Whether you smoke in your car or buy a used car from a smoker, cigarette smoke can leave a lingering odour. Smoke permeates all car surfaces, including upholstery, carpets, hardsurfaces, and even the HVAC system, making it hard to remove. This not only makes the car unpleasant to travel in but can also lower its resale value.
However, with a thorough and effective cleaning process, you can restore a fresh smell to your vehicle. This guide will walk you through the steps to eliminate cigarette odours and share top tips for keeping your car smelling like new.
Remove All Traces of Cigarettes
The first step to remove any lingering cigarette smells from your car is to remove all traces of cigarettes. This means cleaning out any old cigarette packets and buttsthat may be lurking in your vehicle. Remember to check under seats and down door and seat pockets where cigarette butts and other small bits of rubbish can get left behind.
You should also remove any clothes, loose items, or rubbish, like tissues or discarded foodpackets,thatmayharbourcigarettesmells.Disposeofanyrubbishandcleanany other items before returning them to your vehicle.
Cleaning Carpets and Seats
The next step to get your car smelling fresh is to tackle the carpets and seats, asthey retain the most odours, including cigarette smoke.
To ensure a thorough clean, follow our step-by-step guide :
- Vacuum the up holstery through out the vehicle, paying attention to nooks and crannies where cigarette ash may get trapped.
- Sprinkle baking soda overall fabric surfaces in the vehicle – this is an important step as baking soda naturally neutralises odours.
- Leave the baking soda to set in for several hours, ideally
- At this point, you should notice an improvement in its smell.
- Spray the interior, seats, carpets, floor mats, door panels, and rooflining witha fabric deodoriser containing enzymes, which will work to break down any remaining odours.
Cleaning the Windows
Once you have thoroughly removed the smell of cigarette smoke from your car’s up holstery, it’s time to tackle your windows.
When people smoke in cars, tar residue sticks to surfaces like the windows, which builds up over time, leaving a brown film. Not only is this unsightly, but it can also obstruct your view, so it’s important to clean your windows regularly.
To clean tar residue from car windows, you can eitheruseapre-mixedglass cleaning solution or make your own cleaner by mixing equal parts of vinegar and water.
Spray your chosen solution and leave it for afew minutes to get to work before wipingit clean with a soft microfibre cloth. For really tough tar residue, you may need to repeat this process a few times before the windows look pristine.
Wipe Down All Surfaces
Not only does cigarette smoke infiltrate everything, but micro-sized spots of ash and tar residue get left on surfaces, so it is important to wipe them down.
It’s best to use warm, soapy water and a clean microfibre cloth to wipe overall your interior surfaces.
Cleaning the HVAC Ducts
The HVAC ducts are one of the areas where cigarette smells can linger and seem impossible to remove. However, it’s relatively easy to get rid of any unpleasant odours from your HVAC ducts using a mould and mildew treatment spray specifically designed for heating systems.
Spray the treatment into the windscreen cowl, located at the base of the windscreen exterior, as this is where the cabin’s fresh air is drawn in, or turn the air conditioning system to recirculate and spray the ventsin the foot well and centre console of the car.
The spray needs to sitfor four to six hours before you get back into your vehicle, so it’s a good idea to do this overnight.
The final step to fully remove cigarette smells from your HVAC system is replacing your cabin air filter.
How to Prevent Smells from Coming Back
The best way to prevent cigarette smells from returning is to stop smoking in your vehicle. But if you do smoke in your car, make sure your window sarefully down before lighting your cigarette to help minimise odours.
To keep your car smelling fresher for longer, you can also :
- Place a scented car air freshener in your vehicle
- Regularly use a pet deodoriser spray to help tackle smoky smells
- Place dry ersheets in your vehicle as when exposed to heat, they release a pleasant fresh scent
Have Your Car Professionally Cleaned
One of the best ways to rid your car of cigarette smoke smells is to let expert detailers methodically clean your vehicle. Having your car professionally serviced provides a more thorough clean as they have a range of specific tools and products that can help remove internal odours at the source and leave your car smelling like new.
As Australia’s leading 100% hand car wash & detailing provider, Star Car Wash can help you get lingering odours and unpleasant smells, like cigarette smoke, from your vehicle.
Since 2003, our expert team has cleaned and detailed thousands of cars, using industry-leading techniques to help restore them to like-new condition.
We have location sinall major shopping centres across Australia, meaning you can shop, catch up with friends, or even watch a movie while your vehicle is lovingly restored.
Book online today or visit your nearest Star Car Wash branch.
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Contact any participating Star Car Wash today and experience the difference a professional detailing makes.
