How to Remove the Cigarette Smoke Smell From a Car

Removing nicotine residue in your car will remove the cigarette smoke odors.

The smell of cigarettes is unpleasant to nonsmokers. If you purchase a car from a smoker, you want to remove the odor left behind from cigarettes before you drive your family on an outing. Air fresheners will not do the trick; they just mask the odor. To rid the car of the cigarette smoke smell, you need to efficiently remove the remnants of nicotine from your car.

Things You'll Need

• 1 cup white vinegar
• 2 cups warm water
• 14 cups baking soda
• Plastic spray bottle
• Paper towels
• Cotton swab
• Kitchen sponges
• Upholstery cleaner
• Carpet cleaner
• Mild detergent
• Water
• Leather conditioner

Instructions

1. Mix the vinegar, warm water and baking soda together; it will fizz. Pour the mixture into a plastic spray bottle.

2. Open at least one of the car doors for fresh air.

3. Spray the cleaning solution onto the car's interior windows; wipe clean with paper towels. Clean the vents with a cotton swab that has been dipped in the solution.

4. Clean the remainder of the interior with the solution, excluding any carpet, leather and fabric; wipe clean with a kitchen sponge.

5. Apply upholstery cleaner to all areas that are cloth; allow to dry before vacuuming.

6. Clean all carpeted areas of the car with carpet cleaner.

7. Wipe down leather seats with a small amount of mild detergent mixed with warm water; allow to air dry.

8. Apply a leather conditioner to the dashboard and leather or vinyl seats to make your car smell new.

Tips & Warnings

• Change the car's cabin filter to completely rid of the cigarette smoke smell from the vehicle. Consult your vehicle's owner's manual to find out where the cabin filter is located on your make and model of car.

References

• HealthGuidance: How to Get Rid of Cigarette Smell