Eliminate stubborn cigarette smoke from your car with these expert tips. Learn effective methods to banish lingering odours and restore a fresh, clean scent.
How to Get Rid of Cigarette Smell
Cigarette smoke is incredibly porous and can permeate all car surfaces, including upholstery, carpets, hard surfaces and even the air conditioning system. This can cause persistent odours to linger in your vehicle, leaving an unpleasant smell that can seem impossible to remove.
But whether you smoke in your own car or you have purchased a used car from a smoker, you can remove these unpleasant smells by following a thorough and effective cleaning process.
In this guide, we share our top tips for removing cigarette smells to ensure your car smells fresh and clean.
Get Rid of All Traces of Cigarettes
To remove cigarette smells from your car, you need to start by removing all traces of cigarettes from your vehicle. This involves getting rid of any discarded cigarette packets and butts that may be lurking in your car. You need to ensure you check under your car seats and seat pockets, where small bits of rubbish can easily get left behind.
You should also remove any clothing or loose items like general rubbish, tissues, or discarded food packets from your car as these items can harbour cigarette smells. Thoroughly clean any items you plan to return to your vehicle and dispose of any rubbish.
Clean Car Carpets and Seats
After removing all traces of cigarettes from your vehicle, the next step is to tackle your car’s carpet and seats, which can often hold the most pungent smells like cigarette smoke.
For the most thorough clean, follow this step-by-step guide :
- Vacuum all your car’s upholstery, paying attention to hard-to-reach areas where small bits of cigarette ash may get trapped.
- Sprinkle baking soda over all your car’s fabric surfaces – baking soda naturally neutralises odours, so make sure you don’t skip this step.
- Allow the baking soda to sit for several hours, ideally overnight.
- Vacuum the vehicle again to remove all traces of the baking soda. You should already begin to notice an improvement in the smell of your car.
- Use a fabric deodoriser on your seats, carpets, floor mats, door panels, and roof lining. Choose a deodoriser containing enzymes to help break down any remaining odours.
Cleaning Your Car Windows
People often don’t think about cleaning their windows when tackling cigarette smells, but when you smoke in your vehicle, tar residue sticks to all surfaces, including your windows. Over time, this builds up, leaving an unsightly brown film, which can obstruct your view and also contribute to lingering cigarette smells.
To clean cigarette tar from car windows, use either a pre-mixed glass cleaning solution or make your own cleaner by mixing equal parts of vinegar and water.
Spray your chosen solution on the windows and leave it to work for a few minutes before wiping it off with a soft microfibre cloth. You may need to repeat this process multiple times for tougher tar residue stains.
Wipe Down Car Surfaces
Micro-sized spots of ash and tar residue can settle on car surfaces, like the dash and instrument panel, so it’s important to remember to wipe them down when trying to get rid of cigarette smells.
Use warm, soapy water and a clean microfibre cloth to wipe over all interior surfaces.
Clean Your Car HVAC Ducts
HVAC ducts are one of the most common areas where cigarette smells can linger. Fortunately, it is relatively easy to eliminate any unpleasant odours from your HVAC ducts by simply using a mould and mildew treatment spray specifically designed for heating systems.
Spray the treatment into the windscreen cowl at the base of the windscreen exterior (this is where the cabin’s fresh air is drawn in). Alternatively, you can turn your car’s air conditioning system to recirculate and spray the vents in the footwell and centre console.
The spray needs to sit for four to six hours before you get back into your car, so it’s best to do this after you’ve finished using your vehicle for the day and left overnight.
To fully remove cigarette smells from your HVAC system, you also need to replace your air filter.
Prevent Smells from Returning
The only real way to prevent cigarette smells from returning to your vehicle is to stop smoking in it. However, if you choose to smoke in it, you should open your windows before lighting up to help minimise odours.
You can also help to keep your car smelling fresher for longer by :
- Using a scented car air freshener
- Using a pet deodoriser spray regularly to help tackle smoky smells
- Placing dryer sheets in your vehicle as when exposed to heat, they release a pleasant fresh scent that helps mask cigarette odours
Get Professional Car Grooming Services
Although it is possible to rid your vehicle of cigarette odours yourself, for really ingrained smells, you may benefit from the professional help of our expert car groomers. Not only do they have the knowledge and skills to expertly tackle tough odours, but they also have specialist equipment and tools that enable them to reach hard-to-reach areas and remove internal odours at the source to ensure your car leaves smelling clean and fresh.
Espresso Car Wash is New Zealand’s leading professional hand wash & grooming provider. Our approach to cleaning your car’s interior is personalised for each vehicle, addressing its unique needs, including tackling cigarette smells. This means you can be confident that we can restore your car and ensure it looks and smells like new.
Book online or visit your nearest Espresso Car Wash branch today to revitalise the interior of your treasured vehicle.
How Espresso Car Wash Can Help
As New Zealand’s leading professional hand wash & car grooming provider, we can take care of your beloved car for you. Our services range from 100% hand car washes to interior & exterior car grooming. Our unrivalled knowledge of hand washing and vehicle grooming techniques will leave your car in like-new condition.
Book online or visit your nearest Espresso Car Wash branch today to revitalise your treasured vehicle.
