2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission How can I remove the smell of cigarette smoke?

[MMori]

I am looking to buy a great 97 3500, but the owner smokes... a lot!

Is there any sure fire way to get rid of the smell?? Sure I will steam clean seat and interior as well as clean everything.

Someone told me to rent an 'ozone' machine. Any thoughts??

Mike

 

[surfbeetle]

My wife and I bought her a used suburban that was smoked in. We had the interior professionally detailed, carpets shampoo'd, etc. Still smelled like smoke. They told me that really the only way was to replace the headliner as the smoke lingers in that. We never did that, we used alot of Febreeze on the head liner for months. It's much better after quite a while, but if it's been hot and the car has been closed up, you can still faintly smell it.

Good luck.

 

[icman95]

After the detailing I would go with lots of Febreeze, just like Surfbeetle. I used to have a Freightliner that had a few different drivers smoking in it. Many doses of Febreeze helped alot. It was an on going project to get the smell out of the seats, carpet, bunks, etc, but it's possible. When the warmer weather comes, leave the windows cracked on days it won't rain. Febreeze it every day until it's better and you'll be fine.

 

[HCannon]

I bought a 04 about a year ago that had the smell. I put charcoal in a pan under the seat. It took a while but now it is gone. It is still there, it will help absorb any kind of odor that you have.

 

[Grizzly]

I've never had that problem, but I have heard to keep an open container of baking soda in the car to absorb the stench.



Personally I wouldn't even consider buying anything that had been smoked in.

 

[monkeyman]

You can also get a 12 volt plug in Ozonizer
Rick

 

[The patriot]

We bought a car that was smoked in... . a LOT.

We had it professionally cleaned. It was better, but not 100%.

If there's a filter in your HVAC unit, change it! It'll never go away w/o doing this.

I used to run the blower motor and spray fabreeze or Oust in the intake.

I was told to leave a bag of apples under the seat, and / or a bar of fragrant soap. (like Irish spring)

We never did this, we fabreezed/Oust'ed it a lot and left the windows open whenever possible. It eventually went away, or at least got to the point that it wasnt as offensive.

 

[Breed]

I just bought a 04 Jeep wrangler where some one had smoked in, I Febreezed the crap out of it and used on of those air fresheners that worked through the heat/AC upper duct and the smell has seemed to go away now.

 

[wcjp]

Bought a used Cherokee XJ from a chain smoker. Two thorough passes with a Rug Doctor removed most of the smell. About a month or two later the remaining smell went away. Home steam cleaners don't have the suction to remove all water.

 

[guldam]

I was ready to buy a 2003 4x4 Dodge CTD with low miles, but the previous owner was a smoker. Dealer tried to cover it up with something, but the tobacco smoke smell poked right through. I walked away. Still looking for a truck.

Cigarette smoke makes me itch like crazy and stuffs up my nose. And that includes being in an environment that Had be smoked in. Can't do it.

GulDam

 

[SSolderitch]

my freind bought a soft top wrangler... the seller paid for a fire insurance place to fog the whole jeep in a garage with nitrogen or carbon dixoide or something... . smell completly gone.

 

[VicR]

How good of a deal is it? If its worth it, buy it, try these home remedies, and if they don't work its not THAT big of a deal to replace the headliner, carpet and then you can get that Katzkin leather for the seats...

 

[MMori]

Wow! Thanks for the response!!



The deal is: I currently have a 98 QC 2500 4x4 5 spd with no rust! It has 203k miles. I don't really need it but I always 'wanted' a 3500. There is a 97 for sale locally that has very little rust, is a 5spd 4x4 and 205k kms or 128k miles. It also has a new Pacbrake, starter, alt, batteries, a 5th wheel hitch and a tank/toolbox combo (that I don't need) for 7600 USD. But, the guy smoked...



My wife is giving me grief about the 'QC' thing (kids are 9 & 11) and especially the smoking thing.



I think that I will go ahead and buy it; try ALL the above; and try to find a headliner to replace.



Thanks a ton guys! I will let you know how this turns out.

 

[BigPapa]

We bought a car that smelled of smoke BAD. We took it to a detailer who ran an ozone generator in it. He had to run it longer than normal but it knocked the smell out. I have been told that the ozone generators are hard on rubber and plastic parts on the interior. The headliner eventually disintegrated. I don't know for sure if it was the ozone or not, but you might ask.



Scott

 

[MMori]

Also, I guess I must apologize to those that do smoke, but I just don't like it. No offense intended.

VicR-that Katzkin stuff is really something! It's probably pretty pricey, eh? Would you buy a new headliner from the dealer or used... ?? Same with carpets. . ?? Thanks.

 

[Grizzly]

Spray the inside for a week or two everyday with a mixture of one part Vanilla extract and 5 parts of water. Spray headliner, seats, floor, doors and dash.

 

[Tractorat]

There is a product that I like called Perfect Air. Instead of hiding the odor like a Fabreeze, it is supposed to actual change the molecular make up of the odor. It smells like peppermint for a while, but that goes away. Ive used it to take the smell out of old cars, cat urine, old clothes that really smelled rotten and washing them couldnt get the smell out.



Im not sure where you can buy it. I get it at a local hardware store. But Im sure you can find it on the internet.

 

[Wiredawg]

I used to clean carpets a long time ago. I used a germacidal to deordorize some of the worst carpets ever. I also bought a car from my father who smoked heavily. I removed the seats, carpet and headliner and thoroughly cleaned and deordorized the interior. I wiped the entire enterior down. The most common germacidal is Lysol Liquid, but is smells too mediciney. Believe it or not, Amway used to sell one of the best and best smelling germicidals.



Hope it works out for you.



Wiredawg

 

[DEdwards]

I have deodorized several cars and trucks. Some with odors much worse than smoke



If you really want to do it right, pull the seats and carpet out. You can remove the seat covers and have them dry cleaned. Spray the seat foam with commercial odor killer. Throw the carpet and pad away and buy new ones. A new headliner is not that much. Check with LMC. Shampoo the fabric on the door. Smoke is oily, you will need to use commercial products. Scrub down the plastic parts with a good cleaner, and add some alcohol to the solution to cut the oil. Also, scrub down the floor and all metal with a good cleaner. You need to really get it clean. Next, get some foaming A\C coil cleaner. You can get into the coil by drilling a 1\4 inch hole on the housing (BE CAREFUL). Clean out the housing 2 or 3 times to get the oil & smell out. Finally, roll the windows up, leaving one down just a crack. Disconnect the batteries and make sure there is no residual power. Get a large welding oxygen bottle for your welding rig. Run the O2 line into the cab, seal the cab up as well as you can and just crack the regulator on the oxygen bottle. Leave it alone for 2 or 3 days. Finally, open the doors, wait a little while and put the interior back together with the new carpets.



All of the odor will be gone.

 

[surfbeetle]

All that doesn't seem worth the hassle unless you get a really good deal on the truck IMHO. Any upholstery shop can do the headliner.