Removing Smoke Odor from Car Interior

The smell of cigarettes and cigarette odor in a car is unmistakable and difficult to tolerate for nonsmokers. In addition, when the time comes to sell your vehicle or trade it in, the funk of cigarette odor can depreciate its value. The problem is that removing smoke odor from your car can be difficult, though not impossible. The scent of cigarette smoke is strong and one of the most potent and hard-to-remove odors in vehicles. Burnt tobacco penetrates upholstery, carpet, and hard surfaces and infiltrates the air system. Please keep reading to learn our best tips from Drive Now for how to get the smoke smell out of a car!

Keep in mind that smoke has a way of getting everywhere. The residue can remain on your hair and clothes for passengers, even if it’s a short drive. No one wants to smell like smoke or be in an environment where they cannot breathe well. The smoke is harmful to your health and generally offensive to everyone else. If you’re a smoker or have a passenger who is, don’t smoke in your car, and you will not have to worry about the odor when it comes time to sell.

The good news is that whether you would like your car to smell like new, sell your used vehicle, or buy a used car from someone who smoked, the potent smell of smoke can be removed. The most obvious thing you need to do to eliminate the smoke smell is clean! But there are more options. Here are a few suggestions to help remove the cigarette smell in your car.

Fresh Air

Open all of the windows and doors to air things out. Remove any belongings and take out every scrap of trash. Then, keep those windows rolled down, turn the vents on, and drive your car around for a while. You may have to do it a few times to air it out. You may even want to spray some cologne or perfume into the vents before driving. Airing out the car is an excellent first step in removing the heavy odor.

Dryer Sheets

For those with cloth seats, wiping the seats with dryer sheets is an excellent way to deodorize your car. This way, your vehicle will get a more profound, fresher scent without overpowering your cabin. No matter the type of seats you have, you can keep some sheets under them. Plus, dryer sheets are a good repellent and an even better way to prevent mosquitoes from randomly attacking your car (and you).

Coffee Grounds

Instead of smelling smoke on your morning drive, fill your nostrils with the aroma of coffee. Place a bowl of coffee grounds in your car with the windows closed, and the smell of your favorite morning mocha will overpower the interior. The smoke scent will be gone in a matter of a few hours.

Baking Soda

When vacuuming alone isn’t enough, sprinkling baking soda on the carpet and upholstery may help. Leave it for an hour before vacuuming. The baking soda can help absorb odors as you vacuum it up. You can also leave an open box of baking soda in the car to help remove the cigarette smell.

Cinnamon Sticks

Adding a sweet scent to your car is easy enough with cinnamon sticks. First, bring cinnamon to a boil in water, then pour it into a travel mug. Place the mug inside the car with the windows up until the water is the temperature of the car interior. During the winter, you can sit in the car with the heater on for 20-30 minutes while the water cools and the scent fills the car.

Citrus Peels

For those who like oranges, lemons, limes, or grapefruit, the peels of any citrus fruits are good for absorbing odors. Keep the peels in a cup and put them in your car. Citrus peels tend to soak up the smoky smell and replace it with the fresh scent of citrus.

Ready to get started on your used car journey? Check out our available used vehicle inventory below!