Guide to Getting Smoke Smell Out of Your Car

Whether you just bought a used car for a bargain price or took a road trip with a friend who smokes, you’re likely experiencing a familiar problem car owners face – the stale smell of cigarette smoke. Smoke is very aggressive, permeating all the surfaces of the car’s cabin. It lingers on for a very long time, staying on the car’s upholstery, and even on most of the plastic surfaces of the car.

If you are facing the problem of getting rid of the smoke from your car, you might want to contact your local experts at a car detailing service in Del Mar for assistance. However, if you want to go down this road on your own, we have prepared for you all the advice and information you may need.

How can I get smoke smell out of the car?

Removing the smell of smoke from your car may sound tedious, but is necessary in order to make the unpleasant smell disappear.

Upholstery and carpet

The first step to removing smoke smell is a thorough vacuuming of your car’s cabin, especially the upholstery.  Be systematic and don’t overlook any surface. Vacuum under the seats and all the small crevices, including the glove compartment and the trunk where the smell may also linger. During that process, you must air the car to allow fresh air to access the cabin. Airing out your vehicle with the windows down on a clear, breezy day is highly recommended.

Steaming

Sometimes, you may have to steam the whole interior of your car in order to remove the odor. During steaming, keep all the car doors open and, once done, make sure the interior is fully dry before closing the doors. Otherwise, moist seats and carpeting may intensify the smell.

Baking Soda

The next common and easy step includes baking soda, an everyday product that is easily available and a proven and time-tested remedy. Baking soda is known to neutralize smoke odor, and its usage is very simple:

First, sprinkle baking soda all over the upholstery and the carpet, and let it sit for a while; use the vacuum cleaner to clean it from the car. If the smell is still present after being treated with soda, use a smaller amount of soda, sprinkle it around the cabin, or leave an open box of soda overnight to collect the smells.

Leather and trim

Removing the smoke smell from leather requires different care than upholstery and carpets. Smoke can seep quite deep into the surface of leather and trim. You should be persistent and clean such surfaces several times. The basic principle is that in order to remove the smell, you must use cleaners made specifically for such surfaces. They will eventually prove much more effective than any other products and will not damage the leather.

Odor eliminator

Time to get rid of air fresheners and clip-on diffusers. These types of products may make your vehicle smelling fresh, but they don’t neutralize the odor from everyday drives. Outside smells, food, or cigarette smoke are all odors that build up over time in your ride. Instead, try Ozium or a similar product without harmful chemicals to eliminate the odors.

How long does it take to get smoke smell out of car?

First of all, you must be aware that patience is key. This process may take weeks, or even months. You may not obtain the desired results in one or a few tries. So regardless of how hopeless the task may look when you realize after several thorough washes of your car that the smoke smell still lingers, don’t give up! You should follow the advice, be persistent, and you’ll soon see the results of your efforts.

We are the leading car detailing service in Del Mar & the vicinity

If you’ve decided to give your car some proper attention and give it a lasting freshness, reach out to our team. We’ve got a few tricks up our sleeve to get all the bad smells ad pet hair out of your ride.

Whether it’s at your office near the Del Mar Fairgrounds or your home somewhere in the La Jolla area, rest assured we’ll be there in no time. Schedule our service via email, text, or through our easy-to-use booking platform. At La Jolla Mobile Car Detail, we always bring our A-game. Get in touch today!