What gets cigarette smoke odor out of car upholstery?

[Snoozan]

My son just bought 1998 Civic in great condition - except for one thing. The previous owner was a smoker - YUCKY! However, it was too good a deal to pass up.

Any suggestions on what takes out the odor of smoke from car upholstery?

 

[workinggal]

Have you tried Febreez? If that doesn't work, get it professionally detailed. They might be able to get it out.

 

[aprilgail2]

You may have to have it professionally done. My father was a smoker and he smoked in his car...it took almost 3 years for the smoker stink to get out of the cloth seats and car after he died. We would leavethe windows open all the time so it wouldn't knock us out when we opened up a closed up car! It took along time until our house didn't smell like smoke too, it was in the couches...everywhere....we painted all the ceilings white again to get rid of the yellow from the smoke on the ceiling....uggg...I miss my dad terribly but I don't miss the smoke stink!!

 

[gallaj0]

Rent an ozone generator; you may be able to find one at a regular rental place, or mabye try a professional cleaning company like Servicemaster. These are the machines hotels use to remove smells from rooms, including smoke smells.
You can't be in the car while it's full of ozone, so you put it in, plug it into an extension cord, roll up the windows, and leave it for a couple of hours.

 

[Jeanny]

febreeze it until you can get it detailed... they should have some strong shampoo to clean it out

 

[Snoozan]

Any other suggestions from the Friday morning crowd?!?

Thanks for the suggestions so far. I'll probably start with the Febreeze for the seats and rugs and go from there.

 

[FroggyinArk]

you could always try and cover up teh ciggarrette smoke by spraying in some of that really obnoxious 2.50 a gallon perfume stuff,, or maybe t ry smoking a few cigars or a pipe in there,, if none of those work,, you miught try locking a cat inside with out a litter box,, just a few suggestions




















now seriously,, the febreeze will help, use it daily for a week or so and dont forget to spray the headliner,, the oder is worse there than in the seats, and if hte nieghbor hood is safe for itmm leave the windows open for a few hours ever y day till its better

 

[tw1nsmom]

Baking soda sprinkled on the seats and then vaccuumed?

 

[MAC3]

I use Resolve. It take a few times but I always get compliments on how good my car smells. Although it's never been smoked in.

 

[grinningghost]

Nothing would get the smoke out of MIL's car. It reeks so bad. The windows are permanently tinted yellow from the smoke. Ugh.

Good luck to you.

 

[MICKEY88]

go to an automotive parts store, and buy upholstery cleaner and carpet cleaner..spray those on. let it sit then vaccum out..also febreeze after that..it should get rid of the smell..also buy a good automotive window cleaner, more expensive than windex..but also works much better....

 

[MICKEY88]

Originally posted by grinningghost
Nothing would get the smoke out of MIL's car. It reeks so bad. The windows are permanently tinted yellow from the smoke. Ugh.

Good luck to you.

I'd try a good auto window cleaner..my father was a heavy smoker and I cleaned his car windows with an auto cleaner and they were perfect..