ok this is a dumb ? but I was thinking of getting a differen't air freshener. For the Aero since its all clean. But what is the best Air freshener u can buy. Any opions appreciated thanks. Fordguy101

 

Don't have a recommendation for an air freshener, but the only dumb ?'s are those not asked.

Ron

 

I have a alpine living air machine. I hook it up and let run in the van overnight.
I get in it in the morning, its nice and fresh smelling inside. i do this about once a month. no i dont sell these things but if you can find one try it. they are too much $$$ new.
I got it at a thrift store.

 

You can run an Ozonizer in there. I think that is what the above item is. That will take out any smells, thus eliminateing any need for an air freshener. The little hang up fresherers are really not that great. There are better ones that come in a can, that greatly resembles a can of chewing tabacco. I haven't tried it, but it figures that it should be better, since it is more concentrated, and it is sealed tight until you open it.

 

You might try a couple of stick-ups under the dash.
Or do like I do.........Get some of the Carpet Fresh stuff (98 cent store)
sprinkle some on the carpet. When the smell starts to fade run the shop-vac
on it bring back the smell.
So on and so on.

 

If you have one of those hoover steam cleaners (I have dogs, I wouldn't live without it) you can use that. Mine has a handle where I can do the seats, but most times I take the rear seats out and do the entire back area by standing at the back with the door open and running the machine as if I was standing in my living room. It makes the van smell great, and the carpet looks better. The machine has spinning brushes that scrub, it's great.

The same thing can be done with a bucket of water, a brush, and a Wet/Dry shop vac. Use a solution of laundry soap and water and scrub the carpet good and then suck out the water with the shop vac. Do a little at a time and then let it finish drying in the sun.

For a great Martha Stewart trick, use liquid laundry soap instead of buying fancy expensive "Carpet Cleaner Solution". Except for a defoaming agent, they are not much different, and loads cheaper. I have to empty my dump tank a little earlier because of the extra foam, but's not a big deal or that much extra. I use Tide on my carpets in the house and the Van. An extra trick when battling smells in rugs is to add a shot glass or 2 of Snuggle, or Downy into your soap water tank. The clean smell lasts forever.

I also learned to wash the cars with cheap Walmart shampoo instead of fancy "Car Wash" soap. It's a non abrasive, no film soap that washes the car well, and actually the outside of the van has that "Gee, your Aerostar smells terrific" smell. Cost: .99 for a bottle that last months.

my .02

Dave

 

heres a few things that work for me to get rid of the "aerostank".

they make a febreeze like product for cars. its cool.

I like the little air freshener cans. they are the same size and shape as fancy feast cat food. and inside is a wood fiber block that holds the scented stuff. they last for a few months each.

my favorite so far is:
coffee beans. they absorb bad smells, and release good smells. make little sachets of coffee beans and keep em around in the van. or i just take one quart-size freezer bag and poke little holes in it all over.

 

Instead of buying auto air fresheners, pick up a box of refrigerator Arm and Hammer. It works great and is designed not to spill out of the box.

I also use the hoover aspect (but with a Bissel), because I have kids that like to spill drinks and food in the car. In the back I pull all the seats, step in and start cleaning like the inside carpet. Then I use the apolstry attachments for..... the apolstry. I have been using the same one for 5 years and highly recomend spending the $160 for one if you are in the same situation as I am. Otherwise renting a rug doctor evey 6 months will work too.

 

I killed mine in less than a year. I much prefer the 5 rotatating brushes of the Hoover than the single 1 big spinning 1 Bissell has. I had nothing but problems with the Brush mechanism with the Bissell, and I shipped it off 2 times for them to repair it. The 3rd time it broke, I gave it to a buddy who just uses the apholstry attachment to clean quick spills his kids make at home.

I really recommend either renting the machine, or using yours, or if your cheap like me, bucket and a wet/dry vac do the same thing. If you do it once a year to your van it will help a lot!

Febreeze? I like the smell, but don't believe in the "absorbs odors" hype. Soon enough, they return till you clean the source.

dave

 

Do you grind it first, then make satchels, or just use the beans?

My problem, is one day I will be out of coffee and think " I have that bag in the van" (4 mos old) I'll make it and......well, insert nasty taste/smell here

dave

 

nope, i leave the beans whole, afraid the grounds would get loose and stain stuff.
french vanilla smells awesome. one time we used carmel or toffee something or other. mmmmm. smells good. in the winter it makes the van smell warm inside. lol, really. where elses can you get air freshener for 5 bucks a pound?

 

forgot to metion that we like the smell of froot loops cereal. man that stuff smells good in the bag. but we tried getting a big bag of malt-o-meal knock off froot loops and they smell the same. so we punched a bunch of holes in the bag and tossed it under the rear-most seat. didnt work. you have to wear the bag like a respirator in order to get the smell i guess. oh well. i wish they made a froot loop scent, or fruity pebbles scent, or gummy bears maybe? sigh.

 

No such thing as a stupid question...only stupid people who don't ask questions. Hanging air fresheners are very strong but weaken quickly...and smell like a french *****house. Gadgets and ionizers and such can be pricey. A sure fire cleaner is the cheapest and oldest there is...alcohol. Yep. Go buy several bottles of alcohol and a spray bottle...the sprayer head will actually screw on the alcohol bottle. With the windows open, spray the crap out of the van...alcohol won't stain. When it evaporates it carries odors with it...just as when you drink too much and you have a hangover, well, that's the alcohol at work in your body. It evaporates carrying water with it, therfore you are dehydrated and feel like crap. Alcohol works the same way with odors. Alcohol works TERRIFIC in shoes, bedding, furniture, etc. Febreeze is nothing but perfumed alcohol...at least in operation (I'm sure they have a proprietary formula) but it works the same. If you don't like the plain stuff use the wintergreen stuff...$0.50 a bottle at the dollar stores.
If you have a scource of smell then tend to the source...then maintain with alcohol. It is very effective AND affordable.
Alcohol won't give a scent (after ventalation)...the wintergreen will have a slight fresh scent. If you want scent that go to the dollar store and buy cheap spray cologne...just keep it in the console and give a spritz or two anytime you want a scent. A couple of different scents to please your different passengers will do nicely.
Hope this gives you something else to consider.
KenCinFL

 

Febreeze works pretty well on freshening the upholstery an does a good job getting the stench out of my Aero that stuff is great.

 

Yeah Febreeze works really well. But has anyone tried those arometrics? Do they work? fordguy101