Sanitizing the car ...

[rico942]

Got my new car 1 1/2 years ago, and smoked in it daily until May when I started vaping ...

Replaced the cabin filter, but even after 2 1/2 months, there is still some residual smell from tobacco smoke, more noticable on a hot day ...

An advice on un-stinking the interior ? Fabreze ? A good detailing ?

Anyone tried an ozone treatment ?

 

[glasseye]

This came up a few days ago. Good luck!
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/general-e-smoking-discussion/445004-removing-smoke-smell.html

 

[irwink]

Keep the windows open to the fresh air as often as possible for as long as possible. Everything else will just mask the smell. When I quit my car spent all its off road hours in my garage with the windows open. It was pretty much de-stinkified in 2 or 3 months. Proof was asking non smokers if they detected any residual odor.

 

[Neena]

My mother was a heavy chain smoker and that's what killed her at 58. She had a beautiful car that she still owed a little on. My sister didn't want it, and at that time I had quit smoking again, I couldn't even stand to get in it. I left the windows open for months, steam cleaned it-nothing would get rid of the stench. It was like that Seinfeld episode! We tried for months to sell it and nobody wanted anything to do with it. We didn't make the payments on it, and when the bank called and threatened to reposess it, I gave them my address and told them they were welcome to it! She was already gone, so I don't think she'd be too worried about her credit. I feel sorry for the poor sucker that ended up coming to get it lol!

 

[irwink]

In my car's case I have to say that when I did smoke in it I always opened the drivers' window at least halfway even in winter. I guess if someone smoked a lot in a vehicle that was almost totally sealed for a period of time then perhaps the odor would become next to impossible to remove, ala the Seinfeld car. Seinfeld - The Car Stinks - YouTube

 

[sbc83]

I gave all my interior panels a wipe down with a mixture of dish soap and water in an old spray bottle. Went to the store and bought 2 boxes of baking soda and sprinkled it on the carpet, if you have cloth seats sprinkle it on them as well (vacuum afterwards). I put the rest in 2 plastic grocery bags in both the front and back seat. Let it sit over the weekend and it did a heck of a job.

Obv when you clean the int you should also clean the windows ect. A lot of the smell is probably in the headliner but there's only so much you can do about that as it's very delicate when it comes to cleaning.

I never smoked with the windows up and always keep the car super clean inside and out.


Results may vary.

 

[Dbabbster]

One of the first things I noticed after starting to get my sense of smell back from quitting the analogs, was my car smelled so bad, almost felt imbarrassed for my past passengers having to endure the smell.

 

[ahall]

I did the ozone in my van and it completely go it rid of the smell

 

[Statistic]

^^ Ozium works wonders

 

[Caridwen]

I got my car detailed- completely worth it.

In my car's case I have to say that when I did smoke in it I always opened the drivers' window at least halfway even in winter. I guess if someone smoked a lot in a vehicle that was almost totally sealed for a period of time then perhaps the odor would become next to impossible to remove, ala the Seinfeld car. Seinfeld - The Car Stinks - YouTube

That episode was so funny!

OT- once my car had an ungodly odor. Searched the car couldn't find a reason for it- this was in the middle of summer. I even got on the ground and looked under the car- thought maybe there was something dead, that's how bad it was.

Finally found out what it was- pushed waaaay back in my trunk under a box there was an old bag of frozen broccoli and cauliflower that must of fallen out of my shopping bag and oozed nastiness. It was puffed up bag of toxic stench. The smell was so bad!

 

[irwink]

I got my car detailed- completely worth it.



That episode was so funny!

OT- once my car had an ungodly odor. Searched the car couldn't find a reason for it- this was in the middle of summer. I even got on the ground and looked under the car- thought maybe there was something dead, that's how bad it was.

Finally found out what it was- pushed waaaay back in my trunk under a box there was an old bag of frozen broccoli and cauliflower that must of fallen out of my shopping bag and oozed nastiness. It was puffed up bag of toxic stench. The smell was so bad!

Was dating someone once who took a trip home to PA for the weekend. While there someone she knew hit a black bear with their vehicle and killed it. Well they proceeded to skin it out and my gf decided to bag up the fresh hide and throw it in the trunk of her fairly new Honda. She had notions of a bear skin rug or something.

