Whats the best way to get rid of cigarette smoke from a car?
Question:Hi my dad bought a truck. Apparently the previous owner smoked because I am cleaning it right now and the whole damn thing stinks to high heaven of cigarette smoke. Whats the best way to get rid of that horrid smell?
Answers:
1) Vacuum -- really, really vacuum every surface, and around in and behind the ashtray. Use a good vacuum, not just the one at the carwash.
2) Steam clean -- rent the carpet cleaner from the grocery store. Do the seats, carpet, door panels and ceiling (careful on the top not to get it soggy). Use the vacuum part to suck out as much water as possible. Go over it several times.
3) Wipe down all the hard surfaces.
Febreze makes a good spray for automotive use.
You're going to have to have it professionally cleaned. Smoke contains oils, resins, STICKY stuff that doesn't easily dissolve in water. So despite your best efforts, it won't come out. You need a compatible solvent. If there are cloth seats, keep in mind that foam is like a lung--it sucks in air once it decompresses, dragging in the smell, so it could be that you will need to remove the covers and hope the cleaner can get it out of the foam...and the carpet... Did pops not ASK about it being a smoking car before he bought it?
Try everything that is suggested, but given all the soft surfaces in a truck cab - seats, etc - it may be difficult to remove the smell. I think you should have a professional work on it & keep some febreeze in the glove box. You may think you get every bit of the smell but then it may come back when there is damp weather.
Good luck.
After cleaning and wiping it out, take a shallow pan and set it in the floor. Fill it about half full of ammonia. Close up the truck overnight. In the morning air it out. You should smell a significant improvement. If there is still some smell do it again. This worked for me with a car a few years ago. Could not tell anybody had ever smoked in it. Other people will suggest doing the same with vinegar. I haven't tried that, but I suppose it would work also.
*important note.. if truck is being driven, you might want to remove the pan beforehand. Hope this helps you.
febreeze should do the trick..if that doesn't work call a car dealership or detail shop and they can fix you up.
Cigarette smoke is difficult to get rid of. I have had good success with a product called Odo-Ban. Once you get the initial cleaning and vacuuming done, use the Odo-Ban. If the smell is still lingering, buy a bunch of apples, quarter them, set them on a baking sheet inside the vehicle, close the windows and doors and let the vehicle sit for at least a day.
Try Ozium (http://www.keysan.com/ksuai10.htm),... it's good stuff. I used it when I was in high school to remove the smoke smell from my parents car when I borrowed it.
Odor ban for carpet and seats. then, I found the perfect product that I've used for years and know dozens of other people that use it. It is a product called FRIDGE IT carbon odor absorbers. It is a little purple cube with an incredible activated carbon filter inside that is really, really, great. The carbon literally absorbs and eliminates the odors and works for a long time. It works so much better than all those sprays and fragrances that just cover up smells and doesn't get rid of them. Also, alot of sprays have warning statements about being eye irritant. and gels and oils that say keep away from fabric, etc. and just don't eliminate odors. Just put a couple of these in car and trunk. I use this product everywhere including car(smoke and pet smells), storage, closets, my fridge and also under sinks, near trash and have friends that use it on cat litter box and also diaper pails - it's that good. I really recommend it. You can buy it in kitchen gadget sections in stores like walmart and linens and things. I also think camping world sells it. Definitely worth trying
Ewww. I would add baking soda or ammonia to the upholstery cleaner and clean every other surface of the car with a mixture of baking soda added to the cleaner too
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