St. Petersburg Honda Dealer Suggests Ways to Get Cigarette Smoke Out of a Car

May 19, 2013

Your St. Petersburg Honda dealer knows that the smell of cigarette smoke can drastically affect the value of a car. If you want to boost your car’s value, or simply make it more pleasurable to drive, try using these tips to get the smell out of your vehicle.

Replace the Ashtray

If a smoker has used the car’s ashtray, then the scent can linger for years. Cleaning the ashtray carefully will reduce the smell, but you can’t get rid of it completely. Your best option is to remove the ashtray. Replace it if you want to fill in the hole, or leave it empty so no one else tries to ash in your car.

Leave the Windows Open… for Several Days

Park your car in a private garage, open the doors, and turn on a fan. With any luck, this will reduce the smell in your car. It might not eliminate the odor, but it can drastically reduce it.

Turn to a Professional

Professional detailers know how hard it is to get smoke out of a car. But they also know a few good tricks that will slowly eliminate that nasty smell.

Don’t expect immediate results. The detailer will probably need several sessions with the car before he can get rid of the bad smell.

Use a Carpet Washer on the Upholstery

Upholstery holds the smell of cigarette smoke for years. You might not know what that gross scent is, but it’s something stale and undesirable.

Treat your upholster just like you would heavily soiled carpet. Start by using spray carpet cleaners. Let the cleaner sit for a while before wiping it up.

It that doesn’t work, rent a carpet cleaner that has a portable handle. Use the handle to scrub every inch of your car’s fabric. If that doesn’t help, nothing will.

Cover it Up

The smell might be there forever, but you can at least try to cover it up. Forget air fresheners. They often smell just as bad as the smoke. Try a natural approach that will fill the car with pleasant scents. Lemon, potpourri, and mint all work well. You could even try basil or something with a very strong smell, like coffee beans.

Change the Air Filter

Change the car’s air filter as soon as possible. It probably contains carcinogens, tobacco flakes, and other stinky items that will keep your car smelling. The sooner you get rid of that nasty filter, the sooner your car can start to purge itself of the cigarette smoke.