Ronmarr1

Folks,

Any ideas on how to deodorize/clean a headliner that smells of cigarette smoke.

Also, what is the current thought on Lexol cleaner/conditioner for the leather?

Thanks.

Bob_F

I've read that some restoration companies will use ozone generators to reduce the smell in homes with smoke damage. You might want to look into that.

Opens pans of baking soda might help.

And just leaving the windows open might help.

But the smell of cigarette smoke can be incredibly difficult to eliminate. What will be a problem are all the softer porous materials that have been permeated with the smoke. Hard surfaces such as plastic dashboards can at least be wiped down.

I've read several stories online where people buy a used car and end up selling it because they can't get rid of the smoke smell.

Good luck!

Bob

dreem1er

iTrader: (2)

i use blue coral and its taken alot of smells out of my car.........i picked up my mom from work one day and she had bought a glad container which had watermelon juice.......i didn't notice that she had left it in car........a week later i find the container and when i picked it up it spilled and i had rotten watermelon all over my back carpet....blue coral got rid it it took a few washes but it came out....i used a microfiber towel.....(so that i don't get lent over everything).....to wipe clean the rugs and headliner........works perfectly.....

dreem1er

iTrader: (2)

i almost forgot if its in your ac filter theres two way to get rid of it

1-change out your filter

https://acurazine.com/forums/ramblings-12/i-love-tattoos-but-just-wrong-107821/

2-turn on the ac put it to get air from the outside and spray febreeze through the openings at the bottom of the front window where the fresh air is pulled in.....a friend told he does on his moms accord......and that it works.......until she starts smoking in it again.........

Bob_F

Here are some Google hits:

http://www.google.com/search?num=100...ar&btnG=Search

Bob

Phrosttz0

Yep I use to detail cars for a cadillac dealership, cig smoke smell really is a bitch, you can try an ozone cleaner, thats what ours was called anyway, that let run in the car for 24hrs, hopefully that will clean all the air molecules etc. Then wipe down/clean leather all door panels, dash, any plastics. Then shampoo rugs, carpets, you can try a light shampoo on the headliiner, but be careful, the fabric is not like carpet, finally take out and replace cabin filters, spray them down with some febreeze, dont soak em. Finally get some ozium or an airfreshner you like, and see how that all plays out for you. Ive also heard of leaving a candle burn on the airrest of a a car with the ac/ or vent on lightly, never tried that myself, good luck man

TLC03

My Acura had that problem when I got it. Here's what I did that worked. I took it to a professional detailer that was experienced with removing odors.. He told me that the smoke smell is EVERYWHERE.. In the carpets, in the ceiling(headliner), in the mats etc.

He said that it all had to be washed and shampooed by hand.. He did that for me and then changed the air filters... If you leave the dirty air filters in there you will keep smelling it from time to time.

Before replacing my air filter in the cabin, he ran ozone through the ducts and in the car. The ozone is an important step to consider because it will help a lot. I hated the smell so much that I was willing to pay him about $175 and it was worth it.

It got rid of 99% and maybe all of it. The car smelled like the ozone treatment for about 2 weeks, but that disappeared. Sometimes I think I can smell it a little, but it could also be my imagination.. My friends tell me they can't smell a thing. - - I can tell Phrosttz0 knows what he's talking about, because it's exactly what was needed. I also wanted the detailer to do it because cleaning the headliner can be so much trouble.

I asked him how I would clean the headliner myself and he simply said to use a good, mild soap. In other words I think he gets it wet and washes it in a circular way. But that's why I wanted him to do it.. Simply because he was good at it.

Finally you can try a little Febreeze at a time.. Don't put too much or your car will smell like febreeze for too long.

Again, the only good way is to wash each and every last part of the interior.

djdonte

When i got my 99 Ford escort a few years back it WREAKED of cig smoke. The main things that helped were vaccuming the seats and floors, and keeping a mixture of baking soda and a bit of cinnamon under the seats for a while. Also, when i took apart the center console to install audio equiptment, there was even ash underneath the trim panels and console, which probley hadent been removed since the cars manufacture. Just goes to show how the smoke and ash can get in anywhere, which is prolly why it lingers so bad.