Removing cigarette smoke from interior

**JaCkaL829** · 11-01-2008, 02:21 PM

Hey guys,

My sister got a `new` certified pre-owned Civic about a month ago. It`s in pretty good shape, with low miles, except for the fact that the previous owner smoked in it. I`m just wondering what are some tried and true methods to remove the smell, or at least lessen it? It`s also an older, musty smell. It`s obvious when you get in, but you kind of get use to it once in it.

My plan of attack thus far has been leaving open bowls of Arm and Hammer baking soda in the car for a couple days. Just now I gave the interior plastic a nice, liberal wipedown with woolite/water mixture. I also removed all the AC vents and have them soaking in a dawn mixture, as well as replacing the cabin interior air filters. I tried cleaning the AC ducts as well.

I know the floor mats are new, but the carpeting isn`t. I`m thinking maybe shampoo the seats/carpet with some sort of mixture? That I`m not sure of. I was also thinking wipe down the headliner with the water/woolite mixture. Only tools I really have access to is my wet vac though; no steamer, or extractor.

I`m just curious what kind of mixture should I use for the seats/carpet; and what other things can I do to somewhat neutralize it? My sister doesn`t really mind the smell, but I do especially since nobody in my family smokes, and it`s a nice car.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

**stiffdogg06** · 11-01-2008, 02:50 PM

Odor Bombs

Cigarette Smoke Remover

**Robb** · 11-01-2008, 02:59 PM

I`d go w/ the odor bombs, they worked pretty well. Had a customer bring me a car he just bought that someone had smoked in, odor bomb cleared it so that it was just about unnoticeable

**tibbsonaphone** · 11-01-2008, 03:13 PM

I once lent my car to my dad who smokes heavily, upon return the interior had a noticeable odor. Arm and hammer makes carpet deodorizers that are sprinkled on the carpet prior to vacuuming and Meguiars makes an interior spray called car odor eliminator. I had success ridding my car of smoke smell using those two products. You didn`t mention if any areas have yellow stains from the smoking, but any all purpose cleaner would make them run off.

**tonio5555** · 11-02-2008, 01:34 AM

There`s a great product called Vamoose. You can`t find it in stores but its available online, I think I got if off of Amazon. It works really well, its a special chemical formula that breaks down the decayed smoke particles trapped in the fabrics, if you google it you can read more info. Me and my friends have used it with great results, its not an all purpose odor eliminator its specially designed for tobacco smoke.

**JaCkaL829** · 11-02-2008, 08:08 AM

Originally Posted by stiffdogg06

Odor Bombs

Cigarette Smoke Remover

Originally Posted by Robb

I`d go w/ the odor bombs, they worked pretty well. Had a customer bring me a car he just bought that someone had smoked in, odor bomb cleared it so that it was just about unnoticeable

Does the odor bomb eliminate the smell completely or will it come back after time has passed? Also do you just leave it in the car and it sprays by itself after a set amount of time? I`m looking to order something soon, and the odor bomb looks like it might work.

I`m still to open to other suggestions.

**brwill2005** · 11-02-2008, 08:44 AM

It all depends on how heavy a smoker the person was. Sometimes a thorough interior cleaning and ozone treatment(s) will not even completely remove the smell. At the minimum, some of the things mentioned should help.

**JaCkaL829** · 11-02-2008, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by brwill2005

It all depends on how heavy a smoker the person was. Sometimes a thorough interior cleaning and ozone treatment(s) will not even completely remove the smell. At the minimum, some of the things mentioned should help.

Ya I know it can be quite tricky to completely remove the smell without stripping the entire interior. My sister is content with the car, but I feel obligated to give it a shot using a couple different products.

Looking at the TOL site I think I might pick up some X-O Odor Organic Odor Remover and a Odor Bomb. Hopefully using those two products along with all the carpet/seats being shampoo`d will help with the musty smoky smell.

**imported_Detailing Technology** · 11-02-2008, 09:28 AM

Ozone machine?

**bigfish528** · 11-02-2008, 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by jsatek

Ozone machine?

an ozone generator pretty much kills bacteria, viruses, and mold.

