cigarette smoke smell
 

Just wondering if it's possible to completely eliminate the cigarette smoke smell from a car's interior. (~2 year old car with leather seating) From my research, a thorough physcial cleaning plus treatment with ozone and/or negative ion air cleaners will do it.

Anyone with experience in this?

I cannot stand the smell of cigarettes and I get disgusted by people that reek of the stench. I would never buy a car that has been smoked in since it is impossible to remove every trace. Cigarettes leave a residue that soaks into every crevice so your attempts to clean it may only get what's on the surface. You've got an HVAC system that is permanently damaged by the cigarette residue. You'll continue to breathe the carcinogens that are present in the system everytime you drive the car. IMHO, I believe a car that has been smoked in is a total loss.

Is this just your opinion or have you actually tried having a car cleaned? I've been in homes that have been smoked in that were cleaned that seemed fine afterward...maybe my nose isn't as sensitive.

Anyone else?

there is a way to remove the smell. Using febreeze and other ismilar products will only mask the smell and return later. what you have to do is take it to a detailing shop. there they have a thing to remove all the bacteria from the inside of a car which is what you want to do. if you don't then.. you can use febreeze and put like 10 boxes of baking soda in the car and hope for the best

From my research, ozone in controlled amounts will break down and *remove* the smell. Has anyone had this done? Is it effective?

this may be completely insane, but i think i read that baking soda combined with some water mixed together in a bowl would work if you leave it in the car overnight??

I got rid of my smoker's smell by....

removing the ashtray and soaking it in a Dawn soap/water mixture..

then, I removed all carpets I could (floormats and center console carpet strip and washed them using a strong shampoo and then scotch guarded them.. )

For the car's permenant carpet, I bought 2 bags of like 10 pound Armor All baking soda and doushed everything, including the dash, seats, deck carpet, floor carpet... it was like a snow storm occured in the car!!!

Then I took a spray bottle and filled with water... gave all covered areas a very gentle mist of water... be very careful with the leather!...


open you windows and sunroof and let air dry....

then vaccum up... then give all surfaces an appropriate cleaner and protectant!

I did this in both my 300E and my old 733I... worked well, had to repeat process in the 733i....

Thanks...seems like a pretty invasive procedure...very time consuming to say the least. Did the baking soda vaccum up fairly well?

thats why you don't smoke in a car ; smoking is bad :mad:

I know this may sound a little bazaar. Apples! Yes, Apples! (This is from a friend of mine whose family, for several generations, has sold used cars.) Take several apples, quarter them and place them inside the closed car for a few days. Just remove them before they rot.

:hat: Why don't you tell us how you really feel. Stop holding back your sentiments!!!!!

Lou K

Three quick comments

a) Fabreeze does not mask odours. It is one of the few products that actually ELIMINATES odours. Its an Excellent product.

b) Using Ozone is OK, but keep in mind that it is very detrimental to rubber.

c) The most important part is the headlining. Make sure you clean it properly and than apply Fabreeze as per instructions.

Phil

When I had my soft top replaces on my SL, I got it back and they had smoked in it. The car stunk so bad I had to drive home with the windows down. I let it sit in the garage with the windows down for days and nothing got rid of the smoke. I could not drive the car, the repair shop offered to detail it, but I wasn't going to give my car back to them. I called my grandmother and she told me that I had to really give the car a good cleaning on the inside, use water with just a little vinegar. After you clean it, the inside will smell a bit like vinegar for awhile and then put Bounce dryer sheets under the seats and floor mats. The dryer sheets I guess help absorb the odor and the vinegar helps release it. The big problem though is I found a cigarette-burn hole in my brand new canvas top. That is the only and last time my car will go anywhere besides the dealer to be repaired. Happy Benzing!
Brian

What a horror story about your SL - I can't believe that someone would have the nerve to smokle in your car! Talk about un-professional!

I just bought a 1991 Buick Riviera from a cigar smoker - it reeks inside. I will try all these suggestions in sequence until they work!!

-gil

Im having kind of the same problem with my w126 benz. It was previously smoked in for awhile by my dad. He gave the car to me and basically I masked the odors the whole time with freshners. He smoked in it today and the smell comes back and stays the whole day so I know its still in the car. Will baking soda work at all? Im considering getting all carpets shampooed professionally.