Smoky interior

WalkerTXR · Apr 18, 2023

Anyone know the best way to get cigar, and cigarette smell out of my truck? I tried foggers, changed out the cabin filter, blow out the vents with compressed air, nothing seems to work.

Treburkulosis · Apr 18, 2023

The only way to properly do it is to run a ozone in it multiple times. It will kill it. I would also hook the battery up to a charger and the recycling mode so its getting in the vents as well.

1SloRam · Apr 18, 2023

Treburkulosis said:
The only way to properly do it is to run a ozone in it multiple times. It will kill it. I would also hook the battery up to a charger and the recycling mode so its getting in the vents as well.

Second the ozone unit. Have even used it in a few rental houses. Steer clear of the area while it’s working though!

Jerrybob · Apr 18, 2023

Stop smoking in your truck! LOL!

gtomike60 · Apr 18, 2023

Ozone machine will be the only thing to work
Like others have said,it may take a few cycles to get the odors out completely

crash68 · Apr 18, 2023

Third vote for using an Ozone Generator. Did a full sized custom van for 45 minutes twice about a week apart and can't smell any of the cigarette or cigar smell. Be sure to air the vehicle out real good after running the generator before occupying.
The units are cheap enough to buy on Amazon: Enerzen Ozone Generator 11,000mg Industrial O3 Air Purifier Deodorizer (11,000mg - Black) https://a.co/d/iK7edET

cryos1999 · Apr 24, 2023

Clean it top to bottom and back again... Especially the headliner and carpet. Make sure any nicotine stains are cleared up before you try an ozone machine... Baught my 2012 last year and cleaned the living crap outta it, and even after an ozone treatment we still have a slight odor.... Good luck

Mike Townsend · Apr 25, 2023

I got a old Dakota for my kid and the previous owner smoked in it a lot. We cleaned the carpet, seats and headliner and the smell never left. We cleaned all of the plastics also but can't remember with what. Then we used Mule wipes on the plastic and all of the embedded nicotine came off. It was pretty gross

WhiteExpress · Apr 25, 2023

A good All Purpose Cleaner and a Steamer should lift the nicotine off the hard surfaces. I doubt you can beat an ozone machine for the soft surfaces, they're detailer's magic.

Treburkulosis · Apr 26, 2023

As far as deep cleaning the hard surfaces I would use Carpro Multi X or Koch Chemie ASC. Those are two of the best on the market. I did a deep clean on mine last year and I scrubbed it with Multi X and one of these. https://www.amazon.com/JSCARLIFE-Sc...1&sprefix=leather+cleaning+sc,aps,194&sr=8-31

Spray it on the brush and get to scrubbing. Make sure you have a clean microfiber towel to wipe it afterwards.

mikeru · Apr 26, 2023

Another vote for ozone generator. I use one in my cigar lounge to keep the smell out of the rest of the house. They're very effective. But as already mentioned, stay out of the truck while it's running.

Justthebutler · Apr 26, 2023

The cigar smell is most likely in the fabric, and glass. If you look at a smokers vehicle the glass is yellow from nicotine if they don't clean on a regular basis.

I had a musty smell from that dang notorious water leak in the rear. Even after I cleaned it, the smell would come back.

The Chemical Guys Lightning Fast Stain Remover did the trick for the deep smells and stains, then I liberally applied the Chemical Guys New Car Scent on the mats and carpet with the truck on recirc for 5 or 10 mins, then put all the windows down to air it out for an hour or so. If the smell is too strong you can vacuum the carpets after the recirc before you air it out.

It doesn't smell like those blue tree new car scents. Its more like a cleaned new car smell. I haven't had to apply it since that and my truck still smells great.

Total side note for anyone who reads, The stain remover is Amazing! I don't know how it does it, but it pulled all the stains out of everywhere I used it; Even a black grease stain that was really stubborn

metalchewy · Apr 26, 2023

Not only is the smell in the seats, carpet, headliner, glass, vents and the like, it is also in the dust behind the dash and in the air box and vents.

On a hot day it all heats up and emits the smell. I bought a smoker truck with a lot of miles on it. After i got it, I Removed the seats, cleaned the carpets, seats, headliners and windows. Everything I could touch. It got somewhat better.

