Cigarette Smoke

[cptbarkey]

It seems this is a pretty serious forum for detailers. I am working on one of my projects (97 subaru legacy) which is essentially a former ash tray. I am doing my best to clean the heck out of the interior, but what i'd like to know is other peoples stories/successes on trying to get out cigarette smoke from car interiors.

On my own story, I have ordered a $100 ozone generator unit off ebay, if i have success with it i'll share specifics.

 

[vaboom123]

I've heard about those ozone generators. I'm interested to see how it works for you. In the past with heavy smoker cars all you can do is just about scrub every interior panel good. I'll mix some woolite with water and go to town.

Try running some cleaner through the HVAC system and make sure you have a fresh cabin filter if it applies.

 

[HyundaiGuy]

You need the ozone generator. Leave it running in the car overnight. Nothing else will touch it, in my experience.

 

[dparm]

One of my previous cars was owned by a smoker. The dealer steam cleaned it twice, which did remove a lot of the smell, but it did linger for at least a year before finally dissipating. I agree with the above poster who suggested something like Einszett Klima-Clean.

In my experience there is no single product to remove that smell. It will slowly go away and you will get used to the smell, too. The root of the problem is that the ash gets EVERYWHERE -- I would find it behind dash panels several years later.

 

[Chris142]

I dont think you will ever get all the smell out. There will always be ashes in the ac evap and ducts etc

 

[Turk]

Febreeze for Autos.

 

[CurtisB]

I've had some luck with just using a carpet shampoo machine to clean the floor, seats and even the roof liner with. It takes a few cleanings but it will get the smell out. Disgusting enough the water that gets sucked out is yellow from nicotine.

 

[lubin it up]

check out thornell corp.

 

[lubin it up]

my mistake, check out www.odorcide.com
This is a div. of thornell

 

[BISCUT]

Originally Posted By: Chris142
I dont think you will ever get all the smell out. There will always be ashes in the ac evap and ducts etc


If you'r not a smoker you tend to nice it always. Simply green as a solution to your steam carpet machine may help a bit.

 

[volk06]

We use these at work and it takes out smells much worse than cigarette smoke. They're not too expensive and work good. Put it on the center arm rest, pull the trigger and let her go and let it sit for a day or two without opening the doors.

http://www.malcoautomotive.com/Odor_Eliminating_Foggers-details.aspx

 

[QuOk]

Put the car on a battery charger and let it go overnight with the key on and fan on recirc mode with the ozone so it goes through the vents.

 

[Kira]

Hello, Ash is vile AND the smoke itself is very oily. It sticks to cloth, carpeting and gets into foam. Good sounding tips here. Kira

 

[eljefino]

Take out the seats, then the carpet will come out easy.

Once it's out, go nuts on it. Hose it off, beat it, leave it in the sun. Drown it then wet-dry vac it. Grind baking soda paste into it.

Wash every hard plastic surface and the now naked floorpan with copious amounts of water and your favorite detergent... I use that orange scented junk from dollar tree but what matters is the WETNESS.

 

[JR]

Tar and nicotine. is in the smoke. that stinks as bad as ash. it is airborn so it gets everywhere. i should know i am a smoker. please please i know its nasty. i. respect non smokers. i do not smoke around any non smoker unless they says light up its cool arround me. i never light up or smoke near a building.

my experience with vehicles are smoke smell is bad. you would have to shampoo carpet, seats, and ect. And it will still be there. that',,s because of tar and nicotine get in the hvac system, it coats everything. also it coats everything under the dash.
without cleaning those areas throughly the smell is still there.

ken

 

[Smoky14]

Just remember that ozone is very hard on rubber. After a fire I had some household items treated with ozone and the drive belts on the electronics gear and vacuum cleaner died along with the cushion material on the furniture.

YMMV

 

[cptbarkey]

update: I used it last night for about 1.5 hours, and the cigarette smell is completely eradicated. of course this is only the day after. i'll do another update after a week or so. the car is almost running also, i haven't ran it with the ac blowing, so i might get a blast of funk. will do another run if that happens.

of course from the beginning, i had washed the carpet twice, and vacuumed several times, and 409'd the entire interior. i only vacuumed the headliner.

this is the unit i purchased if anyone is interested:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/161042404876?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

 

[jimbrewer]

I was told to use Febreeze. I took the minority position and put a couple of small bowls of vingegar on the floor on a sunny day with the windows rolled up. It helped some.

 

[bobbob]

I used Auto Vaccine from Amazon and I was very happy with the results.

 

[The Critic]

After extracting the carpet and seats, ozone is pretty much the best way to eliminate the odor. Glad that the OP got it handled.