Remove Smoke Smell from a Vehicle

When purchasing a used vehicle from a reputable used car dealer in Calgary, you likely won’t have any issues with dirt or foul smells. But stains and smoke smell can be a problem if you find a good deal on a private sale or are looking to sell yourself. It might be easy to deal with stains. However, this might not be the case for the smoke smell.

Determine Where the Smell Comes From

The best way to deal with the smoke smell is to locate where it comes from. Even if your car looks clean, you can still get a whiff of cigarette smoke if it has an ashtray. So, removing the ashtray and cleaning it using hot water and dishwashing soap is best.

What if the smoke smell remains? The next thing you can do is to let the ashtray sit in undiluted distilled white vinegar for a few hours. Then, wash it and allow it to dry before placing it in your car again.

Let Your Car Get Some Fresh Air

You can do this by driving your car on a sunny day. Make sure you open the sunroof, windows, and external air vents so fresh air can come in.

Deep Clean Your Car’s Interior

This means scrubbing, vacuuming, and shampooing the carpet, headliner, crevices, and upholstery. A mild cleaner is recommended if you have a fabric interior and a leather cleaner for leather. You can make your cleaning solution by combining vinegar and two parts water, and transferring them to a spray bottle.

You can use this to clean your dashboard and other parts made of plastic and vinyl. The vinegar will deal with the dirt accumulation and disinfect your vehicle.

Using Natural Smell Absorbers

You can use organic odour absorbers if vacuuming and cleaning don’t work. Baking soda or coffee grounds can work as effective odour absorbers. Leave it in a bowl in your car overnight, which should help reduce any lingering smells.

Steaming

Before using a steamer, it’s essential to check your car’s manual to see if it will work on carpets and fabric. You can use it on your car seats, dashboard, upholstery, floor mats, and headliner. The steam loosens, eliminates dirt, and removes the smoke smell. You can either put your windows down or go for a drive when you dry your car.

Replace Cabin Air Filter

Another quick, more lasting solution to remove odours is replacing old cabin air filters. Many cars come with a cabin air filter for particle filtration. The smoke smell can linger if this hasn’t been changed for a long time. It’s best to refer to your car manual for the location and appropriate cabin air filter replacement.

Consult a Professional

This is your last resort if all else fails. Though it’s more costly, you can be sure that the problem can be dealt with appropriately. Car shops can resolve this because they use industrial products.

Get the Most For Your Trade-In

There are many ways to remove the smoke smell from a car. These tips can help you deal with the problem yourself, which will help improve the value of your vehicle for a trade-in!