The AC Smell Mystery: How to Kill the 'Dirty Sock' Fungus Yourself

You turn the key on a hot summer morning. You crank the air conditioning to maximum. Instead of refreshing cold air, a wave of foul, musty odor hits you like a punch in the face. It smells like dirty socks, wet laundry, or vinegar.

This is not normal. And it is not a sign that your AC is broken.

The culprit is a microscopic fungus growing deep inside your dashboard, and the solution is something you can do yourself in about fifteen minutes for the cost of a can of spray. Here is why your car smells bad—and how to kill the dirty sock fungus for good.