Getting Rid of Smoke Smell

[paulrockliffe]

Looked at a car, want to buy it, but it smells of smoke. Not really bad, but enough that we probably wont buy it.

What are my options for getting rid of the smell? Is it possible, or a waste of time?

Ta

[Baldchap]

If it's fag smoke, in my experience, you'll never get it to a point where it doesn't stink.

[InitialDave]

A really thorough clean including a wet vac, and then using an ozone generator, should make a big difference.

[Giles_L]

I've had a couple of cars that have been smoked in, wasn't enough to stop me buying but the smell never fully goes away even after years of non smoking ownership

[Wagonwheel555]

Wife's sister bought a house recently that absolutely stunk of smoking.

Replaced the carpets, painted every surface you can imagine which helped but as soon as you enter the front door you can still smell it. Not as bad but its still there.

I don't think you can ever properly get rid of it

[Rozzers]

If this is after the dealer has already shampooed the carpets, seats and headlining and ran a bomb through the AC then you may never be rid of it fully.

It would need to be cheap as you will spend half your life looking through detailing world and trying all sorts of potions.

[cheddar]

InitialDave said:

use an ozone generator

This.

NOTHING else will work permanently.

[Dave Hedgehog]

cheddar said:

InitialDave said:

use an ozone generator

This.

NOTHING else will work permanently.

2 gallons of petrol and a match will permantly get rid of the cigarette smell

[snotrag]

It wil never go away completely. If you don't like that,, don't buy it.

[anonymous-user]

cheddar said:

InitialDave said:

use an ozone generator

This.

NOTHING else will work permanently.

Sadly I think you will find that nothing will in fact ever fully eliminate the smell short of replacing the entire interior. If you are even remotely bothered by the smell don't buy it.

[Om]

To echo most of the above. The smell will never properly go away (barring the huge conflagration suggested previously).

You may lessen it or cover it with some other stronger smell but it will always be there lurking, waiting to come out when the sun shines or you open a window or a vent.

If you are a non-smoker it will annoy you always. Been there, done that. Never again.

[G Man]

I did it for my daughters car! Carpet cleaner on the fabrics, maguires new car scent on the plastics, Bilt Hamber Citric Bomb and then multiple sheets on Bounce fabric towel on the seat
Its the headlining with a steam cleaner helped too

[julian987R]

paulrockliffe said:

Looked at a car, want to buy it, but it smells of smoke. Not really bad, but enough that we probably wont buy it.

What are my options for getting rid of the smell? Is it possible, or a waste of time?

Ta

Pour about 200ml of ordinary white vinegar into the bottom of a deep bowl or clean bucket, and put it in the foot-well of the car. Allow it to remain undisturbed for at least 2 full days. Repeat for another two days if the smell lingers. After two goes at max, it'll be gone forever.

[ssray]

julian987R said:

Pour about 200ml of ordinary white vinegar into the bottom of a deep bowl or clean bucket, and put it in the foot-well of the car. Allow it to remain undisturbed for at least 2 full days. Repeat for another two days if the smell lingers. After two goes at max, it'll be gone forever.

This all day,wored on my shed of a 206

[paulrockliffe]

Thanks everyone. We're not going to buy it, though I was tempted by the vinegar approach. At the end of the day, I'm not paying 10k for something only to have to wash everything, mess around with chemicals and still have the risk of it annoying me for years.

There'll be a better one along soon enough.

Cheers

[Chainsaw Rebuild]

You could budget for a fully monty detail to get rid of the smell. Get a pro to clean absolutely everything as much as possible. You could get the paint polished at the same time and end up with a really tidy car.

[julian987R]

paulrockliffe said:

Thanks everyone. We're not going to buy it, though I was tempted by the vinegar approach. At the end of the day, I'm not paying 10k for something only to have to wash everything, mess around with chemicals and still have the risk of it annoying me for years.

There'll be a better one along soon enough.

Cheers

Fair enough but this approach will obliterate the smoke smell… forever!
That said, I sense your heart wasn’t in the car anyway

[julian987R]

Chainsaw Rebuild said:

You could budget for a fully monty detail to get rid of the smell. Get a pro to clean absolutely everything as much as possible. You could get the paint polished at the same time and end up with a really tidy car.

Vinegar left in a bucket for two days. A full monty clean by a detailed will not take that approach and ONLY vinegar will kill the smoke smell forevermore

[Chainsaw Rebuild]

I’m not disputing it works, but I’m baffled as to how it works?

[OldGermanHeaps]

Ozone generator works well.