When I dropped the dash to replace the evaporator a few weeks ago, there was a ton of smoky dust all over the firewall backer that seemed to be another spot that reeked into the truck.

Wiped that down multiple times until it was clean and black not tan, and wiped what I could in the vents. CLeaned the airbox inside and out. It was nasty with all sorts of smoky dust and a/c die and dirt. A/c die has that cow crap smell which added to the smoke smell in a bad way.

Now it's all back together again the smell is much less noticeable. Can't hardly smell it on a hot day.

Ac on high, smells new, not like smoky crap.

Justthebutler · Apr 26, 2023

@metalchewy That is crazy! I didn't realize how much stuff accumulates back there. Too bad there's no way to clean it easily or I would add it to my regimen lol.

blue ghost · Apr 26, 2023

Exposure to ozone may cause headaches, coughing, dry throat, shortness of breath, a heavy feeling in chest, and fluid in the lungs. Higher levels of exposure can lead to more severe symptoms. Chronic exposure may lead to asthma. Workers may be harmed from exposure to ozone.

mikeru · Apr 26, 2023

blue ghost said:
Exposure to ozone may cause headaches, coughing, dry throat, shortness of breath, a heavy feeling in chest, and fluid in the lungs. Higher levels of exposure can lead to more severe symptoms. Chronic exposure may lead to asthma. Workers may be harmed from exposure to ozone.

That's why you don't go in when it's running.

Smoke does penetrate into porous materials. Ozone neutralizes the smoke odors but doesn't get rid of the residue. The OP was asking about the odor, which the ozone generator will eliminate. Don't discount it until you try it guys.

Treburkulosis · Apr 27, 2023

Justthebutler said:
The cigar smell is most likely in the fabric, and glass. If you look at a smokers vehicle the glass is yellow from nicotine if they don't clean on a regular basis.

I had a musty smell from that dang notorious water leak in the rear. Even after I cleaned it, the smell would come back.

The Chemical Guys Lightning Fast Stain Remover did the trick for the deep smells and stains, then I liberally applied the Chemical Guys New Car Scent on the mats and carpet with the truck on recirc for 5 or 10 mins, then put all the windows down to air it out for an hour or so. If the smell is too strong you can vacuum the carpets after the recirc before you air it out.

It doesn't smell like those blue tree new car scents. Its more like a cleaned new car smell. I haven't had to apply it since that and my truck still smells great.

View attachment 520051 View attachment 520052

Total side note for anyone who reads, The stain remover is Amazing! I don't know how it does it, but it pulled all the stains out of everywhere I used it; Even a black grease stain that was really stubborn

Pick up some Koch Chemie FU. Its great for stinky interior.

blue ghost · Apr 27, 2023

That's why you don't go in when it's running.

Ozone is colorless, no concerning smell, and symptoms will not show up till hours later. Just a warning, from a person who worked for OSHA and saw what happens to people that do not heed warnings .

BuschLatte420 · May 1, 2023

I used to smoke a lot in my previous vehicles, but I always kept my vehicles immaculate and a new pine tree air freshener weekly. Whenever I smoked I had the windows down didn’t clam bake it. On nice days I would always leave my windows cracked open during the day. Never had a issue. It makes me cringe when I see people smoking cigarettes in their vehicles with all the windows up, especially with poor kids in the back seats! The marijuana might have helped cancel out some of the cigarette smell though as well lmao!

mikeru · May 2, 2023

BuschLatte420 said:
I used to smoke a lot in my previous vehicles, but I always kept my vehicles immaculate and a new pine tree air freshener weekly. Whenever I smoked I had the windows down didn’t clam bake it. On nice days I would always leave my windows cracked open during the day. Never had a issue. It makes me cringe when I see people smoking cigarettes in their vehicles with all the windows up, especially with poor kids in the back seats! The marijuana might have helped cancel out some of the cigarette smell though as well lmao!

You think that because you were the smoker and were not able to smell it. A non-smoker, and even more so, a former smoker, would have had issues with the smell in your interior. Pine tree air fresheners don't cover up cigarette smoke smell. They just make the car smell like pine scented stale smoke. Smoking with the windows down helps. But doesn't prevent the interior from smelling. It just reduces it.

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