June 22

How To Get Smoke Smell Out of the Car

It only takes a few minutes before you finish one cigarette stick. But the smoke smell stays in your car for a longer time than that. 

Or, what if you drive with your windows opened and the surrounding smoke enters in and sticks. 

Whatever the case, you’ll want to get rid of the smell. 

But how do you get the smoke smell out of the car?

We’re here to help.

In this article, we’ll talk about quick fixes and long-term solutions for removing the smoke stench in your upholstery, carpet, and other parts of the car. 

So are you ready?

Let’s dive in!

5 Quick Fixes to Remove the Smoke Smell In Your Car

How To Get Smoke Smell Out of the Car
Source: canva.com

In a hurry to get rid of the smoke smell?

Then here are 5 quick fixes to do just that:

  • Remove the source
  • Air your car out
  • Vacuum your carpets and upholstery 
  • Use baking soda
  • Leave a bowl of coffee grounds

Let’s look at each of these in detail. 

1. Remove the Source

If you want to reduce the smell of smoke, then you simply need to remove the source. 

So say you’re smoking cigarettes. Well, maybe it’s best to stop using them inside your car. 

Also, if you have ashtrays or littered cigarettes in your car, remove all of them, too. And if you’re going to use the ashtray again, make sure to wipe it off with a disinfectant and air dry it outside your car. 

Feel free to use a scented disinfectant to reduce the odor that is stuck on it. 

2. Air Your Car Out

Another great way to remove smoke smells from your car is to give it proper air circulation. 

Here are a few ways to air your car out:

  • Roll down the windows and open your car doors during a breezy day
  • Drive around your area with the windows down (just make sure no smoke enters)

If smoke has been inside the car for a long time, this step might not be enough to fully remove the odor from your upholstery and carpets. Because of that, we usually make this a preliminary step to other odor-removing methods. 

3. Vacuum Your Carpets and Upholstery

Another quick way to get rid of the odor is to use a vacuum. By vacuuming your car, you get rid of the small particles that may have settled in your upholstery or carpet. 

Use a smaller vacuum head so that you can reach the nooks and crannies. Make sure to vacuum even the area underneath and at the back of the seats. 

To fully remove the particles from the seats, use one hand to hold the vacuum and the other to press down the seat. This way, particles that have settled deep into it will be lifted. 

If your car seats are made of leather, avoid using a vacuum. Instead, you can use a cleaner specifically made for the type of leather your car has. 

If you’re unsure if you have the right product, test the cleaner in a small hidden patch of leather to see if it damages the material. Once you’re sure that the leather isn’t damaged, use the cleaner on all other leather surfaces and let it air dry after. 

Once the particles are removed and the seats cleaned, the smoke smell will most likely be gone, too. 

4. Use Baking Soda

Here’s another solution that involves the ever-reliable baking soda. 

Baking soda is known to remove stains and odors. And the best part about it is that it’s such a common household item. 

To use baking soda, simply sprinkle a small amount over your seats and your carpets. Leave it for a few hours and then use a vacuum to remove it. 

The way this works is that the baking soda will absorb all the smoke smells. 

5. Leave a Bowl of Coffee Grounds

Got some coffee grounds? Here’s one way of using them — a neutralizer for odors. 

Put a bowl of coffee grounds in your car to help neutralize the smoke smell. Coffee grounds contain nitrogen, which is an odorless gas that absorbs smells, especially cigarette smoke. 

How to Deep Clean Your Car to Remove Smoke Smells

Do none of the 5 quick fixes work?

Then this already calls for deep cleaning. 

For that, here’s what you’ll need: 

  • Vacuum
  • Baking soda
  • Vinegar and water solution
  • Spray bottle
  • All-purpose disinfectant

Follow these steps to deep clean your car to remove smoke smells:

  • Remove all the loose garbage and debris from your carpet and seats. Remove the ashtray and wipe the debris off. Spray it with a disinfectant and air dry. 
  • Remove the carpets and use a vacuum to remove stubborn debris and particles. With a vinegar and water solution, spray the solution on your carpets. Let it dry outside. 
  • Use a vacuum to remove particles from your upholstery and any crevice of the car. Don’t forget to do the same for the dashboard, floors, and sides of the car. 
  • Sprinkle baking soda on top of your upholstery. You can also use a vinegar and water solution instead. And just like the carpets, leave these on the upholstery for a few hours. 
  • Replace the air filter. You’ll be surprised at how much dirt and grime gets stuck on the filter. To do this, remove what’s inside the glove box then remove the glove box off its hinges. You can remove the air filter from here and replace it with a new one. 
  • Wipe the dashboard, steering wheel, doors, and seatbelt with a disinfectant. Make sure that you’re using an all-purpose disinfectant that is safe to use on your car. Let it air dry. 
  • After a few hours, vacuum the baking soda off the seats. Return the carpet once they’re dry. 

And there you have it! That’s how you can deep clean your car to remove smoke odors. 

As you’ll notice, it’s a lot similar to the quick fixes. However, the deep cleaning process is a more comprehensive way of removing odors by using several quick fixes at once. 

Conclusion

Does your car annoyingly smell of smoke?

Then try out one of the 5 quick fixes we mentioned here. 

If that does not work, then maybe it’s time to deep clean it. 

We hope that this article has helped you greatly!

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