Removing the smoker residue...

So I have been able to remove 95% or the residual smoke smell from the cab using Fabreeze and am interested in any techniques that may have been learned by folks that have gone thru the same thing. I am thinking that replacing the cabin air filter is probably a good idea as well as periodic Fabreeze applications to the carpet and a wipe to the headliner. Fkn turd suckers....grrr
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Good luck, that's all I gotta say. You may need to invest in an ozone machine.

If you haven't already spray down and wipe every single plastic trim piece. You'd be amazed at the nicotine ooze that comes off those panels.

 

Agreed....shit gets on everything. It is not horrible after the rounds of Fabreeze, just a slight hint left...
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Depending on how bad it is, you might need a Chlorine Dioxide tablet to knock the rest out. I'm about to try that on our '23 Camry that was an ex Avis rental car that was obviously smoked in despite rentals being no smoking

 

Definitely change the cabin filter

Several years ago, I used an odor eliminator (might have been Meguiars) and it worked!

You set your fan to recirculate and on high, you start the spray can and with the windows shut (of course) and let your car run in the driveway for like 5 minutes.

It definitely helped

 

clean the seats and carpet with a carpet cleaner with a vinegar solution. if you don't have a carpet cleaner get a couple of dry rags and a spray bottle thats no more than 3:1 water:vinegar. don't use it on leather. Get some tuff stuff and spray a rag and gently wipe the headliner, that is by far the best stuff i've found to clean the headliner.
if its really bad order the earth care odor remover bags off Amazon.

Fabreeze will just continue to cover it up unless you clean the residue off everything. Using the ozone machine mentioned above will have a significant impact on it too.

 

Dad bought a car in the 80's that had a moderate amount of smokers smell. Cleaned entire interior really well, shampooed seats and carpet. Then tossed several nylon stockings fill with ground coffee around the interior and let them absorb the oder. That did the trick. He sold car to a friend, and about 8 years later I stuck my head inside and not a hint of smell.

Or you could go to Taco Bell, order one of everything on the menu. Eat while taking a multi hour road trip. After that you won't notice the smoke smell! You will have the TB aroma...well the after effects anyway.

 

My former neighbor taught me a tip she likely learned in the 1930s. An oldie but a goodie. Surprisingly, it works.

She advised me to put open saucers of vinegar on the windowsills of the house I bought years ago from a couple who were both smokers. It worked perfectly after a few weeks.

For a vehicle that’s a daily driver, this could be kind of awkward to do. But if the car sits for a while, give it a try. Maybe a wide-mouthed storage container opened when the car is parked?

 

Pop out the cup holders i found hella ash in mine ..it just takes time to get the last 5%... i smugged mine with ..hippy insence ... hot boxed it ... overnight ...

 

Went to AutoZone for Meguiars ... picked up a bottle of each of these because they have them for sale!