Though many people think nothing of smoking in the car while they drive, this noticeable odor sticks around and can be a nuisance. Cigarette smoke clings to every surface it touches, and the smell can linger long after the cigarette is gone. Freshening up the smell of your vehicle and removing these unwanted odors requires little more than a little time and a few household materials.

1. Mix white vinegar and warm water in a bucket at a ratio of one part vinegar to two parts water.

2. Add a scoop of baking soda to the solution. This will cause bubbles and fizz so be sure that there is enough room in the bucket to avoid overflow.

3. Vacuum the interior of the car to get rid of any ashes and dirt.

4. Empty out the ashtray and wash it out with warm soapy water. Dry it well with a clean cloth before putting it back in the car.

5. Wipe down the interior of the vehicle with the solution, but don’t use it on the fabric. Use a clean cloth and a soft bristle brush to get into harder to reach areas.

6. Sprinkle baking soda all over the seats and carpet and leave it there overnight.

7. Vacuum up the baking soda in the morning.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep baking soda in the ashtray and clean the car’s interior regularly if you plan to continue smoking in the vehicle.
• Set a bowl of white vinegar in the vehicle overnight when the smell gets bad and you don’t have time to clean it out. This will help to cut back on some of the odor.

Tags: car, maintenance, smoke smell

This entry was posted on Friday, April 17th, 2009 at 3:31 pm and is filed under Automotive. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.