Removing Smoke Smell From Car

[bryanf]

I need help. I need to remove all smell of pipe tobacco smoke from my truck.
My home is a licensed Foster Home, and there is a new law passed in California recently that any vehicle that transports a foster child can't even SMELL like smoke.
BS, I know. The social worker even agrees it's silly, and she likes the smell of my pipe.
But all that doesn't matter. They are going to come and sniff my truck, and I need to get the smell out.
So, how do I do it?
P.S. I will now be buying a second cheap car, so I can return to smoking in my truck, but until then, this is the one thing that could come between me and my pipe. A sad day...

 

[rmbittner]

I'd suggest scrubbing the inside of all the windows and using Febreeze on all of the surfaces. Then leave the car windows open as long as possible. It may take a couple of treatments. But be sure to ventilate the car afterward, or it's just going to smell like a lot of cover-up scents, which may raise some suspicions.
It probably wouldn't hurt, once you've closed up the car, to put in a couple of open boxes of baking soda as well.
To be honest, I doubt this will work 100%. But I'd definitely try this before getting the vehicle professionally cleaned.
Bob

 

[lordofthepiperings]

A sad day indeed!
All I could think of is having it detailed and leave the windows cracked for a while to air it out. Also might want to put some of those car air-fresheners on the rear view mirror too.
When I have a pipe in the car I keep the windows cracked. Even when I park it I leave them cracked just a hair and it usually airs itself out. Can't even tell I've had a pipe in the car.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

I find that after I've hauled a bag of cedar chips that all smells are removed. You might try just putting a small bag under the seats. Or, scatter some all over the floorboards like a gerbil cage. :wink:

 

[eastwoodaudio]

I had a SUV that was gifted to me from a former heavy cig smoker and dog owner. I Febreezed the everliving hell out it multiple times, let it sit with all doors and the tailgate open for a day in the sun. That seemed to take care of most of the smoke smell, but the dog smell was harder to get out.
I think the key here is to:
1) Stop smoking in it. ( I know that seems obvious)
2) Use some sort of odor remover like Febreeze on every last inch of the upholstery.
3) Clean all the hard surfaces with armor all, preferably scented with something like orange to cover up the smell.
4) Let it air out in the sun for a long time.
Get someone that doesn't smoke and isn't around your pipe smoke to give her a sniff test after a day or two of airing out. Good luck, and let us know if this works!!

 

[apatim]

Ozium might do the trick but go easy with it... it doesn't take much.

 

[pitchfork]

What kind of seats?
For the dash, steering wheel, etc., soap and water works wonders. Ozium helps, too.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

scrub the dash and all the plastic bits with clorox wipes or some other cleaning wipes, then get a spray bottle of ozium - just the plain stuff, don't get the scented Ozium as it doesn't work as well - and spray the shit out of the inside. Leave it sit with all windows closes for at least 12 hours. The ozium smells pretty bad but it dissipates and the smell is eventually gone.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Fabreeze doesn't work well to completely remove the smoke smell - ozium does, but man that stuff smells bad for a brief period.

 

[eightywon]

Does the truck have a cabin filter that can be replaced?

 

[sparrowhawk]

I''m still trying to get over my amazement over this law.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Good call on the cabin filter.
I would also shampoo the carpets. You might also grind up some coffee beans and leave a cup of the exposed grinds in a cup in the truck overnight. Cant hurt.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

By the way, I am sure Ozium is available in numerous places but I get it in the automotive section of walmart.

 

[tbradsim1]

If you know somebody in the medical field there is a disenfectent they use for smells top notch, Son uses it in the operating room, he told me it will kill any smell. Sorry I don't have the name of it, but I will try to find out.

 

[anglesey]

I agree with Eastwood, that's what I'd do any day of the week. Worked for me hundreds of times when I've needed to air a spare room out to stick the in-laws in.
I know I shouldnt laugh, but it made me chuckle so much when I read they were going to come and 'sniff it'. Modern world ey...

 

[cosmicfolklore]

If it just has to NOT smell like smoke, you might be able to get away with just setting a pizza in the front seat. They will only be able to smell the pizza when they check it out, and if they balk, you can say that there wasn't anything in the rules about the car not smelling like pizza. ::

 

[appointed]

Well I would recommend moving to a state that does not consider smokers second-class citizens. I've never had a problem with the smell of smoke in my vehicle. At most, it only takes an hour or two to air out and then you can't tell it was ever smoked in. After trying everyone else's ideas for removing the smell, I would also try covering it up. Use some air fresheners or something with a heavy odor, even fish! They only said it can't smell like smoke, right? Give them something else to fill their noses with!

 

[bluesmk]

Have a problem with my son smelling like my pipe when he goes to school. Have yet to try this but it looks promising:

http://www.smokesmellbegone.com/
Dan

Gabrieli Pipes ::

 

[leparker]

I've heard this works well:
I've noticed that many people at Ebay and other auction sites now inform potential buyers if cigarettes have been smoked around the item(s) being sold. Cigarette smoke not only smells horrible but it can discolor paint, wood, ceramics, and more. Some things, like wood, actually retain the smell of smoke even after being cleaned. A person who is a non-smoker usually doesn't want to purchase an item that has been around smoke, simply because they hate the smell. If you're a smoker, the odor goes mostly unnoticed by you, but not by others. Say you've just snuck off to smoke a cigarette and someone might smell it on your clothing, or in a room where you hid to smoke. Possibly an acquaintance lit one up while you were giving him or her a ride in your vehicle. Or, maybe you're going to give someone a gift that's been in your home, and could smell like smoke. Whatever the smoke odor scenario at your house you can get rid of it by using apples.
Apples of any color or size work perfectly to get rid of cigarette smoke. When you cut apples open they begin to neutralize the odor of smoke in a room, vehicle, or on your person. If the smoke smell is in a vehicle, cut an apple in half, and place one half in the front of the car, and one in the back. Lay the apple pieces on the floor so that the skins of the apples are touching the carpet. Make sure all of the windows are closed and leave the apples in there overnight. Remove the apples in the morning and enjoy the refreshed air in the car.
Cut apples in half and lay them around the room before having company over. A few minutes before they arrive get rid of the apples. Although it can take several hours to get rid of the smoke smell, the amount of time can actually depend on how many apples you use. One apple is fine for a small room but several apples - cut in half - can neutralize the odor in a large room or area.
To get quicker results from the odor remover you can rub an apple half directly on certain things. Rub the cut side of the apples on your skin, clothing, lampshades, table tops, and more. I've tried the apple smoke remove and it really does work.
From this web site: GET RID OF SMOKE ODOR

 

[lordnoble]

I've used ZORBX with good results. Granted, I never smoke with the windows up, so most of the smell goes out the window, but this takes care of any residual smoke smell that may linger. YYMV.
-Jason