Is it possible to get rid of cigarette smell in a car?

**sethschmautz** · 03-19-2009, 08:58 AM

I bought a used Toyota Tundra the other day that had come off of lease. I love the truck. It's the right color, size, etc. However. . . in the last few days, it has started to faintly smell of cigarette smoke - just enough to annoy me. I only smell it when I first get into the truck, and as soon as you're driving/turn on the vent and fan, it goes away. I didn't smell it when I first bought the truck, but it's definitely there now when you first get in and I'm a little worried that it's going to get worse.

I've owned the truck for about 2 weeks and the dealership has a 30 day trade in guarantee. The other, similar trucks would cost me an additional $2k, but this is worth it if I can't get the smell out. TGR search yields little, but other places on the Internet yield more results. Is there any hope if it's just a faint smell? Is it going to get worse as the temp gets warmer? Has anybody had any luck actually getting the cig smell out? Thanks,

Seth

**Skidog** · 03-19-2009, 09:02 AM

just start smoking..you will barely notice it.

**karpiel** · 03-19-2009, 09:14 AM

Take it to a carwash and use the pressure washer on the interior. Let dry.

**El Chupacabra** · 03-19-2009, 09:17 AM

1) Steam clean all the upholstery and seats

2) Lots of Febreeze sprayed around the interior on any fabric surface

3) Dryer sheets (fabric softener sheets) -- put a couple of fresh ones in the interior, like under the front seats. Helps mask the cig odor.

4) If you have a garage, leave all the windows rolled down overnight when you park.

**PlayHarder** · 03-19-2009, 09:22 AM

I bought my Taco as a dealer demo after the sales manager had smoked in it for 3 months, like sitting on the truck on his cell phone smoking for good chunks of the day.
The dealership had it ionized before I took possession, apparently sat for 48 hours with the ionizer going. Seemed to work.

**OSECS** · 03-19-2009, 09:23 AM

Used car dealer trick told to me: scented clothes Dryer sheets in the vents of your air conditioning.

BSS · 03-19-2009, 09:26 AM

What Elchup said. Still, (and even if you steam it twice) it will take six months or more to completely go away.

Also keep an eye on the local junkyards for a headliner. Make sure you check the truck's ashtray before you have them pull it for you. That's where most of the smoke was absorbed, it's the only part you can't steam clean (because it's cardboard backed), and it's also the closest thing to your nose. So a lot of your efforts will be in vain unless you can scrounge up a replacement.

**WyoWill** · 03-19-2009, 09:39 AM

I had a work rig for a while that smelled of smoke when I first got it. . . and smelled fine after a couple months.

**Platinum Pete** · 03-19-2009, 09:43 AM

I've had luck with rubbing baking soda into all fabrics in a vehicle and letting it sit for as long as I can go without it - at least 24 hours and preferably a warm/hot day - then vaccuuming it all out. I'd also replace the cabin air filter and get a different ashtray. The dealer will probably replace the floor mats and headliner for you (maybe at cost, maybe free) to keep the sale closed - so see if they'll do that for you.

**crispy4505** · 03-19-2009, 09:50 AM

ya it takes some time, I used this air neutralizer my pot head friends recommended. Not sure on the spelling but i believe it is ozidium. it comes in a small white spray can with blue lettering, ill try to look up the exact spelling for. my car was owned by a smoker and now my car no longer smells like smoke.

Also, on nice summer days, open all the doors and let the car air out.

**Skidog** · 03-19-2009, 09:55 AM

Originally Posted by crispy4505

ya it takes some time, I used this air neutralizer my pot head friends recommended. Not sure on the spelling but i believe it is ozidium. it comes in a small white spray can with blue lettering, ill try to look up the exact spelling for. my car was owned by a smoker and now my car no longer smells like smoke.

Also, on nice summer days, open all the doors and let the car air out.

OZIUM

http://www.atmosphereproducts.com/pr...ium/index.html

Used in hospitals. I am not fond of the smell, but it works.

**crispy4505** · 03-19-2009, 10:05 AM

thank you sir.

**Patches** · 03-19-2009, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by El Chupacabra

1)3) Dryer sheets (fabric softener sheets) -- put a couple of fresh ones in the interior, like under the front seats. Helps mask the cig odor.

