Smoker's Car Booked

[GenesisCoupe]

Look at the 1z product I showed you its a type of bomb. You run the air conditioner for 5 min and it goes through everything and its water base.$15

Pretty much like the Dakota Bomb available at AG- $10. I had a really good turnout with smoke smell after two of them on two seperate days. Smoke 90% gone forever.

 

[Pureshine]

This seems it will only take car of the AC system, which is good but I am sure you need to apply other odor removers on the interior surfaces? This is not a cure all product but another step. Seems quite expensive as well just for one use?

It goes through the whole car and 15$ to get rid of smoke is not bad but up to you. Smoke is not easy to get rid of.

 

[GenesisCoupe]

This seems it will only take car of the AC system, which is good but I am sure you need to apply other odor removers on the interior surfaces? This is not a cure all product but another step. Seems quite expensive as well just for one use?

You will be surprised at how much of the odor is in the vents and such. I'd recommend that your customer changes the cabin air filter asap as well; it will help a ton!

 

[Hoytman]

Lots of good suggestions from folks.

I would clean the interior just like I would any other car, then that's where all the above suggestions and I part ways. You folks are correct though, the usual cleaning chemicals will not rid the car of the smoke smell.

I have my own way to handle odors like this, but it takes far too much time for it to work. For many of you detailers it simply isn't practical for the customer, or the detailer, to have a car that long. That's the only caveat to what I'd do...time. That makes products like DrivePur (sp?) and ozone much more practical for the detailer.

 

[T0RCH3D]

When using these Dakota bombs or 1Z cleaner would you use these as a last step procedure or prior to cleaning any of the car surfaces. I would imagine you would use these method at the end before handing the car over. If so how strong is the after smell initially?

As of right now my plan of attack is this (criticism and advice welcome):

Receive the car Friday night:
1. Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet, dash, cloth seats, upholstry, etc.
2. Spray So2Pure and let it sit overnight.

Next morning:
3. Starting with the headliner and working my way down clean all surfaces with Meg's APC+
4. Vacuum upholstery.
5. Use 1Z Einszett Klima Cleaner.
6. Treat all surfaces with CarPro PERL
7. Clean Windows.
8. Re-apply So2Pure in cabin.

When the customer arrives inform them on the steps taken on the vehicle and recommend they change out their cabin filter or if they would like me to do it they could bring the vehicle back.

 

[GenesisCoupe]

Look at that link of the CLS550 I posted earlier, it shows my steps and products. It was a heavy smoked car too, all 31k miles of it. The headliner is where most of it is at since smoke travels up so be gentle but do it good (horsehair brush from AG worked great). At the end of day 1 I did one Dakota bomb and at the end of day 2 I used the other. The scent is pretty strong especially after ur second time so let it sit for an hour before giving it away. U can advise the customer to have the air on to help with the scent.

 

[T0RCH3D]

I read through the thread you linked, was a good read and helped with forming my method of attack. I think I am sold on the 1Z product as it almost flushes the AC system, which is good any way you look at it. my only question really is when to use it! Id imagine after cleaning has commenced and not before...

 

[primo spaghetti]

M questions are is this safe? And is this method effective? What is chlorine dioxide gas and where would I find this?

Ive used it with no problems, but is it safe...who knows. it is a gas after all...check some MSDS for it. like anything, it could cause cancer down the road I'm sure just like the beer or coffee or red meat i eat.

you will not believe the difference these products make. and cheap enough to try once. read the instructions on the auto vaccine website and they include everything here from cleaning first, changing air filter, run heater on recirc etc. but interestingly enough it says DO NOT RUN ON AC cycle.

 

[Love's Auto]

Correct. Done right anything is possible. But what does that involve? Tearing apart every interior piece and cleaning and wiping every inch? My girlfriend has the nose that'll sniff out the smallest bit of smoke odor. I don't think conventional methods of cleaning will remove ALL smoke odor.

I don't expect your results to be on the same level as mine. I have been a professional for 16+ years and believe me when I say you can remove 100% of the smell because you can. You just don't know what chemicals to use or how to remove interior air filters. Back to the drawing board and don't give up so easily.

 

[GenesisCoupe]

I read through the thread you linked, was a good read and helped with forming my method of attack. I think I am sold on the 1Z product as it almost flushes the AC system, which is good any way you look at it. my only question really is when to use it! Id imagine after cleaning has commenced and not before...

yes, after you clean the entire inside