How to Get Rid of Smoke Smell in a Car: A Step-By-Step Guide
If your ride smells like an ashtray, Creative Colors International has a step-by-step guide on how to get rid of the smoke smell in cars and help you know when it’s time to call in the professionals.
Buying a used car can give you more bang for your buck. Used car buyers pay lower sticker prices, less on insurance, smaller registration fees, and fewer taxes. Another bonus of buying a used car is the bulk of its depreciation has already occurred. A new car starts to lose its value the minute you drive it off the dealer’s lot and can depreciate up to 20% by the end of the first year.
While buying used may sound like a no-brainer, there are some drawbacks to buying a pre-owned vehicle. One of the biggest disadvantages is the previous owner, especially if they were a smoker. There’s nothing worse than cigarette smell in a car. Catching a whiff of stale tobacco each time you open your car door may make you start to wish you’d bought your vehicle right off the manufacturing line.
Odor Removal 101
Car aficionados have a variety of tips to remove the smoke smell from a car. They recommend wiping the vehicle interior down with dryer sheets to get rid of the smell. Others suggest leaving a bowl of coffee grounds in your car to neutralize odors. If you’ve already tried airing out your vehicle and the cigarette smell is no match for air fresheners, there are other options.
To help squash out the smell of cigarette smoke in your car, CCI put together a guide with some steps to take on your own before you call the professionals.
- Vacuum. Use a high-powered vacuum to thoroughly clean your car’s carpet and upholstery. Pay special attention to all the nooks and crannies where cigarette ash could be hiding.
- Apply Deodorizer. Baking soda is an all-natural, inexpensive deodorizer. Sprinkle baking soda liberally on the seats and carpet. Let it go to work for at least two hours, and then vacuum it up.
- Replace Air Filters. Old air conditioning systems can trap the smell of cigarettes in your car. Take a few minutes to replace the air filters to eliminate smoke odors coming from air vents.
- Call CCI. If you followed the first three steps and your car still smells, it’s time to call a CCI technician to request a free quote.
Keep in mind that leather vehicle seats are not immune to odors. Leather can also absorb the smell of cigarette smoke. Getting rid of the smell in leather car seats requires a special cleaner and can be tricky. To prevent unintentionally damaging your seats, leave deodorizing leather to a professional.
CCI Offers Quality Odor Removal Services
CCI has more than 42 years of experience helping people and dealers return their pre-owned vehicles to like-new condition. Our service technicians offer car detailing smoke removal designed to permanently eliminate the toughest odors, including cigarette smoke. CCI technicians are commonly tasked with removing animal odors, cooking odors, smells from fire and smoke, and the lingering smell from chemical vapors. As the legalization of marijuana spreads, CCI’s technicians are frequently tapped to eliminate the smell of cannabis.
Our process can also eliminate most bacteria and viruses on contact, depending on the treatment method selected.
In addition to helping your car stay fresh, CCI is one of the leading franchises for on-site, mobile leather repair and restoration of leather, vinyl, plastic, and fabric for consumers and local businesses. CCI uses proprietary tools and methods to meticulously eliminate fading, tears, rips, scrapes, gouges, scratches, and scuffs. Our franchise owners work directly with automobile dealerships to help get their used-car fleet ready for display on the lot.
Get A Quote from CCI
If the smell in your vehicle is preventing you from enjoying your new wheels, or if you need to give your used car fleet a refresh, visit www.wecanfixthat.com to get a free quote for professional smoke removal today.
