getting rid of as much of the dust and dirt, and the already formed spores, as possible.
We will break this down to four basic steps:
- Vacuum the vents
- Prepare a cleaning solution
- Clean the vents
- Dry the vents
You may want to wear a mask when you’re doing this, as at least some of the stuff you’re cleaning out will become airborne and swirl about while you’re cleaning.
1. Vacuum the AC vents
You can use a vacuum with a wand, especially one with a long, thin attachment which may fit through the vent grills, and suck as much of the contaminants out as possible – but this is at best only partially effective, and won’t really solve the problem.
To make it a bit more effective, before you get into the actual cleaning – or even before vacuuming – you might want to blast the vents thoroughly with a can of compressed air.
This all will help, but isn’t really enough, and so the next thing to do is to clean the vents from the inside, with a brush and a good cleaning/disinfecting solution.
2. Prepare a cleaning solution
Prepare a mixture of vinegar, distilled water, lemon or lime and even some tea tree oil, and dip the foam head of the paintbrush into the mixture. I know – vinegar to eliminate a vinegar smell? But trust me, it’s the best thing!
Also have on hand a pan or bowl of warm, clean distilled water for dipping the paintbrush into for rinsing.
You will also need a good cleaning brush. Get a long-handled foam paintbrush (the kind with a soft foam head, like you use for edging when you’re painting walls). You want one that has a long enough handle to go far down the duct, and a small enough head to fit through the vents on your dash – and get a decent quality one, so it will hold up while you’re cleaning.
3. Clean the vents from the inside
Now, with your car parked outside (not in the garage), its doors wide open, and again preferably wearing a mask (you, not your car…), begin to carefully push the wet foam tip through the vents and swab and scrub the sides of the ducts as thoroughly as you can, and as far back as you can reach.
Also swab and clean the vents themselves, moving the louviers around to get into the cracks and corners as much as you can.
Be especially careful when removing the brush, so that it doesn’t tear against the grills coming out – it can pop off, or leave little bits of itself behind, and they are a bear to get out!
Also make sure that the brush isn’t too wet – you don’t want to leave behind too much moisture and possibly make the problem worse instead of better.
But do remove the brush, rinse it in clean, hot water and re-soak it in the vinegar solution as often as possible, to make the whole process more thorough and effective.
4. Dry the AC vents out
When you are done, turn on your engine (so you don’t drain your battery – but again, PLEASE make sure your car is parked OUTSIDE!) and let the fan run for a few minutes, to dry it all out and to blast out any remaining gunk and dirt you may have dislodged.
And here’s a great tip – before you blast away with the AC system, blast away with compressed air. A can of compressed air aimed down the AC vents can really dislodge much of what might be still in there, and makes the drying step even more effective.
Many people even like to use compressed air at the very beginning, before they even start cleaning their vents.
Again, you might want to wear a face mask, as compressed air really gets things moving!
What If This Doesn’t Do the Trick?
As you might already be thinking, this may only be a partial solution.
For many people, and in many cases, it eliminates the smell and the majority of dust, dirt and spores, and is good enough, but in fact there can be moisture and particulates built up much deeper in your vehicle’s AC system, and your aircon’s drip tank may also need drained and cleaned.
All of this is a pretty serious and involved DIY project, and an AC is not the cheapest component on your car, so you may want your dealership or a qualified mechanic or automotive air conditioning technician to handle this part.
But yes, if you have cleaned the air conditioning ducts and vents as thoroughly as possible, and it still smells a vinegar smell when you turn the AC on, you may want to have the system professionally cleaned and serviced – particularly if it is more than a few years old.
Of course, keep in mind that if your vents and ducts smell like vinegar right after you’re done, it could be, you know, the vinegar you just used. So wait a couple of days before you take the next (possibly pretty costly) step!
How to Prevent the Vinegar Smell in your Car from Returning
As we already mentioned, thoroughly cleaning and drying your AC vents and grills is the first and best step, but you also want to keep moisture from forming in the future, so this doesn’t just keep happening.
How to Keep Moisture from Forming in your Vehicle and AC System:
- Keep your windows closed – if you are in a humid or rainy climate, air or precipitation from the outside will come in and collect inside, causing humidity and possibly mold and mildew in your car’s interior, AC system and elsewhere
- Keep your windows open – huh? Didn’t I just say… But if you are in a very dry climate, keeping your windows open is actually better, and will keep the inside of your car dry and help prevent any mold or mildew
- Keep your car in the sun – but remember, the sun can also cause problems with your car’s paint and finish, so weigh your priorities
- Keep your car’s interior dry – wipe or even blow dry wet upholstery, and don’t let water, or even just moisture, to stand on any surface. A microfiber towel is your best friend!
- Keep the glass and other surfaces clean – dirty surfaces allow moisture to collect, and they too can become dirty and even mildewed, posing their own health risks and possibly compounding the problem with your AC
- Keep carpets and floors clean and vacuumed – again, dirt is not just unhealthy when blown around, but can collect moisture and breed mildew
- Don’t use a car cover – which can trap even more moisture in your car
- Use your AC – you may have dirt and mold in your AC system’s components and ductwork, but the AC isn’t to blame. In fact, ACs themselves always have a drying effect, and if you are in a humid or rainy place, or time of the year, you can blast your AC occasionally to help dry out your car’s interior – but remember…
- Don’t use the AC system’s recirculation button – which doesn’t allow fresher and drier air into the AC system
What Else Could This Smell Be?
Well, besides the strong possibility that you have teenage sons in your car, there are other factors or issues that could lead to a strange smell either coming from your AC or just noticeable in your car, truck or SUV’s interior.
- Fuel leak or problems with fuel filters or fuel lines
- Electrical problems or shorted wires
- Burning or melted rubber, especially from old or worn hoses and belts
- Leaking fluids in the radiator/cooling system
- Various problems with brake pads, transmission parts or fluid, even the AC system (refrigerant leakage or worn out compressor)
None of these will probably smell like vinegar, but they may have a distinct smell that you can notice in the cab of your vehicle, or even outside your vehicle – especially when it’s running or has just stopped.
And while some of these smells might indicate a small or insignificant problem, any of them could indicate a more serious issue – for your car and/or even for your own health and safety.
So again, if the smell persists, becomes stronger, is associated with strange or alarming sounds or any other problems or issues with your car’s performance or smooth running, or is simply something you’re worried about, please have the issue checked out right away by a trained and qualified professional technician.
And most importantly, if a vinegar smell, or any other smell, fumes or odor in or from your car, causes you to feel nauseous, dizzy, tired or heavy, or sick in any way, please, please, please stop driving immediately and call for a ride, and have your car checked immediately.
If you absolutely must continue to drive, first stop the car, get out and take deep breaths for a few minutes. Then drive only with your AC and heater systems shut off and all of your windows wide open – and even then, only for as long as you absolutely must.
Thanks for reading our article – Why Does My Car AC Smell Like Vinegar? Here’s The Reason – and What You Can Do! – and please check out our website – Know the Flo – for other informative articles, tutorials and buyer’s guides and a whole lot more!
