My Air Freshener Leaked Oil On My Toyota Camry's Dash And Peeled The Paint Off

Imagine the horror of returning to your car and finding that the dash has an unsightly blemish—all because you bought an air freshener to keep your car smelling its best. According to a recent Reddit r/Camry forum post, that is what happened to a Toyota Camry owner.

"So I just got off of work. I noticed halfway home that my dash was scuffed, and it was because the oil from my air freshener was leaking onto it. It was also hot today, so I reckon that didn't help at all."

"The paint looks f―d, and I am losing my mind over it. I am not a car-savvy guy at all. Is there a way I can fix this, and if not, what are my options?"

Choosing a Car Air Freshener

With pleasant weather returning and warmer summer temperatures approaching, car owners are doing some automotive spring cleaning, removing road salt and dirt buildup from the past winter.

This ritualistic cleaning of the car exterior often extends to the interior with the final touch of adding an air freshener.

However, there are caveats to choosing an air refresher type:

1. Gel and liquid air fresheners (especially hanging ones) can spill or leak. The chemicals they contain can stain, discolor, or even warp plastics, vinyl, or leather surfaces.
2. Spray air fresheners can leave residues that might cause sticky buildup or fading over time if sprayed directly on surfaces.
3. Clip-on vent fresheners sometimes leak their oils, damaging dashboard materials or cracking plastic around the vents.
4. Some chemical scent fresheners can react with sunlight and heat, accelerating dash cracking, fading, or peeling.

Choosing dry-based fresheners like those old-style pine-tree hanging paper types is safer, but they are not very cool-looking in a modern car.

Car Air Freshener Reminder

The problem the OP has is not new and needs reminding.

I had the plastic from a car freshener melt onto my 2018 4runner dash, not terrible but not pleasant to look at. Switched to using drift car freshener. I enjoy having my vents back, and the scents are pretty good, lasting about 6 weeks or so ―PaperInteresting8849

Same thing happened in my Ford Fusion years ago, ruined the plastic. Thats why I never used those dumb vent fresheners. Luckily my Fusion was older so I was able to find a replacement dash trim piece at a junkyard ―pgercak

Car fresheners consisting of a gel or liquid aromatic chemicals are problematic when it comes to an accidental spill or seepage upon a plastic dashboard or other interior trim. Contact between many chemicals and plastics often leads to marring and melting.

For example, this is why superglue works so well on adhering broken plastic pieces―the surfaces of superglue-treated plastic, melt and meld together when done correctly.

Unfortunately, unless you are an experienced professional, most attempts and suggestions online are subpar and may make matters even worse when it comes to repairing a marred dash. This is especially true when the dash is textured and cannot be replicated, or the repair causes a noticeable sheen.

In reality, there are only two acceptable fixes for the problem:

Safer Air Freshener Alternatives

Rather than resort to the old-style pine tree paper freshener, you can help keep your car smelling good without risking damage by using:

1. Charcoal Bags Under Car Seat―Natural activated charcoal absorbs odors without emitting chemicals, and there is no leaking
2. Baking Soda in a Small Container Under the Car Seat―It neutralizes odors naturally and doesn't emit anything that could damage surfaces.
3. DIY Sachets Tucked into Door Pockets or Glove Compartments―Fill small cloth bags with dried herbs, coffee beans, or baking soda and a few drops of essential oil.
4. Cotton Balls with a Few Drops of Essential Oil―Preferably in an open plastic bag tucked away out of sight where it will not spill out as some essential oils may discolor the trim.
5. Regular Cleaning―Honestly, nothing beats just keeping the car clean with regular vacuuming, wiping surfaces with soap and water, and cleaning vents.

Let Us Know If This Happened to Your Car: What kind or brand of air freshener was it, and how did you deal with the problem? Share your experience in the comments section below.

Timothy Boyer is an automotive reporter based in Cincinnati who currently researches and works on restoring older vehicles with engine modifications for improved performance. He also reports on modern cars (including EVs) with a focus on DIY mechanics, buying and using tools, and other related topical automotive repair news. Follow Tim on Twitter at @TimBoyerWrites as well as on Facebook and his automotive blog "Zen and the Art of DIY Car Repair" for useful daily news and topics related to new and used cars and trucks.

Image Source: Deposit Photos