How to get rid of the smell of cigarette smoke?

Honest John Back Room » Motoring discussion
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Sun 5 Feb 2012 14:02
How to get rid of the smell of cigarette smoke? - japdriver

My father has recently passed away, and I have taken ownership of his car (a Nissan Note). Unfortunately it stinks of cigarette smoke, as he was a driving smoker.

I would NEVER buy a car which a smoker has owned because of the disgusting smell inside, but this is a different situation.....

I was wondering if anyone had any bright ideas about odour removal? Clearly leaving the windows down is not practical.........!

Other than the smell, the 1.4 petrol engined car is a really nice drive, well specced and very preactical......just the smell urrgh!

Help!

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Sun 5 Feb 2012 14:10
How to get rid of the smell of cigarette smoke? - Roly93

I'm sure you get plenty of good tips from the valeting fraternity, but one that I know is to leave a saucer of instant coffee granules on both front seats for a day or so and this helps to absourb the odour.

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Sun 5 Feb 2012 15:44
How to get rid of the smell of cigarette smoke? - craig-pd130

For things like spilt milk and juice, a small bowl of vinegar left in the car overnight gets rid of smells very well. Baking soda (sodium bicarb) in bowls is also great for absorbing smells.

It may need a full interior vac & shampoo before these are fully effective though.

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Sun 5 Feb 2012 15:59
How to get rid of the smell of cigarette smoke? - ChannelZ

Neutradol do a "Shake'n'Vac" type product that absorbs the smells. Shake in on the seats and carpet, and leave it for a few days. Vacuum out and most of the smell should be gone. Cleaning the glass, dash, etc too will help. Finally, get an "aircon bomb" which will clear out the air vents. It's a can that you set in the footwell with the aircon on recycle. Set off the "bomb", close the door and it'll deodorise the car and vents.

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Sun 5 Feb 2012 16:15
How to get rid of the smell of cigarette smoke? - Chris M

Get a professional valet. I had this problem a few years ago. The valet was only £30 and it virtually eliminated the smell (on a hot day it would come back slightly but only for about a year). The professionals are used to preping second hand cars for resale, so know what to use.

Edited by Chris M on 05/02/2012 at 16:16

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Sun 5 Feb 2012 16:47
How to get rid of the smell of cigarette smoke? - gordonbennet

You will never get rid of it completely, its embedded in the upholstery and gets into the plastics, despite virtually scrubbing the steering wheel of trucks driven by smokers by the end of a shift the steering wheel has become 'tacky' as the chemicals heat up and this in turn gets on your hands, horrible sensation feeling grubby similar to a tramp i imagine.

The roof lining is where its gone in deepest.

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Sun 5 Feb 2012 17:00
How to get rid of the smell of cigarette smoke? - 2balle
I have used autoglym odour eliminator it has been very effective at counteracting dog and sick smells in my vehicles
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Mon 6 Feb 2012 09:53
How to get rid of the smell of cigarette smoke? - Armitage Shanks {p}

Not the right time of year but fresh grass cuttings have been mentioned in the past for niff reduction. As others have said, the headlining is the problem area. Get one from a scrappie?

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Mon 6 Feb 2012 12:11
How to get rid of the smell of cigarette smoke? - Ethan Edwards

First car I actually bought with money, I was so chuffed to think that although I bought a smelly car (from a cigar smoker) it had these cool brown tinted windows! How cool was that!

Sadly turned out the tinting was just dirt. Lots of washing, carpet shake n vac, vaxing later on it was odour free and sadly the window tinting was no more.

I often wonder if that chaps lungs were the same shade of treacle brown.

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Mon 6 Feb 2012 12:53
How to get rid of the smell of cigarette smoke? - Hamsafar

Laundry liquid and hot water and gloves for hard surfaces and seatbelts.

Foam cleaner for headlining and textile covered pillar trims.

Hire a RugDoctor (TM) with upholstery attachment for the carpets, mats and seats. You may also use this gently on the headlining, you can save money by buying the shampoo for this elsewhere such as supermarket or discount store, Vax is good, as is something like 2000/2001.

Edited by Hamsafar on 06/02/2012 at 12:54

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