In college I used to throw dirty clothes in a hamper, and every foot or so throw a fabric softener sheet in. When the hamper filled up I would dump the clothes out and they were ready to go! No need to do anything else, fabric softener has magic powers.

**Jax** · 03-19-2009, 10:15 AM

Cig smoke lingers on people and especially their hands. I'd get hot soapy water and scrub the shit out of the steering wheel and all buttons, knobs, door handles. Also, the seat belt soaks up scent, and it's much closer to your nose. I'd give that a good wash, too.

Platinum Pete had it correct with replacement of the cabin air filter. All of the old, smoky air got recycled through that thing- get it out of there.

**XXX-er** · 03-19-2009, 10:31 AM

I have heard of charcol absorbing smells ,maybe leave a bucket of charcol in there

you can get little spray bottles of new car smell,back in the cruising n smoking days (think waynes world and the AMC pacer) I had a can of Ozium in the drunk holder 24/7

for 2 K I think you will get used to it BUT how about going back to the dealer and bitching just a little as in hey I really like this truck but what can we do to deal with this smoke?

**sethschmautz** · 03-19-2009, 10:40 AM

Thanks a ton for the help guys. I was planning on talking to the dealer today anyway to at least give them the heads up about the smoke and the possible replacement. My hope is that they can work with me on getting it figured out. I've also got a list of cleaning steps (per your recommendations) for this weekend. My hope is that it will all work and I'll feel good about things next week. If you think of anything else, keep 'em coming. Thanks!

Seth

**K man** · 03-19-2009, 10:52 AM

I had the same thing happen with a VW. Didn't smell when I bought it, but started to later. I scrubbed, washed, used sprays, etc. and finally got rid of the smell, except on hot summer days, when the car was parked with the windows up, I could still smell it faintly when I got in even a couple years later.

**bmg97** · 03-19-2009, 11:04 AM

Smoke a dube in there. Problem solved.

**Yukonrider** · 03-19-2009, 11:39 AM

I heard something on the internet about an o-zone generator doing wonders for getting smells out of cars. I'd try to look into one

**volklpowdermaniac** · 03-19-2009, 11:45 AM

Ozium for the win. End of discussion. Douse the truck in it, ride with windows down on a nice day at 75 for 10-15 miles, let it air out.

**mr_gyptian** · 03-19-2009, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by sethschmautz

I bought a used Toyota Tundra the other day that had come off of lease. I love the truck. It's the right color, size, etc. However. . . in the last few days, it has started to faintly smell of cigarette smoke - just enough to annoy me. I only smell it when I first get into the truck, and as soon as you're driving/turn on the vent and fan, it goes away. I didn't smell it when I first bought the truck, but it's definitely there now when you first get in and I'm a little worried that it's going to get worse.

I've owned the truck for about 2 weeks and the dealership has a 30 day trade in guarantee. The other, similar trucks would cost me an additional $2k, but this is worth it if I can't get the smell out. TGR search yields little, but other places on the Internet yield more results. Is there any hope if it's just a faint smell? Is it going to get worse as the temp gets warmer? Has anybody had any luck actually getting the cig smell out? Thanks,

Seth

I have tried every single trick in the book to get smoke smell out of my used cars. Ozinators, reverse double helix oxyginators, fabreeze, dryer sheets.

These guys are the only ones that are worth a shit.

http://www.marsinternational.com/detailing.html

**sethschmautz** · 03-19-2009, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by mr_gyptian

I have tried every single trick in the book to get smoke smell out of my used cars. Ozinators, reverse double helix oxyginators, fabreeze, dryer sheets.

These guys are the only ones that are worth a shit.

http://www.marsinternational.com/detailing.html

Closest one is approximately 2 days drive away. . .

Can you get their products and DIY?

I keep going back to the idea (unfortunately) that if it were easy to do (maybe even possible to do), there would be no used cars on the market that smelled like smoke.

**mr_gyptian** · 03-19-2009, 01:24 PM

sometimes just getting a degreaser type of solvent, wetting a rag, and then wiping your headliner down thoroughly works.

the Ozium spray cans do ok. but aren't a permanent fix.

changing the cabin filters can work well especially if the person smoked with the a/c on.

where my dealership is located might be the healthiest spot on earth. smoke smell is something I constantly fight.