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| © Fedortcov/Shutterstock smoking in car |
By Alexa Erickson, The Family Handyman
Whether you’ve purchased a used car that someone smoked in, or have
finally kicked the bad habit yourself, you may be itching to learn how
to get rid of that smoke smell in your car.
Air it out
The first thing you need to do to
get rid of the smoke smell is clean, clean, clean! Drive your car to a
well-ventilated area. Roll down the windows, remove any belongings and
take out every scrap of trash.
Vacuum all surfaces
Next, remove seat covers
and floor mats and begin to vacuum every inch of your interior. A
handheld vacuum, or vacuum with an attachment meant for getting into the
deepest nooks and crannies is ideal for this job. Vacuum your seat
covers (or launder them at home or at a self-service laundry if the tag
says they’re washable) and floor mats separately, after they’ve aired
out in the sun for a bit.
Wash all surfaces
Now,
combine white vinegar and water in a 1:1 ratio in a spray bottle and
spritz your upholstery. Use a microfiber cloth and wipe down all of the
interior upholstery, interior side panels, steering wheel, dashboard,
etc.
You should also use a glass cleaner to remove any cigarette residue on your windows and windshield.
Ventilate
Next, start your engine, turn
the fan on high and the air conditioner to the lowest temperature. With
windows rolled down, allow the car’s air ventilation/filtration system
to pull the smoke smell out of the car. With the fan and A/C still on,
spray an odor neutralizer
into the vents. Repeat this process, but this time, turn the heat all
the way up and spray the neutralizer into the vents again.
More drastic measures
Despite your best
efforts, sometimes the smell of smoke has permeated so deeply that it is
nearly impossible to eliminate. In that case, consider taking more
drastic measures, like replacing the upholstery, headliner (roof
material) and carpets.
If your car smells of smoke from a bonfire instead of cigarettes, you
can usually get rid of that smell by putting your car in a
well-ventilated area with the windows down to let it air out. After a
little while, sprinkle some baking soda on the carpet and floor mats and
vacuum it off.
If you have no interest in doing this job
yourself, hire a pro! It costs anywhere from $125 to $200 for a thorough
interior cleaning, depending on your location and the size of your
vehicle.
