Just bought a nice 2003 Jetta. But the interior stinks of cigar bad. The dealer did what he could but it still reeks. Any one have a way to remove the stench or at least cover it up until it fades?Thanks
WDP
WDP
Cigar Stink
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Try using one of these on all fabric surfaces.
Deep shampooing should take the smell out.
Deep shampooing should take the smell out.
Oust ???
see if you can get a steam cleaner or a carpet cleaner
mix some vodka and water to a 50/50 mix
don't soak your interior with it, but just dampen it down let it sit for a big then take the steam cleaner/carpet cleaner...
they used a similiar method on myth busters and the vodka and water worked
mix some vodka and water to a 50/50 mix
don't soak your interior with it, but just dampen it down let it sit for a big then take the steam cleaner/carpet cleaner...
they used a similiar method on myth busters and the vodka and water worked
Can't help myself here.
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OR, Find a "RENT-ALL" place where you can rent an ozone generator. That's what home repair companies use after a fire. They're kinda rough on anything containing natural rubber so in-car use must be closely monitored.
Bbo
Bbo
Buy something like a Meguiar's Odor Eliminator or Rightlook.com's Odor Neutralizer. If that doesn't work, you need to use an ozone generator to kill the smell.
This assumes you have tried a hot water carpet extractor. Oh, and don't forget to clean the interior headliner.
This assumes you have tried a hot water carpet extractor. Oh, and don't forget to clean the interior headliner.
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I'd smoke a cigar in the car. That will cover up that stale tobacco stench nicely.
But seriously, I'd keep a few bags of zeolite under the seats.
But seriously, I'd keep a few bags of zeolite under the seats.
Originally Posted By: XPR
Buy something like a Meguiar's Odor Eliminator or Rightlook.com's Odor Neutralizer. If that doesn't work, you need to use an ozone generator to kill the smell.
This assumes you have tried a hot water carpet extractor. Oh, and don't forget to clean the interior headliner.
Originally Posted By: alreadygone
OR, Find a "RENT-ALL" place where you can rent an ozone generator. That's what home repair companies use after a fire. They're kinda rough on anything containing natural rubber so in-car use must be closely monitored.
These comments have the answer. The problem with smoke is that it permeates every micrometer of every orifice in the car. Simply cleaning the carpets and seats won't do, esp with cigar smoke. Using a spray "deodorizer" like Febrese or similar only covers the smell, not eliminate it.
Yes, every surface you can touch needs to be cleaned with a good all purpose cleaner and lots of towels. The seats and carpets need to be steam cleaned or extracted. Then, use an ozone generator to kill the lingering bacteria and toxins.
Fixing this problem is a multi-step, multi-product process. If you want someone else to tackle it, call around to local detailers and ask about their process for odor elimination.
Buy something like a Meguiar's Odor Eliminator or Rightlook.com's Odor Neutralizer. If that doesn't work, you need to use an ozone generator to kill the smell.
This assumes you have tried a hot water carpet extractor. Oh, and don't forget to clean the interior headliner.
Originally Posted By: alreadygone
OR, Find a "RENT-ALL" place where you can rent an ozone generator. That's what home repair companies use after a fire. They're kinda rough on anything containing natural rubber so in-car use must be closely monitored.
These comments have the answer. The problem with smoke is that it permeates every micrometer of every orifice in the car. Simply cleaning the carpets and seats won't do, esp with cigar smoke. Using a spray "deodorizer" like Febrese or similar only covers the smell, not eliminate it.
Yes, every surface you can touch needs to be cleaned with a good all purpose cleaner and lots of towels. The seats and carpets need to be steam cleaned or extracted. Then, use an ozone generator to kill the lingering bacteria and toxins.
Fixing this problem is a multi-step, multi-product process. If you want someone else to tackle it, call around to local detailers and ask about their process for odor elimination.
Agree with cleaning every surface, and lightly wipe the headliner down. You might want to give the old open box of Arm and Hammer a try. I try not to smoke in my cars, especially since I'm gearing up for a quit now, but when I'm extra stressed I chain smoke like crazy and stink my chariots up. I know cigars are probably a bit more potent than my Marlboro Ultra Lights, but the baking soda worked like a charm in the Monte, and was even more impressive at removing the vague, musty old car funk stank from the Firebird after I bought it.
Have you tried Febreeze odor eliminator?
Hitting the Febreeze daily, helps but time may be the best solution. It is parked in the sun with the windows open when the weather is good. Arm and Hammer wil go in next, great idea. Thanks.
WDP
WDP
I recently helped my Uncle out who got a car from his Mom who smoked, I went out and got him a dozen apples and cut them up and put them on paper plates all over the inside of the car( floor, seats, dashboard, back dashboard) then we closed the car up, yes the windows have to be closed, and then let it sit for 24 hours, the premise behind this is that somehow the apples cut up absorb the smell of the cigars and leave a smell of apples which will go away, I know it sounds strange but it did work, you may have to do it a 2nd time, I hope this helps.
MacIntosh, Granny Smith, Fuji, Red Delicious?
Just curious about the use of the ozone generator for car interiors. IIRC, ozone will degrade all rubber materials, so unless this generator is not some kind of a "fog" the interior and let it sit for a while, I'd be leary of using it. Way more damage than the Golden Crisp method...
