How to get smoke smell out of car permanently

Prepping different types of cars for sale often requires a significant cleaning to get the best price. Whether you're a dealer or selling a personal vehicle, prospective buyers carefully compare cars, looking for the best example of the one that suits them. But what happens if the car you're selling smells of smoke or some other foul odor? What's the best method to get smoke smell out of a car? What are the resale value implications of smoke and smells?

"The price guidebooks like Kelley Blue Book and Black Book won't give you a dollar figure on how much a foul-smelling car will cost you in resale value,” said Jack R. Nerad, editor of Driving Today. “Depending upon the level of odor, the effect could go from a minimum of $100 or so to making the car completely unsalable. Would you buy a car that reeked if you were uncertain you could make the smell go away?"

In a report from September 2013, Manheim Consulting, part of the Manheim auction company, reported that there was about a 3% reduction in value for vehicles with a foul or smoky smell. In other words, a $300 reduction in value for a vehicle with a $10,000 price point.

How to Get Smoke Smell Out of a Car

The best method for eliminating smoke or odor from a vehicle is to start is at the beginning: clean the car. Begin with a thorough vacuum, sweeping up what might turn out to be leftover cigarette butts, long-lost soggy French fries, loose change, and assorted debris. Sort through the glovebox and don't forget to clean the trunk, removing every item that could smell of smoke.

Once the vehicle is cleaned out, focus on any cloth and leather material. The smell of smoke clings to fabric like a Millennial to his phone. Before scrubbing these materials, check the owner's manual for any special care instructions to minimize potential damage.

Depending on how bad the smell is, and what the owner's manual says, a steam cleaner may be necessary to dissipate the odor. Treat all upholstered surfaces including the carpet, floor mats, seats, headliner, door trim, and even the dashboard. Once you’ve finished steaming the interior, make sure the car is thoroughly dry before closing it back up. If you don’t you could trap moisture and dampness, which will be another headache to resolve.

If after a thorough cleaning the smell isn't too bad (get multiple opinions on this), consider leaving an odor-absorbing product in the car overnight. This can include fragrance-free cat litter (any odor-eliminating kind will work) or open containers of baking soda or white vinegar. These products eliminate odor, while an air freshener only masks the smell.

Smoke is insidious, soaking into plastics, wood, even electrical components including the heating and air conditioning system. Replace all the filters in the vehicle and clean out all the vents. Spray plastics and wood with the strongest cleaner within the manufacturer's guidelines, using a soft cloth to wipe up excess foam or spray.

Do I Need a Professional Detail to Eliminate Smoke Smell From My Car?

If all of these methods fail, it may be time to call in the pros. Professionally detailing a vehicle sets you back anywhere from $50-$125 for a typical car, and up to $75-150 for a van or SUV.

Automotive detailing shops have the right chemicals and equipment to eliminate smoke smell, plus the training and experience to get it done right the first time. If your own efforts to get smoke smell out of a car fail, using a pro detailer will be worth the time, effort and money if it maximizes the value and appeal of your car to future buyers.

I’m sure if you’ve ever called your local detailer about odor removal, they mentioned the term “ozone generator”. The ozone generator is the final step in the odor removal process. Ozone is also referred to as activated oxygen, and is created naturally either through electricity, photosynthesis, or by ultraviolet radiation from the sun. Ozone is created when one of these forces causes oxygen to split into two separate atoms.

The freed atom then attaches itself to an O2 molecule, recombining to create ozone. The word "ozone" is derived from the Greek word "ozien", meaning "to smell". By nature, ozone is an unstable molecule and has a half-life of approximately 20 minutes. Shortly after ozone is created, it begins to break down, casting itself to the odor molecules in the car which then produce fresh oxygen. For DIY individuals who won’t be detailing cars on a daily basis, you can pick up consumer-grade ozone generators online for anywhere between $60 to $100.

There are a few safety precautions that must be taken when using an ozone generator. Make sure you’re in a well-ventilated room away from children, people, and pets. Because ozone is a lung irritant, if exposed to direct contact for too long, it can be harmful or even cause death. A rule of thumb is that if you can smell the ozone, you're too close! Next, take your ozone machine and place it in a central area of the vehicle.

After that, start your car in a well-ventilated area (a closed garage is a no-go), and turn on your AC and air recirculation on max. This will help spread the ozone around the cabin, making sure it reaches everything. After you turn on the car's AC system, turn on the ozone machine for 1 hour and immediately close all your car’s doors and windows. After the time has elapsed, unplug the ozone generator, open all the car doors, and step away from the vehicle. You're then going to want the vehicle to air out for at least 30 minutes to an hour. After this, turn off the vehicle and enjoy a smoke-free car driving experience!

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