How to Remove Cigarette Odor From Cars

Smoking in your vehicle can cause your car to smell like an ashtray.

Cigarette smoking can cause heart problems, cancer, emphysema and a variety of other health problems. Smoking is also an expensive habit with the price of cigarettes rising every few months. Cigarettes stink, quite literally. If someone smokes in his or her vehicle, getting into that car can feel like riding around in an ashtray on wheels. Cigarette smoke permeates every porous surface in a car, even plastic. If you have recently quit smoking or purchased a car from a smoker, follow these steps to get rid of the offensive smell for good.

Things You'll Need

• Vacuum
• Upholstery cleaner
• Carpet cleaner
• Glass cleaner
• Paper towels
• Interior auto cleaner (such as Armorall)
• Activated charcoal
• Baking soda
• Dryer sheets
• Vinegar
• Bowls

Instructions

1. Vacuum the car to remove ashes. Clean the car upholstery and carpet with upholstery and carpet cleaners. Allow the seats and carpet to dry completely.

2. Spray the inside of all of the windows with glass cleaner, and wipe well with paper towels. You may need to clean the windows more than once to remove the smoke residue and nicotine.

3. Spray all of the hard surfaces in the car with interior auto cleaner, and wipe well with paper towels. If the car has an ashtray, remove the ashtray and clean thoroughly. Fill it with activated charcoal and replace. The charcoal with help to absorb any lingering odors.

4. Sprinkle the carpets with baking soda and let sit for a day or two. Vacuum thoroughly.

5. Place dryer sheets under the seats to eliminate lingering cigarette odors.

6. Pour vinegar in two bowls, and set them one on the floor in the front seat and one on the floor in the backseat. Vinegar will help to neutralize residual cigarette odor. Only use the vinegar method when the car is parked since driving will cause spills.

7. Air out the car by leaving the windows down when weather permits.

Tips & Warnings

• Use leather cleaner on leather seats.

References

• Edmunds Car Space: How to Remove Cigarette Odor From Your Vehicle
• I Love India: How To Eliminate Cigarette Odor
• 1st Class Cleaning: How to Remove Stale Cigarette Odor