How to Get Rid of Smoke Smell in a Car

When you buy a used car, you’ll enjoy considerable savings on your purchase. Sometimes, used cars can have minor issues (or major issues if you don’t do your homework), such as a lingering smell of smoke from the previous owner smoking inside the car. Smoke seeps into soft, porous surfaces like upholstery and carpeting, making it notoriously difficult to clean. However, if you take the steps outlined below, you can get your vehicle smelling fresher and cleaner! 

How to Remove Smoke Smell From Car: Upholstery

Getting the scent of smoke out of your car’s carpet and cloth upholstery requires baking soda and a vacuum cleaner. Once you have those two items, follow these steps to get the smoke smell out of your car:

1. Vacuum the upholstery and carpet as thoroughly as possible. Get under the seats and in between the seats, since old ash could be sitting somewhere out of sight. 
2. Sprinkle baking soda over the carpet and cloth upholstery. Afterward, allow the baking soda to sit for a while. Baking soda absorbs and neutralizes odors. 
3. Vacuum up the baking soda. If the smoke smell is still permeating the cabin, sprinkle more of the baking soda to further get rid of the smell, or you can leave a box of baking soda in the cabin overnight. 

How to Remove Smoke Smell From Car: Leather and Trim

Does your car have a leather interior? Smoke can easily seep into leather upholstery, and leave a residue on other surfaces inside the cabin. If your car has leather upholstery, you’ll want to do the following: 

1. Use special cleaners. You’ll need a special cleaner for the surface you want to clean. For example, if you’re cleaning the dashboard, you’ll want to use a cleaner that’s designed for it. 
2. Clean the surface more than once. Repeated cleanings can ensure that you’ve fully removed the smoke residue. 

Cleaning Other Areas of Your Car 

Once you’ve cleaned the upholstery, carpet, and smooth surfaces inside the cabin, turn your attention to the windows and front and rear windshields. Wipe them down thoroughly with a window cleaner. Then, replace the cabin air filter, since smoke can get into air vents and create residue. 

Learn More About Car Care Tips at Mitch Smith Chevrolet, Inc.

Get more tips on how to care for your car, such as when to change the oil and when to rotate the tires. And, if you’re searching for a used vehicle for sale in Cullman, you needn’t look any further than our pre-owned inventory. Browse high-quality and clean vehicles at competitive prices! When you’re ready, contact us online or give us a call at (256) 507-9952 and we’ll help take care of your automotive needs!