Now..now...it works...and you can put dry cat litter in a fire safe, it works just as well as the 20 buck cannister sold in gunshops.
Stale smoke smell...
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Elder User
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 966
Likes: 1
From: Too far north of I-10
Stale smoke smell...
Hey folks! I quit smoking a few weeks ago and am now super sensitive to the smell of cigarette smoke. I'm not one of those hypocrit, militant ex-smokers, I just don't want that smell in my truck anymore. When I sold used cars, I had customers flat refuse to buy a car because the former owner smoked in it. Even after a good detailing, the smell was still there. I'm planning on using the wife's carpet cleaner and emptying an entire bottle of Febreeze inside, but I don't think it's going to work. Any advice? Also, the carpet cleaner I'm going to use is for household carpet. It heats the water up super hot, sprays it into the carpet, and sucks it out. Would it be ok to clean my headboard with it? Anyone know what the headboard of a 1998 Ford F150 is made of?
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
You will NEVER get the smell out.
You can reduce it slightly. Take the seat out first. SCRUB every surface (cloth, metal, glass, rubber, and plastic) of the vehicle top to bottom with the carpet cleaner, windex, and whatever else you can find that may take the scum off. Unfortunately the nicotine and tar scum is inside the heater, in the carpet pad, and under the dash, coating every wire and fiber of the vehicle. An ungodly stinking mess. Now throw the seat away if you can. Otherwise you will need to take it apart and get every part clean. Remove the foam and put it in the shower or bath with good cleaner. Let it all dry and put it back together. Fart a lot and maybe the vehicle will smell better after a while...
You can reduce it slightly. Take the seat out first. SCRUB every surface (cloth, metal, glass, rubber, and plastic) of the vehicle top to bottom with the carpet cleaner, windex, and whatever else you can find that may take the scum off. Unfortunately the nicotine and tar scum is inside the heater, in the carpet pad, and under the dash, coating every wire and fiber of the vehicle. An ungodly stinking mess. Now throw the seat away if you can. Otherwise you will need to take it apart and get every part clean. Remove the foam and put it in the shower or bath with good cleaner. Let it all dry and put it back together. Fart a lot and maybe the vehicle will smell better after a while...
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 785
From: Simi Valley, CA
meow
Spray Ozium in the A/C heater vents.
Park the vehicle outside in the sun. Roll up the windows.
Pour some Jonny Cat in a good sized pot, heat it in the oven for one hour at 350 degrees. Put a piece of wood or metal on the carpet around the passenger floor, to prevent scorching. Put the pot inside the truck. The Jonny Cat will absorb moisture and stale odors. To reuse, heat it up again...Say "I don't know." when the wife asks, "what's that smell coming from the oven?" It'll stink, only when it's reheated.
This process also works to de-humidify fire (gun) safes.
Jonny Cat is kitty litter.
Park the vehicle outside in the sun. Roll up the windows.
Pour some Jonny Cat in a good sized pot, heat it in the oven for one hour at 350 degrees. Put a piece of wood or metal on the carpet around the passenger floor, to prevent scorching. Put the pot inside the truck. The Jonny Cat will absorb moisture and stale odors. To reuse, heat it up again...Say "I don't know." when the wife asks, "what's that smell coming from the oven?" It'll stink, only when it's reheated.
This process also works to de-humidify fire (gun) safes.
Jonny Cat is kitty litter.
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,628
Likes: 0
From: Calgary, Canada
I've seen professional in the odor remediation biz, recommend lemons for odor removal.
Regardless of what you use, it won't be a quick fix and will likely be more like 6 months to a year before you'll not be able to smell smoke.
After the truck is warmed up, take about $10.00 worth of lemons, sliced thin and put the slices in dishes or dinner plates, one on the dash, a couple on the floor and a couple on the seat, put the heater on full and set on 'recirc' and let it run for an hour, then shut off and let it sit for as long as possible, preferrably in a warm place... like 8 - 12 hours or so and see if that helps.
I just kinda made up that process on the fly, but it seems reasonable to me and I'd try it if I had that problem.
Also if you google "deodorizer fogger", there are some fogger type things that get everywhere, but they're about 45 bucks a pop. Probably work quite well though...