Just curious about the use of the ozone generator for car interiors. IIRC, ozone will degrade all rubber materials, so unless this generator is not some kind of a "fog" the interior and let it sit for a while, I'd be leary of using it. Way more damage than the Golden Crisp method...
Goodness folks!
JUst leave the doors open or roll the windows for a few days.
ONLY DO IF LICENSED
Drive the car to top speed with the windows down _OR_
CLean the car really well. Vacuum all fabric, lightly yet repeatedly.
Windows-use glass cleaner...which you can use just about everywhere but clear plastic instrument panel. Vacuum it real nicely. GO ahead and splurge on a wet vacuum and learn how to use it and take out the seats and all that jazz -OR- after your ride is really clean put on your coolshades and roll down the windows And sunroof if you got it and drive around town let the heat get too warm then hit the interstate til you hit the next town. Park under the garage and at least leave them cracked (not literally), just barely open at least for a few nights while you chill out...or there's always the shampoo system if you're lucky enough and smart because I don't understand the wet vacuum.
Also, Febreeze just makes your car smell like Febreeze. You don't notice it because you grow immune to its scent. Not that the smell is bad, I just go for the unscented interior.
JUst leave the doors open or roll the windows for a few days.
ONLY DO IF LICENSED
Drive the car to top speed with the windows down _OR_
CLean the car really well. Vacuum all fabric, lightly yet repeatedly.
Windows-use glass cleaner...which you can use just about everywhere but clear plastic instrument panel. Vacuum it real nicely. GO ahead and splurge on a wet vacuum and learn how to use it and take out the seats and all that jazz -OR- after your ride is really clean put on your coolshades and roll down the windows And sunroof if you got it and drive around town let the heat get too warm then hit the interstate til you hit the next town. Park under the garage and at least leave them cracked (not literally), just barely open at least for a few nights while you chill out...or there's always the shampoo system if you're lucky enough and smart because I don't understand the wet vacuum.
Also, Febreeze just makes your car smell like Febreeze. You don't notice it because you grow immune to its scent. Not that the smell is bad, I just go for the unscented interior.
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I have read about the professional's trick of setting out apples and baking soda but I had better luck using charcoal.
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As the others said first clean everything. You may need to get some pro duct cleaner. This will take all day+. There is no use doing the zeolite (works!), apples, baking soda, etc until you've cleaned everything. The bad part of it is, the wires bundles and every thing under the dash is coated as well. You may need to take stuff apart. Your call.
I had one car where I took the seats out removed the carpet, replaced the padding (with better, quieter stuff) shampooed and dried the carpet outside the car. Made a huge difference.
One trick not mentioned, before you clean you may want to get a couple jugs of ammonia. Pour the ammonia straight into a couple buckets and set the buckets in the car with the doors closed for overnight. Don't spill the stuff on any plastics but the ammonia fumes will loosen up the acrid tabacco smoke goo.
After all that - then just get 4 fish net bags of zeolite and put them under the seat for a few months, rejuvenate or replace every so often.
I had one car where I took the seats out removed the carpet, replaced the padding (with better, quieter stuff) shampooed and dried the carpet outside the car. Made a huge difference.
One trick not mentioned, before you clean you may want to get a couple jugs of ammonia. Pour the ammonia straight into a couple buckets and set the buckets in the car with the doors closed for overnight. Don't spill the stuff on any plastics but the ammonia fumes will loosen up the acrid tabacco smoke goo.
After all that - then just get 4 fish net bags of zeolite and put them under the seat for a few months, rejuvenate or replace every so often.
Prior to this thread I had never heard of Zeolite, so I went Googling. Found this page about cleaning smoke-damaged books - http://www.cgrove417.org/cghs/kasl/disaster/ridcigsmoke.doc, which reiterates all the suggestions here, plus a few more (Simple-Green soaked sponges, newspapers, kitty litter).
People who had used Zeolite and the other usual methods said Zeolite worked best.
People who had used Zeolite and the other usual methods said Zeolite worked best.
I smoke cigars in my car, since I'm the one that paid for it.
Once a year I'll do a clean, usually after winter salt and sand are gone. What I've found most effective is a good wet clean with Pet & Odor carpet detergent. Clean the seats front & back, the carpets, and anything else that has carpet on it (door sides).
I use a small pump sprayer for a copious application. Scrub with a brush. Suck it out with my BIG shop-vac. Apply LOTS of rinse water. Repeat with the shop-vac. Leave it out in the sun with the windows down for the rest of the day until everything is dry.
Clean as a whistle and smells good afterwards. I used to be timid with the clean and rinse water, but now I don't hesitate to use a lot. The key is to have a serious shop-vac and don't get in a hurry.
Once a year I'll do a clean, usually after winter salt and sand are gone. What I've found most effective is a good wet clean with Pet & Odor carpet detergent. Clean the seats front & back, the carpets, and anything else that has carpet on it (door sides).
I use a small pump sprayer for a copious application. Scrub with a brush. Suck it out with my BIG shop-vac. Apply LOTS of rinse water. Repeat with the shop-vac. Leave it out in the sun with the windows down for the rest of the day until everything is dry.
Clean as a whistle and smells good afterwards. I used to be timid with the clean and rinse water, but now I don't hesitate to use a lot. The key is to have a serious shop-vac and don't get in a hurry.
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