Smoke is a hard smell to get rid of.
Cigarette smoke can linger in your car for up to 10 days, and the odor will become stronger over time. Luckily, there are many ways to remove cigarette odors from your vehicle so you don’t have to live with it any longer! After reading this article, you will know how to get smoke smell out of your car in 5 steps: open windows and air the car out; thoroughly clean all upholstery, carpets, vents and under seat covers; use an odor neutralizer after cleaning everything. These simple tips should help you breathe easier once again!
1. Open the windows and air out
The most important step to removing cigarette odors is to open the windows and allow fresh air in the car. Fresh air will naturally remove smoke smells with time, but if you are impatient you can speed up this process by opening your windows or using an automatic garage door opener so that your vehicle can breathe in the open air. If you are not able to leave the windows down, simply turn on your car’s ventilation system when you are driving around town for fresh air circulation.
2. Thorough clean all upholstery, carpets, vents and under seat covers
Getting rid of smoke smells is a process that includes thorough cleaning each and every part of your car. Here is a step by step process on how to get smoke smell out of a car:
First, remove all upholstery and carpeting from the vehicle so that you can clean them with an enzyme-based cleaner. If there are any loose items in the back seat or under the front seats, carefully remove those as well and clean them later. Next, spray the upholstery and carpet with an enzyme-based cleaner that breaks down odors at their source. These cleaners can be bought from any grocery store or hardware store as they are common household products. Make sure to avoid bleach-based cleaners as these will simply mask the smoke smell instead of removing it. Once the cleaner has been applied, let it soak in for 10 minutes before scrubbing with a brush and using a towel to wipe off residue. Repeat the process if necessary until you are satisfied that all of the cigarette odors have been removed from your car.
Finally, clean any upholstered areas of your car using your vacuum’s upholstery attachment to remove any leftover dirt, grime or debris. This process is especially important if you have pets that ride in your car often as they can leave hair behind even after vacuuming.
Next, clean the vents with an air hose attachment for electronics, ensuring that all of the nooks and crannies and the inside of the vents and air conditioning system are scrubbed down. Finally, use a cream leather cleaner to clean cloth seats if your car has any. These cleaners can be found in any grocery store or automotive store and simply require you to wipe them on like other cleaners.
3. Use an odor neutralizer after cleaning everything
Once you have cleaned all of your car’s surfaces thoroughly, it is time to use an odor neutralizer. A common household product like baking soda will work in a pinch, but there are many air fresheners and sprays available at grocery stores or even online that will also take care of the smell once and for all! Just make sure to read the instructions on each type of odor eliminator before using it.
4. Remove all loose items from the vehicle and clean them after everything else is complete
Odors can cling to anything that isn’t part of your car’s upholstery, carpet or auto accessories. If there are any loose items in the back seat or under the front seats, make sure to remove these and give them a good clean once you are finished with all of your car’s upholstery. You can even use an air hose attachment or blow dryer to make sure that they are fully dried before putting back in your vehicle!
5. Get Smoke Smell Out – Additional Tips
If you follow these steps and clean every surface thoroughly, the smell should be gone for good. However if there is still a lingering smell, it may be time to get your car detailed by professionals. When shopping around for car detailing prices, ask about “smoke damage reduction” or specific smoke odor elimination services. These can be a bit more expensive, but will certainly be worth the extra cost when you consider how much time and effort goes into getting smoke out of a car.
In any case, take your time cleaning every surface of the car to ensure that all cigarette odors are gone. Once you have finished, simply use an air refresher to spread fresh smells throughout your vehicle. If you want to be extra cautious, open the windows and use an air purifier as an added measure of protection against any smoke smells that may return.
Additional sources:
http://www.caranddriver.com/features/how-to-get-smoke-out-of-your-car
https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/597545
https://allwetblog.wordpress.com/2015/05/11/how-to-get-smoke-out-of-your-car/
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/remove-cigarette-smell-car-31080.html
https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-get-cigarette-smoke-odors-out-of-your-car-410967
