I read a couple of previous threads with suggestions on permanently removing cigarette smoke odor from the interior of a vehicle. Lots of suggestions, but nothing that indicates a successful, permanent treatment.

Been helping my daughter look for a car and have found a nice '04 Mazda3 that is a good possibility - *except* that the owner says she smoked in the car for the first few months. She doesn't notice it, but my daughter and I instantly could smell the lingering, stale smell of smoke. I believe the odor is also in the AC/heating system.

While Googling, I've found all sorts of potions that claim to kill the bacteria that couses odors, of one sort or another.

Does anyone have a sure-fire (that you have personally used and it has worked), permanent method of eliminating that nasty smell?

TIA.

 

Although I have never used this method myself, (specifically banned, I know... ) I was told by a person who, in my opinion, is a reliable source that newspaper is an effective tool for removing the smell. I believe the technique is to place wads of newspaper in the car and leave them until they have absorbed some of the odor and continue replacing the paper until the smell is gone. There is some quality about newspaper that allows it to absorb and retain the smoke smell. Once again, I have never used this method nor have I owned a smoker's car, but if the deal is good enough it might be worth trying.

 

Most cars have a filter in the heater/AC system that almost never gets replaced. That could be a signifncant culprit.

I'd get the filter changed and have the interior steam cleaned.

I might also dump a TON of baking soda into the carpet and let it sit for a day or two before vacuuming it back up.

Also, throw away and replace the ash tray if it was ever used.

 

go to the Dodge/chrysler dealer:

they sell this stuff that is set up like a bug bomb fogger that goes in your car...it will make the car smell brand new...they sell it at the parts counter.

 

Odo Ban - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...173389-1839153

I've never used it on smoke, but I've used it on everything else. I had a series of basement floods (old house + old pipes + sewage ) and used this for deodorzing & disinfecting. Also great for anyone who has pets that occasionally have an accident.

I bought mine from Amazon (4 gallons. sheesh!) but I'm sure you could find it in smaller quantities somewhere...

Oh.. just found this quote in the reviews:
"I have found it is also great in the wash for getting out smoke odors".

 

try febreeze
or you could try using a soldering iron and some crazy glue -the smoke from melted crazy glue is sometimes used by dealerships to give the "new car smell" to older used cars
sounds weird, but I done'd see'd it on da news!

 

I dealt with funny odors once in my old Nissan Altima.

A few years ago, I bought one of those Quadra air cleaners from The Sharper Image. It was sized for 1-2 rooms and made a slight bit of ozone (good smell fighter). I turned it on high and put it in the car every night for a week with the doors/windows closed. Odors were gone, but I had to vent the car every morning for 30 seconds or so because the sharpness of the ozone was overwhelming!

 

I was going to say O-zone!!

 

Great tips, here - THANKS! I am still a bit skittish about being able to neutralize the smoke odor in the car. Will give one or two of these a try if we buy the car .

 

In Germany we operate air ionizers in rooms that people smoked in. After a couple of hours, you can not smell any smoke.

 

Just take the car to a good detailer. One who details a lot of used cars for resale. They will be able to get the smell out. Or ask a used car dealership how they get the smell out. I have bought a few smoked-in used cars & they smelled practically new.

Or just take up smoking & it won't bother you nearly as much

 

either the ozone or the negative ion generator are the best ideas. once you run those a while, be sure to dust, wipe and vacuum, as both methods cause particles to fall out of the air, so removing them from the car is important before they become airborne again.

 

My battle with my wife's smoking habit finally ended a few months ago. I never let her smoke in the house, and and as little as possible in the cars. One thing she did that seemed to help a bit was put dryer sheets under the seats or in the mesh holder on the seat backs. Hey, it's something you probably already have and requires zero work. Worth a try anyway.

 

Try putting a couple cups of dry fresh coffee grounds in an open container
in the car for a week or two.
Haven't tried it myself (no smokers here) but it's supposed to work.