Drivers across the UK are urged to put coffee grounds inside their cars to help fend off unpleasant odours.
The winter season is a tough month for cars thanks to the harsh weather conditions, with rain, cold temperatures and occasional snow all taking their toll on your vehicle. The chilly weather not only puts a greater strain on your car, with problems like battery failure, dropping tire pressure and straining electrical systems to deal with, it also impacts the interior too. Mud and salt from the roads can cling to your shoes and then be transferred to your floor mats, while rainwater can trap moisture underneath the surface.
The damp conditions also cause more moisture to build inside your car, leading to fogging and condensation, and with limited ventilation due to closed windows, it creates the ideal environment for bacteria to thrive.
The result can lead to potential mould growth which lends your car a damp and musty smell that is less than pleasant – but luckily this can be eradicated with the help of a cheap kitchen ingredient: coffee grounds.
Coffee grounds contain nitrogen which is very effective for neutralising odours and will absorb bad smells to leave your car with a very subtle coffee smell instead.
It’s a great natural alternative to keeping your car smelling fresh, rather than resorting to harsher chemicals which are in most household cleaning products.
Experts recommend filling a paper bag, a bowl or even an old sock, with coffee grounds and leaving this in your car overnight to eliminate odours.
Experts at Advanced Motoring said: “Coffee grounds are great at absorbing bad smells as they can soak up hydrogen sulphide gas which can be found in cigarette smoke and emissions from petrol.
“Simply leave a paper bag filled with coffee grounds in your car overnight to eliminate odours.”
Additionally, placing dry coffee grounds in your car can also help to reduce condensation as they are effective at absorbing excess moisture from the air. As such, it’s a cheap way to help prevent the common winter problem and keep your car smelling fresh at the same time.
And if you find yourself battling with snow or ice on your driveway this winter, coffee grounds actually make a great natural alternative to de-icer.
Experts at Barista Shop said: "Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen which melts ice. Save your grounds throughout the year and if your drive or pathway ices over, apply the grounds instead of salt. Coffee is a wonderful alternative to salt as it won’t impact plants or pollute groundwater."
