Tips on getting smoke/cig smell out of car

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Dorian

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Hey All, I recently bought a 2018 4runner used that was smoked in for 6 months. I can't quite kick the cigarette smell and am looking for any advice here. Here is what I have done so far:
-Vacuumed entire car
-Removed center console and vacuumed and cleaned here
-Blew out hvac system with compressor + replaced cabin filter
-Shampooed carpets
-Wiped down headliner with 50/50 water vinger twice
-used leather conditioner and cleaner on seats
-Sprayed and wiped down rubber floor mats with soap and water
-Used ozone generator 4 different sessions for 1 to 2 hours each time (with the AC/heater cycle as well).
Anyone else have any ideas or tips/tricks?
 
Make SURE that there is not a cigarette butt or a pile of dip tobacco hidden somewhere. That has been my experience if ozone won't take care of it.

Dakota and Meguiar's bombs are helpful.
 
I used a Dakota Bomb (New Car Smell) on a car I did that had cigar odor lingering. It worked well, but the smell the bomb left wasn't much more pleasant than the cigar smoke. I'm going to try it again when I need to, but I'm going to get another fragrance.
 
You should try one of the real industrial solutions. The good products are all around $20-25 per and they're all chlorine based. Those Dakota bombs are the equivalent of using Glade.
 
CarPro so2pure will work and not leave any foul orders. We’ve had enormous success with so2Pure. We’ve treated smokers cars and one where a woman’s cat passed away whilst on her way to vet, and urinated on back seat.

All have reported after 6 month check-in that there was no smell.

CarPro So2Pure Air Purifying Coating 120 ml.

“The science behind So2Pure is incredible. So2Pure is based on the latest photo catalyst nano technology. In the presence of light, So2Pure forms active oxygen on treated surfaces that destroys all micro-sized air pollutants that land on it. So2Pure is literally an odor-fighting coating for your car's interior.

So2Pure totally decomposes the microscopic remnants of the odor molecules and releases them into harmless gas and water vapor. So2Pure works on any odor, including odors caused by smoke, tobacco, gas fumes, diesel, smog, allergens, chemical off-gassing from plastics, and more.”


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Odoban is a great product. Given all you've done, I'd mix it up and wet the fabrics and let them dry. Spray the headliner, carpet and cloth seats if appropriate. Personally I'd shampoo with it and call it a day but you may not want to go over it again.
 
I bought an Explorer that the previous owner was easily a chain smoker. After all the cleaning, still smelled like an ashtray. Believe it or not, I put 2 open plastic bowls of Arm & Hammer Baking soda in the SUV, the $1 yellow box. Put the 2 bowls on the rear floor mats, smell was gone in about a week, think I changed it after 1st week. Surprised me, but it works!! To this day, I keep a box of Fridge/Freezer Arm & Hammer under the passenger seat of all my cars, change out every six months, cars never have a smell.
 
Last edited:
KirkH said:
Make SURE that there is not a cigarette butt or a pile of dip tobacco hidden somewhere. That has been my experience if ozone won't take care of it.

Dakota and Meguiar's bombs are helpful.
Click to expand...

You know - I haven't considered the idea that there could be dip tobacco in the car. I am 100% certain that there is no butts or ash in the car unless it's under the carpet somehow. I'm not sure how I would go about tracking down possible dip remanence, I can't identify a source of the smell anymore, it's more like I get whiffs of it or you notice it when you first get in the car after it's been sitting a while.
 
Dorian said:
You know - I haven't considered the idea that there could be dip tobacco in the car. I am 100% certain that there is no butts or ash in the car unless it's under the carpet somehow. I'm not sure how I would go about tracking down possible dip remanence, I can't identify a source of the smell anymore, it's more like I get whiffs of it or you notice it when you first get in the car after it's been sitting a while.
Click to expand...

I had a customer bring me a truck to detail the inside. I knew he didn't smoke, but it smelled like cigarettes. I found some dried dip tobacco spilled between the seats.
 
KirkH said:
I had a customer bring me a truck to detail the inside. I knew he didn't smoke, but it smelled like cigarettes. I found some dried dip tobacco spilled between the seats.
Click to expand...

I'll have to look again this time for the dip tobacco. It wouldn't be so hard if the interior weren't all black of course.
 
LSNAutoDetailing said:
CarPro so2pure will work and not leave any foul orders. We’ve had enormous success with so2Pure. We’ve treated smokers cars and one where a woman’s cat passed away whilst on her way to vet, and urinated on back seat.

All have reported after 6 month check-in that there was no smell.

CarPro So2Pure Air Purifying Coating 120 ml.

“The science behind So2Pure is incredible. So2Pure is based on the latest photo catalyst nano technology. In the presence of light, So2Pure forms active oxygen on treated surfaces that destroys all micro-sized air pollutants that land on it. So2Pure is literally an odor-fighting coating for your car's interior.

So2Pure totally decomposes the microscopic remnants of the odor molecules and releases them into harmless gas and water vapor. So2Pure works on any odor, including odors caused by smoke, tobacco, gas fumes, diesel, smog, allergens, chemical off-gassing from plastics, and more.”


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Click to expand...
Wow! Thanks man! Learning something new everyday. Didn't know this existed!

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Try Biocide. It costs around $25 but really works. It doesn’t just cover up the smells, it chemically kills the odor producing bacteria. It fairly new and patented.
 
Although not a 'smoker problem', a couple 'o years ago I had one heck of a mildew smell in my truck (my fault). I tried a lot of the tried and true methods to get rid of the smell. Nuttin' worked!

I thought I'd give Meguiar's New Car Scent bomb (G-164) a shot. It WORKED! The residual 'bomb smell' lasted for well over 6 months. When that was gone, so was the mildew odor. For $6 or so...give it a try.

Just my 2¢...

Bill
 
rlmccarty2000 said:
Try Biocide. It costs around $25 but really works. It doesn’t just cover up the smells, it chemically kills the odor producing bacteria. It fairly new and patented.
Click to expand...

Can you be more specific? Googling Biocide yields many different results.
 
You should also thoroughly clean all the seatbelts as well. Pull them out as far as they can go and use a large clip to prevent them from retracting back in place while cleaning them. Have you tried using a steamer?


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sudsmobile said:
Can you be more specific? Googling Biocide yields many different results.
Click to expand...

It’s made by Biocide Systems. It’s called the Auto Shocker. It come in its own cup. You tear open the included package and add a measured amount of water which turns it into a gas that gets everywhere in the car. It’s fairly new technology.
 
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