I have such a sad tale to tell.... My little red 2000 Honda Civic EX was stolen, stripped, and a total loss. I loved that car (her name was Delilah) and bought her new with everything I wanted back when I was single and childless. Even though the two doors made it difficult with two kids, I made it work. She was so reliable and I kept her in pristine condition.
So I had to replace her. I can't afford anything new, even with the low financing options, so I bought a used car. It's a fine car, nothing to love, but it should be pretty reliable and I got a great deal on it. But now, after a week, I have begun to notice a cigarrette smell when I first get in the car after it has been sitting in the sun. Does anyone have any suggestions that I could try to get rid of this smell?
Everyone who responded is SO SMART!! You all ROCK!!!
I called the place where I bought the car. They are going to change the air filters and run an ozone machine in the car all day on Monday. Tomorrow I will do the vinegar (because I have it) and see if that helps. For now I am going to avoid using Febreeze and air fresheners. If the ozone machine doesn't help, I will go down the list of all the wonderful suggestions!!
Thank you all for the great advice and the sympathy about my car. Mamapedia rocks, eh?
That is a sad story. Sorry to hear that happened to you. Call some car detail places they will help you.
My friend smoked in my car and I put fabric softener sheets under the seats and it helped. She always had a window down, so the smell wasn't too strong, but maybe it will help you out.
You've gotten some great suggestions so far. I just want to add that you need to change the filter to the air/heating unit now and probably again in a couple months. You can do everything else but if you don't get rid of the air filter that is loaded with smoke, you will continue to smell smoke every time you turn on the air/heater.
I was recently told that when cleaning a car where people smoke to make sure you clean the inside roof of the car. This is where the smoke smell
sinks in to. I would think you could use upholstery cleaner.
Other options might be Febreeze or Ozium.
Bath and Body Works sells these portable things called Portsentables that clip on anything. They even have one that is an odor eliminantor.
put febreeze in it if that doesn't work put baking soda in it let it sit and vacumn it out.
So sorry you've had a hard time. That stinks!
We bought a car that had once belonged to a smoker. We rented an ozone machine & ran that thing for a full day, and it worked! It left a weird smell in the car, but that dissipated over time. I think you can also take it to a place to get detailed (like Delta Sonic), and they have a smoke removal package. That will cost a little bit more, but if I had to do it over again, I would pay a little more to not have to deal with it myself.
Then, definitely, once you do that, make sure the air filter is replaced.
Good luck!
You need to find a disinfectant that you can spray everywhere. On the seats, the floor, everywhere. You might actually talk to a detail shop. Or if you can afford one, have them detail it and get the smell out.
Then I would suggest you buy some sort of car freshener.
I understand how you feel. It's a sad world we live in today sometimes. I have had cars I loved too and it was very hard to give them up, but to have someone come in and do that is even worse.
So sorry about your little Civic, but I'm sure you will learn to like the new one and then someday get another one you love.
Good Luck.
I smoke but I hate the smell!
I just bought a Refresh air freshener (at Target) that plugs into the outlet. I love it!
Detail shops use ozone machines to get rid of that smell too!
p.s. Sorry about Delilah!
My husband and I own a Construction Company and we do most of the fire repairs in our town. We use an ozone machine to rid the houses of smoke smell. It works well but no one should be in the vehicle while it is running. After you use the ozone machine there will be an odd smell, simply open all the doors and let the breese clear out that smell for you. Remember when using an ozone machine, do not leave anything rubber inside. The ozone will destroy it. Be sure to close the car up tight while using. You may need to go to an auto detailing company to get an ozone machine. They are pricey, so you will only want to "borrow" it. I use the ozone machine in my house whenever I cook fish to get rid of that smell too. Good luck!
Hi P.,
I also recommend a unit that has ozone. Shaklee has a portable one that can be plugged into the cig lighter. It is called AirSource Mobile and you can find it at http://www.shaklee.net/healthforlife. You will be able to use it in your home also.
I would avoid the air fresheners. They are as toxic as the cig smoke.
Victoria
Often if you put a bowl of ammonia in the car overnight, it absorbs other odors- and don't worry, the smell of the ammonia won't stay after you take it out! It may take a few repeat attempts to get the smell ot completely. And several other ideas are great too- especially about cleaning the ceiling, all the upholstery, and the plastic! Smoke is one of those stubborn smells, because it's actually the residue that's left over that stinks. Try all you can and the smell will eventually dissipate! Sorry about your old car and your new problem! Good luck!
I heard if you put a bowl, small one will do, but make sure it is open. Put vinegar in it & let it sit there it is suppose to clean the air in a room & take any odor away. I would definately try it in your car. It is inexpensive. Maybe leave on a seat or somewhere safe for an hour or more. Hope it works.
My husband works at a delarship and they have this machine that they put into vehicales over night and it works wonders! I'd call your local shops and see if they have anything like that. I am guilty of taking my son and our 2 boys (Chopper and Browning both labs) with me where ever I go. Sometimes I notice my car gets the dog smell, so I put dryer sheets under the seats and I try and shampoo my car every 6 months. Good luck! That sure is a nasty smell.
place about 10 charcoal bricks in the car and close the windows, let it sit like that for 24-48 hours then remove the charcoal bricks and open the windows, the charcoal should absorb the smell.
Im so sorry that your car got stolen...but you got alot of good responses, but the very 1 that u got that is important is changeing the air/heating filter because the cig smoke gets into the vents and stays into that filter so every time u turn on your heat etc it will blow out of there. And then also take the frebreeze and spay that puppy down, even the top of the roof inside, the floorboards under the seats I mean everything. They make it for cars so grab that one. But once you have changed that filter at least twice you shouldnt have that smell anymore...Good luck to you.
baking soda. first sprinkle baking soda all over the seats and floors. leave on for a least an hour and then vac it up. If you can leave it on overnight that would be even better. They now have the boxes of baking soda that you put in the fridge, it obsorbs odors through the box. Try putting a couple of boxes under your seats. Baking soda works great for absorbing smoke odors without adding additional smells.
Wipe down all the hard surfaces you can (to remove smoke residue) with a good plastic cleaner - especially the drivers wheel. If it has ash trays, clean those out well. If you can wash the carpet and use a wet/dry vac to dry it out, that will help. Spray down the fabric on the seats or anything that is not washable with Fabreeze. Use the ozone machine, and get a box or two of baking soda like they have for the fridge and see if you can leave those in the car where they can't be knocked over to absorb the smells (you can shake it over the carpet and vacuum it up again, too.). It will dissipate over time. My nose is sensitive and I can smell cigarette smoke even from the car driving in front of me if they are hanging it out the window. It's a smell that makes me gag.
