That used car smell: how to deal with a stinky vehicle

Whether it’s spilled coffee or cigarette smoke – what is the best way to remove the odours stuck inside your car? Photograph: ambrozinio/Alamy

A family member of mine (who, out of embarrassment, wishes to remain anonymous) recently had an incident of the pongiest proportions. It involved a two-litre bottle of milk mistakenly left in her car for an entire weekend in the hot summer sun.

The result: an explosion that covered the front passenger side of her car in milk that curdled and seeped into the upholstery. Along with the maggots that wriggled out from her carpet, it left a foul, pungent smell that would just not go away.