Are you struggling to remove the smoke smell out of car just by using deodorizers? Well, that’s going to take a lot more than that!
Whether you are preparing to sell your car or just struggling to get rid of the stubborn cigar smell in the car that came as a present from the previous owner. Let’s discover this detailed guide on getting smoke smell out of a car!
Eliminate Cigarettes Smell Out Of A Car!
How to get the smell of smoke out of your car? This complete guide with the following seven steps will help you eliminate unwanted odors, at least not like smoke or cigarettes. What’s more? This guide will also deliver an understanding of common products and several methods to grace your car with refreshing odors.
7-Step Guide To Remove Smoke Smell Out Of Car
Step-1: Collect Necessary Tools
Does your car smell like smoke? Before using chemical deodorizers you might have tried using several Air fresheners and home remedies, including coffee beans, baking soda, and apple slices to kill the smoke smell in the car. But those unwanted smells keep on coming back after a period, then you are at the right place.
Gather these necessary supplies listed below to help you eliminate these unwanted odors, once and for all instead of temporarily masking them with home remedies, that are no longer helping out.
Supplies You Will Need:
- All-purpose cleaner/Interior cleaner
- Glass Cleaner
- Stack of Microfiber towels
- Detailing brushes/Toothbrush
- Car Steamer
- Car Vacuum
- Air freshener/Disinfectant Spray
- HVAC Cleaner (Optional)
- Charcoal bags (Optional)
- New Cabin Filter (Optional)
The last three items are listed as optional, however, to optimize your work efficiency and entirely eliminate the unwanted cigarette odor, then you might have to work on all these products for optimal results. We would suggest buying any of these cleaning and disinfecting products from a well-reputed source, only if you do not have one. Work on these following steps stated below.
Step 2: Eliminate The Source
The second step is eliminating the source itself. If the car you are working on has any leftovers of cigarettes or ash, start removal from places like ashtrays, cup holders, door bins, utility compartments, or any other crevice containing ash or burnt cigarettes. This process eliminates the source itself, so you do not have to work all over again from the headliner to the car seats, upholstery, and carpets.
Step 3: Declutter The Car
The third step requires the removal of water bottles, coffee cups, loose items, or any other essentials sitting in the glove box or door bins. This step will enhance work efficiency, prevent the loss of any of the items, and make things easier to work with.
Step 4: Clean Plastic Trims & Interior Glass Surfaces
This step requires a thorough cleaning of all the interior surfaces to mask out any residue built with time into anything porous. It will ensure that you have properly eliminated its source but won’t help much odor itself.
Wipe All the Interior Trims:
Wipe down all the interior surfaces with a clean microfiber cloth and a well-reputed All-purpose cleaner. It will enable you to safely wipe several surfaces like plastic, rubber, fabric, leather, vinyl, and more without causing any damage. However, for glass surfaces, you will need a dedicated glass cleaner for crystal finish.
To save yourself some cost, you can use the home remedy, just add a few drops of dishwasher in a warm bucket of water and mix well. Damp a clean microfiber cloth and wipe all the interior surfaces, especially the hidden corners.
Use Clean Towels and a Brush:
No matter what surface cleaner you are using to wipe down the interior trims, it is recommended to use clean microfiber towels over each section. This will maintain cleaning consistency over every panel to eliminate cigarette odor, especially when disinfecting the car.
Thoroughly wipe the dashboard, center console, door cards, door inlays, inserts, sun visors, cup holders, seat adjuster, display screen, buttons, and every other surface of the interior. Stay more detailed when cleaning the steering wheel, navigation switches, infotainment inlays, indicator controls, and high-touch places. So that no residue from ash or dust gets transferred upon touching those controls back.
For further care, always use a detailing brush or else a toothbrush for detailed cleaning of the crevices and tight corners to scrub the ash and dust out. However, use a damp towel to clean out the seatbelts for being sensitive to cleaners.
Glass Cleaning:
Wipe the glass after cleaning the trims, ensuring no chemical deposits are transferred to the glass causing an obstructed view. Begin with the windshield and rearview mirror and every other glass surface inside the interior. Constantly switching towels will deliver consistency for a crystal view.
Step 5: Vacuum The Interior
This step is essential for removing ash residue and debris from the tight crevices, carpet, headliner, and floor mats. Try using a vacuum cleaner with several nozzle attachments to target every spot to eliminate every bit of debris and cigarette ash. After vacuuming the car, let your floor mats have a sun bath for a couple of hours.
Step 6: Clean Car Seats (And Upholstery Accents)
This step differs based on the material of the seats/upholstery and the severity of the problem. The initial process majorly removes the main source of odors, however, this step confirms the odor elimination consistency. Before starting with the seats, go through the user manual for any instructions on extra care or cautions to prevent any damage to the material or relevant electrical components.
It is recommended to use a dedicated upholstery cleaner for leather or fabric to prevent any damage to the seats. Try applying it to a hidden surface to confirm its safe usage. Thoroughly scrub the seats with a soft upholstery brush and wipe them later on with a clean towel. Then gently scrub the non-leather upholstery and wipe with a clean towel. The second option is a steam cleaner, depending on the severity both the steamer and upholstery cleaner perform optimally to eliminate every bit of residue from all the surfaces.
Step 7: Replace Cabin Filters And Clean AC Vents
This process gets overlooked, yet it carries great importance for eliminating cigarette odors and dust particles.
- Turn on the AC to its maximum fan speed and engage recirculation
- Then use an HVAC or disinfectant spray to clean out the air vents for optimal odor elimination.
- Look for user manual instructions and replace the AC filters.
Final Touches: Air Fresheners
After cleaning every speck of ash and dust by following these steps, now the car is ready to be graced with some air fresheners. By following this step-by-step guide, you will learn the best way to get cigarette smoke out of a car and make it smell like a brand-new one.
When you’re buying your first car, it’s essential to thoroughly inspect the vehicle for any potential issues, including unwanted odors like smoke. These smells can be a major concern, especially with used cars. If you do encounter a smoky scent in your new car, don’t worry—our First Car Buying Guide provides tips on what to look for when inspecting a used car
FAQS
How to smoke in a car without it smelling?
Always keep your windows down while smoking. After smoking, let your windows stay open for 20-30 minutes. Never leave cigarette residue inside, even if a built-in astray is available. Try using charcoal bags for unwanted odor absorption.
Your car smells like cigarettes, but you don’t smoke – what’s causing it?
If your car smells like cigarettes but you don’t smoke, lingering odors from previous owners, passengers, or hidden residue in the vents could be the culprit.
Do remedies such as coffee beans, baking soda, or vinegar work?
Natural products such as coffee beans, baking soda, and vinegar contain odor-absorption properties and work quite efficiently. However, if the source is not getting eliminated then these natural remedies can only mask the unwanted odors temporarily. Then the best way to get the cigarette smell out of the car is to work on all the steps stated above for permanent odor elimination.
