Hello friends! Welcome to The Bold North Detailing Newsletter - Edition #001 

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I’m asked 5 times per week about what interior detailing products I use and what scents they leave behind after use.

Why is it that more people are becoming sensitive to harsh chemical scents?

Over the past 6 years of detailing, I’ve become more aware of the detailing product scents I do and do not like. Especially with products that I use often.

I suffer from seasonal allergies like a lot of folks in Minnesota. And as I’ve gotten older a few years, I too have become more sensitive to strong smells by detailing products.

I look back to the time when I bought my first detailing-specific All Purpose Cleaner in 2017.

I saw some other guy on YouTube using it. He said he liked it enough to mention his affiliate code multiple times.

So I bought it.

Opened it up.

And it stank.

It was cheap

But it worked.

For a while.

After about 10 detailing services I became irritated by the harsh scent. I knew I had to find something else.

The easiest solution for me was to do my homework and find a different product to buy.

I asked other detailing enthusiasts both in-person and online.

I scoured reviews from tens of product pages.

I bought new products, and tools, and tested them out myself.

It took a lot of time and effort, but I'm now able to pass on that knowledge to any future client who is sensitive to specific chemical smells.

Hey! I also made this article into a YouTube video. Check it out here.

What Products Leave Behind Scents?

Every category of product that detailers use on the inside and outside of your car, truck, or SUV has the potential to leave a scent.

For example…

• All Purpose Cleaners

• Leather conditioners

• Rinseless Washes

• Car wash soaps

• Carpet cleaners

• Wheel cleaners

• Spray waxes

to name a few.

(It’s OK if you don’t know what all of them are)

My general rule of thumb is: the cheaper the product, the worst the scent.

Let's focus on “All Purpose Cleaners” for now.

More often than not, a cheap All Purpose Cleaner is likely to leave behind a harsh scent after it’s used around your vehicle.

Why Do Detailers Use Products That Leave Behind Scents?

(I’m going to focus on All Purpose Cleaners for the rest of this article)

All Purpose Cleaners, or APC for short, are used in various ways on different surfaces throughout your vehicle.

They are often diluted, or watered down, to allow use on interior surfaces like leather, vinyl, or carpet.

The versatility of an All Purpose Cleaner is a big selling point to many detailers.

Yet, most detailing professionals don't think twice about the scent left behind from their product use.

If no one has complained about it before, or they aren't bothered by the scent themself, their awareness level isn't raised.

What smells like roses to one nose might smell like s*** to another.

What Are Some Better Smelling Alternatives?

There are a handful of different products you can use to clean the interior of your vehicle that don’t leave behind any scents.

One that comes to the top of my mind is Griot’s Garage Interior Cleaner.

For example, you can find this simple product at most Advance Auto retail stores, Amazon, and many other online retailers.

I often use this when I’m doing an interior detail for a client who is sensitive to strong chemical scents.

To my surprise when I first started using it, it gets the job done. Very little scent unless sprayed many times in one area. And it leaves the surface with a nice matte finish.

An advanced method of cleaning the interior of your vehicle without leaving any scent behind is using a Steam Cleaner.

This tool uses only water to generate steam so there will be no scent-producing residue left behind.

The high temperature and pressure created by this tool can blast away gunk and clean the interior of your vehicle…

…I wouldn’t recommend this option for the Average Joe who wants a quick solution.

But, for hardcore enthusiasts and professionals alike, this is a great option to explore.

What Should I Do If My Vehicle Smells Like Chemicals After A Detail?

If you hire a professional to detail the interior of your vehicle and it’s returned with a smell you don’t like, you have a few different options.

The first would be to immediately call them and explain how you’re unsatisfied with the chemical smell left on the vehicle.

Depending on who/where you had the vehicle serviced, there may be a limited about of help you’ll receive.

Your next option would be to leave the windows down for as long as possible.

This will help the scents dissipate faster. Use your best judgment if you decide to do this though. A garage or secure location is best. This next option is advanced but you can also use a smell deodorizer to get rid of the leftover scents too.

There are other different options that I won’t be able to cover in this post. But, know that you’re not stuck with the chemical smell forever.

Most scents will go away in a day or two, so you may have to tough it out for a short time if nothing else is available to you.

What Question Should I Ask To Avoid The Harsh Chemical Smells?

If you’re sensitive to smells or have any specific allergies, I encourage you to bring that up to your chosen detailing professional.

Professional detailing companies need to ask about allergies or other sensitivities before an appointment is scheduled or when a potential client inquires.

Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.

If that's not addressed, here are two questions you should ask right away:

1. Do you use eco-friendly products?

2. What is my car going to smell like after the detail?

If they can answer those two questions with answers that suit your needs, great!

If not, move on.

Not every shop or service is going to have scent-free options.

There’s often a balancing act between cleaning power and lack of scents / general eco-friendlyness.

The stronger the cleaner, the strong the scent left behind.

Some products that leave little to no scent sometimes don’t clean effectively or need more elbow grease to get the job done.

If you’re the one paying for a professional detail, then extra time might be allocated which will end up costing more depending on where you go.

So there you have it.

You now know what types of products leave behind harsh scents, why some detailers choose to use products that leave behind smells, what to do if your vehicle has chemical smells after it's cleaned, and what you should ask before booking a service with a professional detailing company.

So I have a question for you: have you ever had your car, truck, or SUV professionally detailed?

Did it smell great after? Or did you get headaches?

I’d love to know your thoughts.

- AJ with Bold North Detailing

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P.P.S. Do you want your car professionally detailed? Without any scents left behind? Click here to request a free quote from Bold North Detailing.