**imported_Detailing Technology** · 11-02-2008, 11:17 AM

I just bought one from eBay today, should see it this week. Ill let you know if it works as I hope.

Sean - if you need to use, come grab mine. 16,000mgph (I wont ship this one to you..)

**salty** · 11-02-2008, 12:19 PM

Clean hard surfaces with APC. Extract seats and carpet with deodorizer mixed in solution. Mist with deodorizer when done.

Most of the smell will be in the headliner. Vacuum well and wet a MF with a good deodorizer, like X-O and wipe the whole headliner, let dry and then do again. They can be extracted with low suction and minimal wetting. But do so at your own risk. Personally never had any problems.

If you use the odor bombs as a total release you may run into some problems down the road and also have to live with an overpowering smell. They are usually made for 5,000 cu. feet not 50. The main ingredients are a mix of solvents and some of the fragrances they use are terrible. I use about a 3 second spray and then close the doors for an hour. Then do again if possible.

Ozone is an powerful oxidizer. It should be used after you clean and dry the car (less smell to oxidize). Then use the 3 second spray from the bomb.

**JaCkaL829** · 11-02-2008, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by salty

Clean hard surfaces with APC. Extract seats and carpet with deodorizer mixed in solution. Mist with deodorizer when done.

Most of the smell will be in the headliner. Vacuum well and wet a MF with a good deodorizer, like X-O and wipe the whole headliner, let dry and then do again. They can be extracted with low suction and minimal wetting. But do so at your own risk. Personally never had any problems.

If you use the odor bombs as a total release you may run into some problems down the road and also have to live with an overpowering smell. They are usually made for 5,000 cu. feet not 50. The main ingredients are a mix of solvents and some of the fragrances they use are terrible. I use about a 3 second spray and then close the doors for an hour. Then do again if possible.

Ozone is an powerful oxidizer. It should be used after you clean and dry the car (less smell to oxidize). Then use the 3 second spray from the bomb.

Unfortunately I don`t have access to an extractor. What I did today was shampoo all the carpet and seats with Turtle Wax Oxy Power Power Out, then wet vac the remains out. I was going to do the headliner with Woolite/water, but maybe I`ll hold off for X-O. Aside from the X-O, what else should I pick up from TOL?

I have no idea how the odor bombs work, and your the first person to say something somewhat negative about them. Should I just order the Cigarette Smoke remover?

Right now I want to re-wipe all the plastic down with Woolite/water, and let the car air out with all the doors open.

Please keep the suggestions/advice coming though :xyxthumbs

**ReklessIntent** · 11-02-2008, 01:07 PM

I second the headliner. I remember a vibe coming in that had been previously "cleaned" but the customer still smelt the smoke smell quite heavily. When I saw the headliner I just about threw up... it was BLACK and in the areas that weren`t black it was grey. Either like someone else had mentioned... use a wet MF cloth and some deoderizer or I found a damp chamois and interior cleaner worked quite well to.

My cars are barn cars so my G5 in particular WREAKS of horse at times and my bf is really allergic to them. My car gets steam cleaned regularly with a deoderizer and the headliner wiped down and sprayed regularly as well. Just don`t "soak" the headliner cuz it could drop.

**salty** · 11-03-2008, 12:30 AM

"I have no idea how the odor bombs work, and your the first person to say something somewhat negative about them. Should I just order the Cigarette Smoke remover?"

First off i have not used the Dakota brand odor bomb from TOTL. But most seem to be a knockoff of BigD or manufactured by them. If you read the ingredients they are a mix of solvents and a fragrance. I don`t see any odor remover technology in them. So i think they are a masking agent. Of course i could be wrong.

Those cans work by removing the lid and turning it upside down. They then click in the can top and release their contents, there is a small hole in the cap. You can only give it a short burst, but a lot of times it will spray out the sides.

Years ago i did use a whole can, as they directed, set it in a bowl and total released. The can holds about 3 minutes of spray. Let it sit for a few hours. Opened it up to find the bowl filled with a good amount of liquid and also the headliner, over the can, was dripping wet. The fragrance was overpowering, the New Car = Leather, smelled for months. Smoke smell replaced with something worse.

The only smell that i`ve tried that i don`t mind are citrus = sunburst, smells like Fruit Loops.