How To: Use Lysol to Clean Bacteria Out of Your Car's Air Conditioning System

Air conditioning systems are cold and wet and make great breeding grounds for bacteria and mold, and adding a nasty odor to the air coming out of the vents.

If the AC in your car is making a foul smell, it may well be inundated with bacteria. But rather than spend a bunch of your hard-earned money of getting your AC system flushed, you can clear it out yourself using just a can of Lysol disinfectant spray.

Step 1: Blast the AC

Start by engaging the AC and turning the fan to its highest setting—make sure the re-circulation option is off, as you want outside air coming through the vents.

Step 2: Roll Your Windows Down

With the AC blasting, roll down all your windows to allow the Lysol spray to properly escape your vehicle. This is a critical step—fumes from the spray can be harmful to you and your pets.

Step 3: Spray Lysol into the Outside Air Vents

On the outside of your vehicle at the bottom of the windshield, you'll see air intake vents. With the AC fan running at full power, you should be able to feel air being sucked in.

Take the can of Lysol and spray into this vent thoroughly and on both the driver's and passenger's side.

Step 4: Let Your Vehicle Vent

After spraying, leave the AC on for at least 15 minutes to allow the Lysol to move through the system and vent out. After this, you may want to leave the windows down overnight in your garage to insure that all the fumes are out of the system.

Depending on your locale, you may want to do this a few times a year, especially in the summer when it's the most hot and humid.

For more info, check out the video below from Scotty Kilmer:

All images via Scotty Kilmer