Ewwww, What’s that Smell – Replace Your Car’s Cabin Filter in Minutes
Driving two boys and a dog in the Handymobile several times a day can lead to some truly funky odors. The other day I found myself wondering what the latest funk could be attributed to. Was it the stinky socks and shoes left behind from water day at school?
Or was it the countless remnants and crumbs that tumbled out of the kids’ mouths? Or was it just a bad case of dog breath? There really is no telling exactly what causes the funk in my car. But, I can tell you that there could be one more culprit: That would be a filthy cabin air filter! This month I learned that it is easy to replace your car’s air filters. And just like you need to replace your home’s filters regularly, you should replace your car filters too! I’m embarrassed to say that I never changed my cabin filter. I just assumed the garage did it when they changed my oil four times a year. Well, I was sorely mistaken. I literally just had my oil changed this month and asked the mechanic if they automatically changed the air filter too. He answered, “Yes, ma’am. But, only if it needs it.” See, I figured I was fine. But, then I was contacted by Blogher and asked if I wanted to write a post about changing my car’s cabin air filter using a FRAM Fresh Breeze® cabin air filter. I was intrigued. And after watching the installation video on the FRAM Fresh Breeze website, I was confident knowing how to find the air filter. Okay, are you ready for this? This is the instructions for replacing your air filter on a 2003 Honda CRV. But, you can look up the instructions for your car here. Changing the cabin air filters was super simply! I can tell you that this took me under 10 minutes to do. And probably would have taken under 5 minutes if I hadn’t photographed every step. Here’s the pictorial how to guide, but you might want to look up the video tutorial for your specific car on FRAM’s website. Tools:
- Two hands
- Maybe a flat head screwdriver
Instructions: Open your glove compartment and empty it of all the squished granola bars, unused fast food napkins and salt packets, and that key that you were looking for 5 years ago! What, no gloves in my glove box? Whoever named it a glove compartment didn’t live in the south? Locate the stops (or glove compartment release levers) inside your glove compartment. Pry the stops out and then remove them from the glove box. Peek inside and look for the cabin filter cover. You might have to get down on all fours and look up into the dashboard. Press the release lever and remove the cover. Pull the first cabin filter out (your car may only have one filter, my car has two.) Slide the tab for the second filter over to the left and remove it next. Hold your nose lest you sneeze your pollen-bombed head off: Yuck!!! Seriously, what constitutes “when needed” in the mechanics eyes! No wonder I sneezed every time I turned on the A/C in my car! We were breathing all that pollen, tree debris, dust and who knows what else. Bleck! To remove the filter, pry up the old one and insert the new one in making sure the arrows are pointing down. Be sure to install the filters with the two tabs close together. Re-insert the new filters by reversing the process of removing them. 1. Insert the first filter and slide it to the right. 2. Insert the second filter. 3. Replace the cabin filter housing door. 4. Press it firmly to lock in place. Lift the glove box back up and re-insert the stops. Press the stops in firmly to lock in place. I can certainly breathe easier knowing that the new filters I installed are clean and will filter 98% of dust, dirt, and allergens. And the Arm & Hammer® Baking soda and charcoal filter will remove odors from the air entering our car. Sayonara cigarette smoke and exhaust fumes.
*UPDATE: I’ve been driving around for a few days now and I can honestly say that the air in my car smells better and I haven’t sneezed once when turning on the air. Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for FRAM via Blogher. I was sent two complimentary FRAM FreshBreeze Cabin Filters and compensation for my time. All images and copy are my own. I will always alert you when I am writing a sponsored post.
We change our air filter monthly. That seems to help.
https://twitter.com/linhcl/status/352227246783725568
I change the air filters in my house every 3 months. I’ve got to go check my car cabin filter.
WOW! I never knew! Well, I knew there was an engine air filter…but a cabin one? I’m on it! 😀 Thank you so much! At home I keep the air as fresh as possible by replacing the furnace filter at regular (if not sooner) intervals through the year. Kansas gets pretty dusty so that is a critical element. But, my favorite, which is one I am implementing today in this gloriously tolerable 80 degree weather is to open windows to create a cross breeze. It really takes any musty smells and drives them out! 🙂
I keep wipes in my vehicle so while I’m going through the car wash, I wipe down all the surfaces I can reach!
Great tip Christy! Funny that usually I’m just mesmerized by the car wash into a trance like state. ;-D
i open up the doors and windows on days when the pollen count isn’t high outside…or the humidity…
Last fall I bought my first new to me car since my youngest was in diapers(she is almost done with high school). My rule is no dog(s) and no one eats in my “new” car. So far, so good!
Just want to second the comment about the engine air filter vs the cabin filter! The engine air filter is usually much bigger, so they’re easy to tell apart. Anyway, I have an air purifier but I’m going to look into a plugin ionized filter too!
I change the air filters in my house every 3 months.
Tweet
https://twitter.com/clc408/status/352165469467324419
I open windows to let in fresh air.
https://twitter.com/LizzyAllen123/status/352131039210119169
I keep my windows open at home to bring fresh air in.
I keep baby wipes in the car, they come in so handy for sticky fingers and spills!
Thanks for this post! I never had thought about there being an A/C filter, but it totally makes sense! As far as the air filter that the mechanic checks when you get your oil changed, that would be your engine’s air filter. That filter is under the hood of your car and is easily changed as well. Changing the engine’s air filter yourself will save you $10-$20 at the mechanic when you get your oil change. I don’t think they ever check your A/C air filter unless you specifically ask them to. Now I’m off to check mine out! 🙂