How to remove cigarette smoke scent from car?

(2010-05-30 19:23:21)

1. yada-yada Says: I let my aunt borrow my SUV to haul furniture, and she smoked in my car without my consent.

I have asthma and just driving the short distance to bring myself home made me feel queasy.

I rolled down all the windows and plan on letting it sit for awhile (not all night in case of rain), and Frebreeze'd things - is there anything else I can do?

No, strangling my aunt is not an option LOL

Any advice will be greatly appreciated :(
I have to take the car to work in the morning.

2. Metallic Velocity Says: The first thing I would do is check the ash tray, more than remnant scent that sticks to the fabric items in the car, it is the butts that will really stink it up. I am a long time smoker and generally my cars never smell like cigarettes because I put them out in a sealed water bottle or throw them out (yeah littering is bad I know) The items that do smell like smoke most will be the seats and the headliner most of all. Frebreeze really doesn't work very well other than masking scents. You may want to try an odor neutralizer instead, I cannot remember any brand names off the top of my head, but they will be available at most Automotive stores such as Napa, Kragens, Autozone, but also your Local Wal-Mart should have it too. You may want to use a spray carpet cleaner that foams, there are several brands available as well and they are about all the same in quality. Spray in a test area with all of these items to make sure it will not fade your interior fabric color. Spray the seats and carpet and even the headliner, but if you spray the headliner DO NOT spray heavily and DO NOT scrub as you could separate the headliner from the glue that holds it in place, you do not want your headliner to sag and you do not want to rip it (headliner material especially on an older car are extremely delicate). If is the headliner use a really light mist. After cleaning, you want to roll the windows down but only about 2 inches and in the day time on a sunny day, you want to try to leave the windows cracked for the next few days (unless its raining). What the fabric/carpet cleaner will do is break up that microscopic deposit on the fibers that will be the only thing that would leave a lasting odor. you may also clean the windows inside with a regular cleaner such as windex, unless you have window tinting; if you have an aftermarket tint use something that is tint compatible such as a product called invisible glass so that it will not damage or fade your window tinting. I hope this answers your questions, happy motoring!! i

3. Peter Says: Bring it into a detail shop and get the seats and carpets shampooed if you want it gone completely, other than that, more febreeze :D