On the ride home the garbage bags in her trunk failed to contain the bear's bodily fluids and the carpet got saturated. THAT was the worst car funk I've ever experienced. She tried everything to no avail. We eventually went our separate ways but I doubt she ever killed that smell.

My guess is that she must have driven that Honda 'til the wheels fell off. I don't think anyone would have bought it or taken it in on trade.

 

[bhswmc01]

Wow, I guess I'm lucky! I smoked in my car for years, but vacuumed and febreezed it once a month (mostly). It didn't stink then, and doesn't stink now! Just wish I could get rid of the couple burn marks!

 

[Fyreffect]

You'll want to clean everything thoroughly, or have a professional do it. Clean the carpets, the seats (and underneath the seats), dash, doors, ceiling, the interior surface of your windshield / rear glass / windows as well as the shelf area behind your back seats if you have one. If any of your rear seats fold down the back side of those should be cleaned too. I've only now heard of the ozone treatment but that looks promising.

 

[Rickajho]

We just did the basics and it worked for us. Vacuum - get the ashes up and any butts that might have... fallen out on occasion. CLEAN THE ASH TRAY! - gack. Clean all the glass and non fabric stuff really well. Febreze is your friend - light spray on the fabrics (don't forget the interior roof if it's fabric.) - then actually close up the car to let the Febreze do it's magic.

Or treat yourself and get it detailed. Some places have specialty "stuff" they use when detailing.

A plug in ozone thingee is good too. But exposing yourself to that long term isn't a great idea.

Some folks swear by Ozium. But remember - Ozium is an airborne odor neutralizer. It is not meant to be used on fabrics or surfaces.

 

[vicflo]

if you are willing to spend a little they have reasonable prices on new molded carpet and padding. having it professionally cleaned (i worked for a carpet cleaning company for a few years) will sometimes make it smell even worse as it pushes the nicotine further down into the padding.

Take it down to floor level is good anyways because ash likes to hide under where you cannot reach. thoroughly clean the seats and rear cushion and let dry/air out for a few days. put back all together and should be good to go. headliners are a little harder to clean and usually more expensive to replace. change the cabin filter and possibly as much as you can of the vent/blower area. helped out my car a ton. night and day.

Most everything that your smoke can touch has left a thin layer of nicotine on it so just think of it that way. with the darker colors of most car interiors you wont see it but you will smell it if it gets humid at all.

 

[Leithan]

I broke down and had it professionally done. I think I paid $120.00, they shampooed everything, took a tooth brush to all the seams, everything. It was well worth it, no matter how hard I cleaned, I just couldn't get the last bit of stink out.

 

[Heavyrocker]

Get a fog machine and blast it with a good ejuice flavour,like Halo Maibu.

 

[rico942]

I did the ozone in my van and it completely go it rid of the smell

That's what I was hoping to hear. I found a website where I can rent the machine for a weekend, then ship it back ...

Already did the deep cleaning and detailing, learned from pros at my Dad's car dealership. I was never as fast as them, but picked up the tricks ...

I always smoked with the windows open, except in the rain (rare in San Diego), so I honestly can't detect any residual odor, even with a returning sense of smell and especially tobacco smoke. I think my friends are still just busting my chops for all of the years that I did smoke in my various vehicles ...

Somebody here at work just burned popcorn in the microwave. Now THAT is an offensive smell !

 

[shakeytails]

My car is junk, so I don't worry about it too much. I'm sure there's some residual smell, but I haven't noticed it yet. Anyway, when I was smoking and I noticed the stench in the car I used vinegar. I'd fill a cup with paper towels (to prevent spillage) and saturate with vinegar- I used whatever was easiest to find in my kitchen so sometimes white, sometimes cider vinegar. I'd just leave the cup in a cupholder in my car for a while. It did wonders for de-stinking.

 

[rico942]

Time seems to have solved the tobacco odor problem with my car. I smoked in it for about 1 1/2 years, but after 2 1/2 months, it seems to be mostly de-smoked. Gave one of my neighbors a ride last night, the guy is the most vocal and opinionated tobacco-hater I've ever met. Ex-Special Forces, so I never argue with him. He actually asked me why my car smelled like fruit. It was the disposable berry e-cig I had been vaping all day ...