How to Get Rid of Smoke Smell in a Car

Used vehicles that have been smoked in are often cheaper than those that haven’t, and for good reason. It’s very difficult to completely get rid of smoke smell in a car as smoke permeates soft surfaces like fabric, upholstery, and even leather. But there are ways to get rid of the smell at least partially. Read on to learn how with Maserati of Central Florida, or check out other car buying tips to help you with your Orlando and Windermere car buying experience.

How to Remove Smoke Smell From Car Upholstery

Carpeting and upholstery soak up odors like a sponge. To clean smoke smell out of fabric or velour surfaces in a car, you’ll need to deep clean them with baking soda and remote your baking soda with a vacuum. Here’s what to do:

1. Vacuum the upholstery and carpeting — First, thoroughly vacuum the vehicle, getting under the seats and in crevices. Old ash can hide in these hard-to-reach areas.
2. Sprinkle baking soda over carpet and upholstery — Baking soda is a natural deoderizer. Sprinkle it liberally and evenly throughout the interior anywhere there’s fabric or carpeting. Let it sit. The longer the better.
3. Take the vacuum and clean up baking soda — After the baking soda has been doing its thing for a bit (we’re talking a few hours, or better yet, overnight), vacuum it up. If you notice that the smoke smell is still still there, you can sprinkle small amounts of baking soda in concentrated areas to further get rid of the smell. You can also leave an open box of baking soda in the vehicle in somewhere out-of-the-way, like the door pocket or rear seatback pocket and let it sit there. Over time, it will continue to absorb odors. Another solution is to use a product such as an odor bomb, CarPro So2Pure or an ozone generator.

How to Remove Smoke Smell From Car Leather and Trim

The smell of smoke can also permeate into leather, and leave a residue on other surfaces.

1. Find a special cleaner — You’ll need to use a special cleaner that’s specifically formulated to treat the surface you intend on cleaning, like scent restoring leather cleaner or a leather odor eliminator. For instance, if you want to clean the car’s leather covered dashboard, you’ll need a specific cleanser for it.
2. Clean the surface several times — Seeing as the smoke can deeply permeate into surfaces, you’ll want to clean the surfaces multiple times. Continuous cleanings will help ensure you’ve fully removed the scent and residue.

What About Removing Smoke Smell Other Areas in Your Car?

Windows, cabin air filters, air vents, and more all can be carriers of smoke smell residue. Of course, tobacco smoke contains a multitude of chemicals, including tar, which makes it sticky. That means, not only does it cling to fabrics and soft surfaces, but it can also build up over time in a gummy film, creating a foul smell.

Find Your Perfect Smoke-Free Vehicle at Maserati of Central Florida

Looking for a used car for sale that’s clean, well-taken-care-of, and smoke-free? There are plenty of used vehicles and certified pre-owned vehicles on our lot near Winter Park at any given time here at Maserati of Central Florida!