Car very likely made in a "different" place than before? My eyes do that now

every time I walk through Walmart or Sam's...so don't go there much.

Got any charcoal? Not the stuff that self lights. Put some in a plastic dish or foil pie pan under the seats. It will absorb the odor, and any bacteria that might be causing it. And it could be off gassing the chemicals in the carpet or trim panels in the van. But if it's just the odor that is causing your allergies, the charcoal should work in a few days to a week. Worked on the sour milk smell in my first Expedition after the jug fell over and spilled. I even bought a hand held carpet cleaner to clean it with. Still had sour milk smell even though it was February. The charcoal worked within a week, and the smell never came back. Even closed up in the July/August sun!

Excellent idea tami_ohio. You are right about the containers of charcoal absorbing odors.

You can also do the charcoal thing, using coffee grounds. It works as well, is easier to come by, and coffee is a doable odor while it's doing its thing :)

try using some eye drops before going out to the car?

Using eye drops. OTC and a script. Allergist says to try Nasacort. May block some of it. Apparently you smell the allergen and it irritates your eyes.

Car dealerships enhance that new smell with spray on stuff. I am with you. It is a smell I hate. For me it affects my breathing. I never thought of using charcoal or coffee. Good to know if it comes up again.

Most new cars off gas which is the problem. If you can leave all the windows open when you are not driving before your trip. A suggestion that may not do anything is to have the carpets cleaned several times before the trip. Some of the gas and small particles could be trapped in the carpet. No proof but when friends had the problem it seemed to help them. Time and your body becoming used to it other than the various scripts are the only things that work in the long run.

However if you need to have carpet replaced in the future you may have a similar problem. Many of the carpets are made using similar chemicals.

Apparently you smell the allergen and it irritates your eyes.

Many of my allergies are the opposite. Something gets in my eyes (pollen and perfumes), eyes tear up and drain into my sinuses. Very annoying. The OTC allergy drops work great for me.

What kind of car is it? I have a problem with the smell of Volkswagens.

Wash down everything you can inside the car, dashboard, seat, steering wheel etc any thing that can be wet wiped. Use soap and water or wet wipes. For me it's the detail liquid some places use that sets mine off.

It’s a Grand Caravan. My 4th one, no problems before.

Just ordered bamboo bags.

DH saw them advertised. If they don’t work I can blame him!

LOL!

There's a lot of dark blue on the roads these days. My daughter just bought a dark blue Odyssey.

Pretty car! Did you buy from the same dealer? Anyone you could call to ask if they used any particular spray inside, like patriciae mentioned above?

If you park your car in the sun, will the compartment warm up in November? I think getting the interior warm will facilitate the smell leaching out of the new materials. If it were me, I'd park it in the sun and alternate having the windows closed to warm it with opening the windows to clear the off-gassing.

I would call it chemical irritation, not allergies. I hope some of these suggestions will help you, as it can't be healthy for anyone to breath these chemicals.

Yes, I had a very long talk with my allergist last month and we discussed my "allergy" to perfumes, colognes, fabric softeners (smell on other people), soaps. So yes, I would say it is a chemical issue sjerin. I already take shots for dust, dust mites, cats, dogs and fall ragweed, doc said there is no shots for these allergens, drat!

Matthias, since we have snow here right now, my van will not warm up. What sun? We are headed to Florida soon and I will air it out when we get there, for sure. DH may put me on the roof!!!

Patriciae and Nickel, I will be talking to the dealership next week and will ask them about any sprays, although it is too late if they were used!

Brush, the color is Indigo Blue and it looks darker in the pic than it really is.

Appreciate all the comments and will be mulling over my options now. Thanks all!

Your "new car smell" may be artificial ! Auto manufacturers found that their customers expect a new car smell when they purchase one. If their new product doesn't smell, they may add it. Sometimes, its the dealer who adds it during the preparation for delivery. Dealers selling late model used cars may add the smell to their offering. It helps to move the product.

Look under the seats and other hidden nooks. Look for a little sachet hanging under a seat.

Admittedly, new soft plastics may out-gas and can be the culprit in new autos. Vinyl is one. If its the material in your new car that's giving you a headache, it should subside as it ages. To accelerate the subsidence, park it in the sun with the windows cracked open, however, in the south leaving a window open invites insects to enter.

kathyg_in_mi I had instant images in my head of you in a rocking chair on top of your van. Please send photos if it comes to this.

Ladypat1, will do!!!

You guys are crazy! LOL! Head out the window or on the roof, might be quite cold til we get farther south!

try getting one of those ionic air purifiers you can out in your car to take out odors

air purifier

Sometimes baking soda will absorb smells - do you figger that might work?

ole joyful

Put a bamboo charcoal bag in van today. Will wait and see. We will be driving 3 hours downstate on Thursday and then back that night. See how my eyes do that day,