Whether you yourself are a smoker or have friends who are smokers, it can be difficult to get the smell out of your car. It can be especially difficult when the interior of the car has been exposed to cigarettes for years. Maybe you have even found your dream car and this is it, but now that you’ve bought it you realize it smells like smoke. Smokers tend to sell their cars for less money due to the fact that it can be difficult to get rid of the smell of cigarette smoke. Let us tell you how to get rid of cigarette smell in your car no matter the situation! 

Basic Cleaning

There are a few cleaning products you can use to help get rid of the smoke smell; however, they may only help to lessen the smell and not rid of it entirely. We recommend that before you purchase anything or use it on your cars interior to read the label for instructions and ingredients to see if it is safe for your upholstery. Before you begin cleaning you want to ensure there is proper ventilation that allows you and your car to breathe. We recommend taking your car out into the driveway or a public parking lot, but don’t clean in your garage as it may be too small of a space for air to flow.

You will want to have the following items handy when you begin: small vacuum cleaner, steam cleaner, rags, and an odor neutralizer. To begin you want to vacuum your entire car. Try and vacuum every little nook and cranny you possibly can. Be sure to vacuum from top to bottom as debris may fall down while you are cleaning. When you reach the floor mats remove them from the car and allow them to air dry for at least 24 hours.

Next you will want to wipe down the entire surface of the car. Different types of upholstery require different cleaning methods, so we recommend using cleaning products specified for your interior. If you have a leather interior VIP European Auto suggests purchasing leather cleaner that can be safe to use on the car. It is always best to try the cleaner in a spot that is not visible to be sure no damage will be done.

Professional Clean

So, you have followed the steps above and deep cleaned your car, but it still smells of smoke. This is when going to a professional car detailer can be helpful. Depending on the severity of smoke a professional cleaner can often help with the smell. More often than not a professional clean can help to get rid of the smell, especially after you have cleaned the car yourself. However, sometimes a professional cleaning service is unable to clear your car of the smell entirely. When this happens the next steps are to reupholster your interior. 

Reupholster the Interior

While this may be your last resort it can be your best! Reupholstering the car interior ensures that there is no cigarette smell left whatsoever. However, this may not be the lowest cost option. The above two options may be more budget friendly, but in the end this may be the only option. Lingeringing thirdhand smoke not only smells distasteful, but it is also dangerous to your health. The cigarette smell clings to the body, clothes, hair, walls, seats, and any other surrounding environment of someone who smokes consistently. This thirdhand smoke leaves a carcinogenic residue sitting on the interior of the car which can lead to multiple health issues down the line. Reupholstering the interior of your car ensures that those chemicals are no longer in your presence.

We hope that this article helps you to find a way on how to get rid of cigarette smell. If you have purchased a car with a smoke smell or are trying to sell your car get a free estimate from VIP European Auto Interiors. We can reupholster your interior, repair your seats, and fix your convertible top.