How to Get Rid of Smoke Smell in a Car

Purchasing a used vehicle in Waco is an excellent way to score your dream ride at a budget-friendly price, but if the previous owner was a smoker, you may notice the unpleasant smell of cigarette smoke lingering in your new-to-you car. Unfortunately, smoke can penetrate soft surfaces and stick in the fibers of your carpet and upholstery. We at Douglass Nissan of Waco understand this can be a frustrating experience, but luckily there are several things you can do to leave your vehicle smelling like new again. We have the details on how to get the cigarette smell out of your car below.

How to Remove Smoke Smell from Car: Upholstery

In order to get the smoke smell out of your car’s carpeting and upholstery, you’ll need two things: baking soda, which absorbs odors and acts as a neutralizer, and a vacuum. Once you have those items in hand, you’ll want to take these steps: 

1. Vacuum the inside of your car – First, thoroughly vacuum the upholstery and carpet of your car, making sure to get under the seats and in tight crevices to remove any lingering ash.
2. Neutralize odor with baking soda – After vacuuming, sprinkle baking soda over the carpet and upholstery and let it sit for a long time. 
3. Vacuum up baking soda – After you have let the baking soda sit for a while, use your vacuum to clean it up. 

Note: You can sprinkle small amounts of baking soda or leave a box of baking soda in your car overnight (or longer) if you notice that the smoke smell is still lingering. 

How to Remove Smoke Smell from Car: Leather & Trim

Cigarette smoke is also known to penetrate leather and other surfaces in your vehicle, but you’ll need to take different steps to get the smoke smell out of a car with leather seats. 

1. Use a special cleaner – Different surfaces in your vehicle will require special cleaners. For example, you’ll need a specific cleanser to clean your car’s dashboard. 
2. Clean the surface multiple times – Clean the surface several times to ensure you have completely removed the smoke smell from your car. Unfortunately, smoke can penetrate deeply into surfaces.

Finishing Touches to Get the Smoke Smell Out of Car

Finally, be sure to clean the rest of the surfaces in your car, including your front and back windshield and windows. Due to the fact that smoke also travels through the air vents, you’ll also need to replace your cabin air filter to ensure you have completely removed the smoke smell from your car.

Keep Your Vehicle in Top Shape with Douglass Nissan of Waco

There is nothing more important to Douglass Nissan of Waco than keeping your vehicle in pristine condition for years to come. If you’re still wondering how to get rid of the smoke smell in your car or have any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us. You can also visit our dealership near Hewitt and McGregor and explore our quality selection of pre-owned vehicles for sale. 

In the meantime, check out our other helpful tips and tricks from our experts at the service center, including how to fix a car dent or scratch.