How can you get rid of the smell of cigerettes?
 

Just bought a 2nd hand Focus. Clearly the former owner was the original Fag Ash Lil!! :brickwall :brickwall :brickwall

I've tried using Fabreeze on the seats and headlining but the smell is still there.

Short of leaving the windows open until Christmas, has anyone any ideas how to remove the smell?

TIA

you can get antifagniff car air fresheners :D

Wash out the ashtrays:) put some sheets of bounce into crevices and ashtrays. My car was a smokers car, took about 12 months to dissipate after a major washdown.

Stu,

Already done the washing of the ashtrays etc. May stick'em in the dishwasher when the other half isn't looking ;)

12 months to get rid of the smell :eek: :eek:. I'd would've shifted it on by then :D :D

The fabric softener tumble dryer sheets are a good idea though Ed, fold them up and put them in the ashtray.:) It is a very hard task though, I gave up on a piece of furniture I inherited and passed it on as it always lingered when the doors were closed.

I had to get my car professionally shampooed to get the smell and tar stains out. With a full valet it only cost £60 which i thought was reasonable. I would try a good quality interior shampoo like Auto Glym first though.
The ash tray got left in the dishwasher for about a week and that worked.

Need to shampoo carpets/mats, clean headlining as much as possible - its a difficult task getting rid of the fag smell

Ed,

have you cleaned the roof lining and interior properly? And I mean everything and properly. All plastics, glass, seats, carpets, mats, parcel shelf, boot carpet, the lot.

Take the seats out to do it properly, also the vents. It'll be a weekend job but only way to get rid of quickly. I use the Autoglym fabric cleaner if working by hand or the Megs APC through the vax. Then followed up by Autoglym Autofresh. There are other stronger fresheners out there though if it's that bad. Have a look on Autobritedirect.com / .co.uk. You'll probably need to reapply the Autofresh for a couple of days. Shout if you want to borrow the vax :thumb:

Matt.

IIRC you can get air bomb canisters to clear out the vent system too ?

I know the used to be available. Not sure where you'd get them from now. Another range of products to look at is tha Autosmart stuff.

Thanks for all the advice. I'll give it a try

I'm also thinking of speaking to the neighbour who's a Swissvax approved valetor, see if he's prepared to do a 'mates rates' job as he can use our water & electricty etc.

As I had a bit of a result on the cost of the car, I'm happy to pay to getting it smelling nice :)

Eddy, sure someone asked this ages ago in General and a few people raved about using white vinegar, putting it in two open container's, such as a Tupperware pot (large opening - fnar fnar) and leaving it in the car for 24hrs or so with all windows and doors shut, one front and one back.

Do a search on the web, I was going to do it on my old car before I sold it but didn't get time as was a last minute thing with the new one!

It's supposed to break down the smell and should be gone for good........

Either that or start smoking :lol1:

Quick search on Google threw these up....

http://www.howtodothings.com/home-an...ette-odor.html

http://www.ehow.com/how_155813_remov...tte-odors.html

https://www.scoobynet.com/non-scooby...rom-a-car.html

If he does real "mates rates" grab it. Swissvax prices aren't cheap.

Have heard of the vinegar method as well. Never tried it though as knowing my luck the vinegar would spill onto the seats and then I'd have a whole new nasty odour to deal with :lol1:

Once valeted plenty of febreez and ouze plenty of magic trees do this after interior has been wet vacd tho.

Place a large dish of vinegar on the floor. Put a towel or cloth in it and make sure it is soaked through thoroughly. Open all ashtrays, pockets etc and put the heater controls on re-circ and close all air vents.
Leave the car overnight or 2 nights if you can with the windows firmly up and the fag smell will be gone. The vinegar smell will disappear quickly too

FWIW, I managed to get an air bomb from a guy who supplies the trade with valeting stuff. Wasn't cheap (i.e £10), but two bursts of that seems to have done the trick :)