If your car smells like cigarette smoke, it doesn’t have to stay that way. While it can take some time to remove the smell of smoke, a fresh-smelling car is well worth it, both for yourself and your passengers.
How to Get Cigarette Smell Out of Car
Whether you’re trying to get cigarette smoke or another odor out of your vehicle, the process for getting rid of the bad smell is largely the same. As long as you follow a few key steps, you should be able to significantly reduce, if not eliminate, the smell of smoke in your vehicle. Learn more about how to get a smoke smell out of your car below:
1. Remove Any Odor Trapping Materials
Before you start cleaning your vehicle, take out any materials that could trap odor. For example, you’ll want to remove trash, clothes, and ashtrays from the vehicle, as they can all contribute to a smoke smell. You’ll also want to remove any floor mats or seat covers, cleaning them with soap and water. Wait to put floor mats or seat covers back inside your vehicle until they’ve dried and you’re done with the rest of the cleaning process.
2. Vacuum Upholstery and Carpet
With your car cleared of odor-trapping materials, use a vacuum on your vehicle’s upholstery and carpet. While vacuuming, you’ll want to make sure to vacuum up any ash that could be hiding in between crevices or under your seats.
3. Scrub Soft Surfaces
Next, you’ll need to scrub your seats and carpets with a cleaner designed for use in your vehicle. Follow the directions on your cleaner and scrub your seats and carpet with it to get the smell out of them. If you have a leather interior, you’ll need to use a cleaner specifically designed for leather to avoid damaging it. Don’t forget to scrub your seatbelts, as they can also trap odors.
4. Clean Hard Surfaces
After you’ve scrubbed soft surfaces, you can start cleaning hard surfaces, such as your rearview mirror, center console, cup holders, dashboard, and steering wheel. Since smoke can leave a film on these surfaces, a cleaning product with degreasing qualities tends to be the most effective at removing smoke grime.
5. Sprinkle Baking Soda on Soft Surfaces
Once you’re done vacuuming and cleaning surfaces, sprinkle baking soda on your vehicle’s upholstery, carpet, and other soft surfaces. The baking soda will help capture the smoke smell and neutralize the odor. Let the baking soda sit overnight to capture as much odor as possible.
6. Vacuum the Baking Soda
After letting the baking soda sit for a night, you can vacuum it up the next morning. If you still notice a smoke smell, you can reapply baking soda and let it sit for another day before you vacuum it again.
7. Replace Your Cabin’s Air Filter
Your cabin’s air filter traps dirt, debris, and odors. If you haven’t replaced it recently, it could have trapped some of the smoke smell inside it. Replacing it with a new filter can assist with reducing a smoke smell, and a new filter can help your car’s HVAC system run more efficiently!
For everything you need to know about air filters, including how often they should be replaced, check out our helpful guide.
8. Schedule an Interior Detailing Appointment
If you can’t get the smell out of your vehicle alone or simply don’t have the time to deep clean your vehicle, you’ll want to take your vehicle to an auto shop. At an auto shop, they can provide interior detailing services to eliminate even the most stubborn smoke smells.
Choose Chapel Hill Tire for Car Odor Removal Services in Raleigh, Durham, and Chapell Hill
If you’re looking for vehicle smoke removal services in Durham, Chapell Hill, Raleigh, or the surrounding Triangle area, turn to Chapel Hill Tire. We offer car wash and detailing services that can help remove a smoke smell from your vehicle. Bring your vehicle in for an appointment (no need to pre-clean or tidy up!), and we’ll get to work eliminating any smoke smells in your vehicle.
We also recommend checking out our coupons to see how much you can save! Learn more about our interior detailing services today. If you’re ready to bring your vehicle in for detailing, please make an appointment at one of our convenient locations in the Triangle area.