Desmoking my truck

AspenF150

rotary dude
As a fellow smoker, I always smoked in my truck. I really like my truck and want to get rid of the smell. I smoked in my truck for 2.5 years and I feel it's time to stop smoking in my truck. I was inspired by this yesterday by my brother in law. He owns a 2003 F150 Supercrew and does not allow smoking in his truck. He always keeps the windows closed regardless whenever he is not using his truck and to this day since he bought the truck new, his truck maintains that "new car smell"

For starters, I want to give my interior a good through vaccuming with the shop vac, wipe down the dashboard and other vinyl areas with my 1z Cockpit Premium. Then follow with a few spritz of Febreeze. Also, I would like to get rid of the smoke smell in my A/C. Sometime ago, a friend of mine told to try Meguiars Odor Eliminator of the consumer linethis stuff and spray it down the intake vent outside the truck where the windsheild is. Will this help just cover up the smell or really eliminate it?? If you think there is something else I should try, please feel free to suggest so.

On a side note, I've read about ozone treatments and found these to be out of my budget. Thanks,,,,,98
 
To start you need so vac everything, look under the dash and do your best to get all the ash and dust out that is possible, under tthe seats be anal about it is the best thing that I can say. Then clean all surfaces with a good APC cleaner, try to keep a clean towel, the head liner is important. If its a cloth one then I use a soft terry towel and some APC sprayed on the cloth the wipe the headliner down there is a lot of smoke smell in that.....Then online you can buy smoke defoggers for the cab, this will help allot to get rid of the smell...........For the vents I use Lysol...spray into the vents up at the windshield as well in the AC vents on the dash.....run the air threw on reticulate spraying a bit more in the vents up at the windshield, a little a time this will clean the vents out and bring back a much fresher smell to the air.......I would also check the AC filter and replace that........After any decent conditioner for the car should do.......Oh and for your ash tray......load that baby up with APC and water and let set for an hour or so, then rinse and use a brush to remove anything that in it......I like to clean the windows with water and white vinegar to start this cuts the smoke film then finish with a good glass cleaner.
 
Thanks BeemerBoy, I went ahead and vaccumed the interior with my shop vac, proceeded to clean the vinyl areas with some of my APC diluted 4:1. Funny thing is, I never realized how dirty my vinyl was until I actually started cleaning it, yikes!! I then sprayed down the A/C with some Aerosol Lysol. I ran it on both A/C and then Max A/C for alittle while and I think this really helped it.

My truck still does smell like cleaners but today it is getting better and it is wearing off. I went to try and find out how to replace the cabin air filter and interesting I find that my truck is not equipped with a cabin air filter. The truck is smelling alot better and already staying alot cleaner which makes me feel better and I am very pleased that I did this. Thanks for the help,,,,,,98
 
Repeat the process on the vents after a few days and keep cleaning the vinyl that should take quite a lot more out...Then you should start to see the difference soon.
 
Thanks again BeemerBoy, I was not liking the smell of my APC just lurking in there so I sprayed some Febreeze and that seemed to help. My truck is already smelling alot better. I will do my best to keep the truck clean and hopefully rid of any evidence of smoke smell. I know it will never be perfect but I can only do what I can. Thanks,,,,98

Edit: What is the best way to rinse carpeting after cleaning with APC? I might have used too much product and something is telling me I did not rinse properly enough,,,,,98
 
:hurl

Hey all,
I cleaned & detailed my brothers girlfriends stationwagon last weekend. She was a smoker & the owner of 2 dogs (border collie & golden retriever!!!).

In the 5 years she's owned the car she never cleaned, washed or vacuumed the interior...

She wants to sell the car & asked if I could help her out with a "quick" cleanup...

I was happy to help out, but quick turned into a 6 hour job. The car reeked of smoke & mouldy dog.

Washed & vac'ed the carpet, used diluted simple green to clean the vinyl. Then used Einszed Plastic cleaner & cockpit for the vinyl finish. Stoners IG for the glass. Allowed the interior to dry for a bit while I did the engine & exterior which I have maintained for her since January.

Last thing I sprayed on all the carpet, headliner & cloth seats liberally & as evenly as i could was Meguiars odour eliminator. Brilliant & underrated product!!! I also, cut up an apple into a few pieces, put on a rear seat closed the doors & left it overnight.

The next day, it smelt brilliantly, a slight fresh apple scent but otherwise like that "new car smell" as my brother & folks said!!! I couldn't smell a thing as I was all blocked up from cleaning all that doggie & smoke crud the night before. Dang, I hate that...

In a long winded way all I wanted to say was you can get rid of any smell from a car with a bit of time & elbow grease...

BTW, she had no problems selling her car... And all I got was a cheeseburger!


:rolling
 
BTW, she had no problems selling her car... And all I got was a cheeseburger!

I hope it was at least a Wendy's Triple for all that work!! :cool
 
You'll never get the smell completely out. I have did so many cars and like other said ozone is the best way to remove the odor, not just cover it up.
 
Re: De smoking my truck

RE: Ozone --------

I beg to differ. The product I mentioned WILL remove all traces of smoke and a great deal more.

I have nothing to gain here, I'm just offering some advice in an area where I can speak with some expertise.

Once again, I don't sell the product or have connections with anyone that does. I buy it retail like anyone else would. I thought that those owning their own business might like some insight to a product that actually does what it claims. Nuff said.
 
Beemerboy said it best. On top of all that I would like to add the following:

Ozone is in the earth's atmosphere, naturally. It's nature's deodorizer. Leaving your windows open or cracked as much as possible WILL OVER TIME get the smoke smell out of your truck. Sure, a ozone generator will do the trick and a lot faster, but like you said, it's not in your budget. It's not in mine either.

Let mother nature do it's thing on your interior. Leave those windows down as much as you can!
 
98Rangermike said:
As a fellow smoker, I always smoked in my truck. I really like my truck and want to get rid of the smell. I smoked in my truck for 2.5 years and I feel it's time to stop smoking in my truck. I was inspired by this yesterday by my brother in law. He owns a 2003 F150 Supercrew and does not allow smoking in his truck. He always keeps the windows closed regardless whenever he is not using his truck and to this day since he bought the truck new, his truck maintains that "new car smell"
For starters, I want to give my interior a good through vaccuming with the shop vac, wipe down the dashboard and other vinyl areas with my 1z Cockpit Premium. Then follow with a few spritz of Febreeze. Also, I would like to get rid of the smoke smell in my A/C. Sometime ago, a friend of mine told to try Meguiars Odor Eliminator of the consumer

I know this in a bit late, but if you haven't shampooed the carpets yet, that a good weekend job, helps if you can remove the seats to do it. Also don't forget the headliner and the seats (back of the seats too while you have them out of the truck).

And while you have the seats out, get into the blower housing for the vents and clean out the fan box, fan blades as well. That helps a lot.
 
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