De-stinking a 'smokers' car - possible? If so, how?

[larrylamb11]

I've recently looked for and found a new toy... On viewing it was apparent it's been heavily smoked in.... I let my excited chimp overrule my sensible head and bought it, convincing myself that the smoke smell wasn't too bad and I wouldn't notice it that much with the roof down anyway.... I was wrong! It's awful!

I now want to have a stab at improving it so I don't smell like an overflowing ashtray.

So what can I do? Is there a detailing shampoo or something I can use to wash the carpets and seats that might work? I'm quite prepared to take the seats and as much of the other interior trim out as I can and steam clean it all, but if there's a better solution that would save me having to do that I'd appreciate any suggestions.

I also have a slightly manky cloth roof to clean and re-waterproof, with some green 'organic' growth to remove first - again, what is the best way of cleaning this? (it looks like someone has tried jet washing with partial success as it's stripy too!) and then the right stuff to re-proof?

[InitialDave]

ValetPro's carpet shampoo and enzyme based odour remover are both good, a really thorough cleaning followed by using an ozone generator to "fog" the entire car should get rid of most smells.

Removing the seats will let you clean them better, as will a Vax or similar shampoo vac.

[eldar]

Cat litter in an old pair of tights, stick under the seats. Takes a while, helps remove the residual smell.

[Alex_225]

My other half bought a Merc SL a few years back and being a convertible and a nice day, we test drove it with the roof down. Tested the roof up and down but for no length of time. Even on the day we picked it up it was sunny and the roof was off.

It wasn't until the car sat with the roof up overnight that it was really apparent it had been smoked in. Took a fair bit of effort to get rid of the smell.

Steam cleaned all of the carpets and deodorised. Autoglym do a product called Autofresh which is pretty good. I also cleaned all of the interior plastics twice to remove any residue and lastly I used one of those deodoriser bombs, Meguiars do one. Literally a pressurised can you set off with the windows/doors closed, leave the fans running on circulate and it cleans the ventilation too.

Once all that was done, you'd have been hard pushed to tell it had been smoked in.

[popeyewhite]

Nothing really works except an ozone generator. You can be super efficient and clean the interior a number of times, but the smell can get in the air con system. You can air-bomb the air con system and it might work for a while but it leaves chemicals in the car during the 'bomb' process that can stain the interior.

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

I had a ford focus once that had been smoked in. Even after 2.5 years and lots of cleaning it still had a smokers whiff about it.

[LimaDelta]

White vinegar worked well on my XJ. Smells like a bag of chips for a day but then no more smoke smell after that.

[arfur]

eldar said:

Cat litter in an old pair of tights, stick under the seats. Takes a while, helps remove the residual smell.

Clumping or non-clumping ;-)

[prand]

OP - whats the age of the car? If it's from the 70s or 80s it is surely part of the patina and history of the car?

I always remember my mum, and various other parents and adults smoking in their cars when I was a kid. So now, whenever I get in an old smokers car it takes me right back to being driven home from school in Jason Keely's Dad's Lotus Eclat!

Otherwise, I'd try a good clean of all surfaces (including glass, plastic, upholstery and carpets) with a strong solution of vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. That's what I use to get rid of nasty car pongs.

[ShoooRn]

I was always told smoking in a car reduces the value by half. Of course a major over the top statement but I wouldn't touch it - so maybe the better statement is "cuts the buyers market by half".

That said I stand by Autoglym autoFresh for a temporary solution. Get it into the carpets and around the vents. It'll keep the car smelling fresh for a week.

Alternatively try the meguiars bomb things - I need to get the smell of damp out of my car and I will be doing the same soon.

[p4cks]

I had some success with this in a car of mine once https://airvidox.com/

I'd also recommend you go belt and braces, and wash the seats (if cloth) the carpets and the headlining

[colin_p]

p4cks said:

I had some success with this in a car of mine once https://airvidox.com/

These are brilliant, proper weapons grade chemicals.

[steveo3002]

scrub and wash everything you can , proper deep clean

then ozone generator

[larrylamb11]

Thanks for the replies - ordered some ValetPro carpet cleaner and enzyme stuff and I'll see where that gets me... I've got a wet/dry carpet vac so can hit it with that too. I'm clearly going to need to spend some time stripping as much of the interior out as I can and attacking it one bit at a time.... luckily it's only a small two seater, so not too much to strip and clean.
I also have some G101 cleaner which I will do the interior plastics with and use one of the highlighted ^ odour eater products if it's still minging after a good clean.
Car is late 90's and the smell does not suit it in any way!

[Stuart Fordyce]

p4cks said:

I had some success with this in a car of mine once https://airvidox.com/

I'd also recommend you go belt and braces, and wash the seats (if cloth) the carpets and the headlining

What do folks use for the headlining?

[Belle427]

If it has a pollen filter make sure you change it, one of the air con bomb deodorisers may help too (if it has air con)once you have given the fabrics a clean.

[Stuart Fordyce]

Cheers, did the revolting cabin filter and have cleaned seats and panels. Just to finish using carpet cleaner on the headliner, and air con bomb ordered.