The smell of tobacco cigarette smoke may remain inside your car for years, whether you take a puff of a few cigarettes yourself or you bought this car from a former smoker. No matter how many car air freshers you have tried, your car still stinks a lot every time you open your car door or someone else does.
If you are wondering how to get rid of this smoke smell from your car, here is what you can do.
Get rid of smoke smell from upholstery and carpets
Smoke odour removal from upholstery and carpet demands a different approach than leather ones. So, we have discussed the smoke smell removal from leather upholstery in a different section.
Products for removing the odour
Air fresheners and chemical sprays do nothing except cover up the smell temporarily. You must eliminate the odour in order to get rid of it permanently. Deep cleaning your car interior, including the seats, carpet, headliner, dashboard, and steering wheel, is one way to do this. Cleaning the vents and replacing the cabin air filter are also recommended.
You can use these products for a permanent solution:
- Baking soda
- Odour eliminator/neutraliser
Start the cleaning process
Remove any cigarette ash or residue from the whole vehicle. Set your ashtray outside your car and spray it with a multi-surface disinfectant.
Vacuum as much as you can from the carpet and upholstery to behind & under the seats and within the crevices as well. If your car seat coverings or floor mats can be removed, do so and vacuum thoroughly in every nook and corner.
Use the odour removal product
Here we have discussed the pocket-friendly odour removal product that is always present in almost every house kitchen.
Vinegar + water solution – Wipe clean all solid surfaces with the microfiber cloth and spray bottle filled with water and vinegar mixture. White vinegar contains odour-neutralising characteristics that fight unwanted odours. Clean the dashboard, steering wheel, door panels, glove box, and overhead trim with this solution. Use the glass cleaner on the windows as well.
Baking soda – It is a really good hack when it comes to eradicating smokey odours from your car’s upholstery & carpet. Rather than concealing an odour like an air freshener, it absorbs the compounds that cause the odour and totally eliminates it. Sprinkle baking soda over the carpet and upholstery and let it sit for at least an hour or overnight if possible. Then, clean up the baking soda with the vacuum.
Special instruction for leather trim
To get rid of the odour from leather interior and upholstery, you’ll need a cleaner designed particularly for such surfaces. Use a cleaner designed for leather or simply use soap and water mixture to clean it. You can also take guidance from your owner’s manual for special care of the leather interior.
Replace the cabin air filter and clean the vents
To begin, pull down the windows, start the car, and set the air conditioning to the highest level. The odour eliminator/neutraliser should then be sprayed through the vents, allowing it to circulate throughout the system.
Finish by repeating the process with the air conditioner turned off and the heat turned all the way up.
Replace your cabin air filters which are pretty easy to do yourself.
Smoke Smell Can Be Avoided In The Future
“Prevention is better than cure.” One of the most effective ways to rid the smoke smell out of your car is to prevent it. If you smoke in your car, keep the windows open to prevent smoke from accumulating inside.
Another method to prevent smoke contact with your car’s interior surfaces uses an ashtray cup with a lid or a smoke diffuser.
Other DIY options for odour elimination
Citrus fruit peels
Peels of citrus fruits are a terrific way to give your car a fresh scent. Keep open citrus peels such as lemons, oranges, limes, and grapefruit in your car, and stew them in water to enhance the delicious aroma.
Coffee grounds
Coffee grounds contain nitrogen, which may swiftly and safely eliminate smells in the air. Leave a bowl of coffee grinds in your car overnight to absorb the odour as a more natural alternative to baking soda.
Cinnamon sticks
You can also eliminate the smoke odour by boiling the cinnamon sticks and leaving them overnight in a car.
Charcoal
Another popular technique is to leave a bowl of charcoal in your car for a few days to absorb the smoke smell.
Cat litter
If you have a cat at home, use cat litter to absorb the stench of cigarette smoke. Simply said, leave a bowl of cat litter in your car for a few days and let it work its magic.
Note: If you like buying stuff for your car, then you can also purchase gel air fresher or hanging air freshener and replace it as soon as its fragrance starts to reduce.
Get rid of your smelly car!
If you don’t have the time to do all this DIY procedure, or maybe you have finally decided to get rid of your old car that breathes out a bad smoke smell, then sell your car to APlus Car Removal. We are cash for cars Brisbane company that buy any kind of vehicle regardless of make, model, year, and condition. So, get a free quote by visiting our website or by calling us and sell your car for cash today for top dollars!