Regardless of what you use, it won't be a quick fix and will likely be more like 6 months to a year before you'll not be able to smell smoke.
After the truck is warmed up, take about $10.00 worth of lemons, sliced thin and put the slices in dishes or dinner plates, one on the dash, a couple on the floor and a couple on the seat, put the heater on full and set on 'recirc' and let it run for an hour, then shut off and let it sit for as long as possible, preferrably in a warm place... like 8 - 12 hours or so and see if that helps.
I just kinda made up that process on the fly, but it seems reasonable to me and I'd try it if I had that problem.
Also if you google "deodorizer fogger", there are some fogger type things that get everywhere, but they're about 45 bucks a pop. Probably work quite well though...
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,646
Likes: 1
From: Milky Way Galaxy
I saw these things when I was searching through one of the site sponsors, Top Of The Line.
http://topoftheline.com/odorbomb.html
I've never used them, but they seem like a good idea. They also have other odor removal products.
http://topoftheline.com/odorbomb.html
I've never used them, but they seem like a good idea. They also have other odor removal products.
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More Turbo
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 687
Likes: 1
Most headliners these days are cloth bonded to foam, bonded to heavy cardboard.
I'd be leery of using a upholstery cleaner on it. You might look into a replacement custom fit headliner, or hope a fresh carpet and seat would offset the headliner.
Citrus and eucalyptus oil make good air fresheners to leave in a vehicle for a couple
of warm days.
I'd be leery of using a upholstery cleaner on it. You might look into a replacement custom fit headliner, or hope a fresh carpet and seat would offset the headliner.
Citrus and eucalyptus oil make good air fresheners to leave in a vehicle for a couple
of warm days.
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
Likes: 22
From: The Big, Oregon
Febreeze works decently on cloth surfaces, but if you used the ash tray, that's probably where the smell is coming from. Pull it out and wash it thoroughly with hot soapy water, maybe run it through the dishwasher, and your smell should go away quite a bit.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2,246
Likes: 2
From: Hawkeye Country
the previous owner of my 86 f150 smoked in it, the truck had a ratty old seat cover in it so i tore that out. i removed the ashtray, and pulled out the floor mats. i used some wicked amonia glasscleaner on all the glass, i ammor alled every vinyl piece countless times.
i tried what i call the axe bomb, take a can of axe body spray, tape the spray lever down and leave it on the seat with the windows up. i have about a hundred pine tree air fresheners tucked up under the dash and behind/under the seat.
i drove the truck around all summer with the windows down. i used the air fresheners that clip to the vents, i ran the vent on full blast.
fabreeze is your friend, by the generic cheap stuff becouse your gonna use alot of it. if you park your truck in a garage leave the doors open over night, and use to fan to help blow the stink out.
as a former smoker myself i cant stand the smell anymore, i smoked in my 82 f100 for a few years, it hasnt been smoked in since 2003 it took about 3 years but the smell is gone.
i tried what i call the axe bomb, take a can of axe body spray, tape the spray lever down and leave it on the seat with the windows up. i have about a hundred pine tree air fresheners tucked up under the dash and behind/under the seat.
i drove the truck around all summer with the windows down. i used the air fresheners that clip to the vents, i ran the vent on full blast.
fabreeze is your friend, by the generic cheap stuff becouse your gonna use alot of it. if you park your truck in a garage leave the doors open over night, and use to fan to help blow the stink out.
as a former smoker myself i cant stand the smell anymore, i smoked in my 82 f100 for a few years, it hasnt been smoked in since 2003 it took about 3 years but the smell is gone.
Admom
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 9,414
Likes: 201
From: Silver Springs
I've tried Fabreeze and many other products for various purposes. The only thing I've found that works is OdoBan. I got a gallon of it at Sams Club quite some time ago and have given most of it out to friends/family for cat spray, dog odors, bosses mom-in-law's pissy sheets/clothes (managed care sucks) and cig's. I've even used it in the wash when Hubby gets diesel on his clothes.
I still have more than enough for my needs so don't know if Sams still carries it, but I know you can get it online. The stuff smells like that sickening sweet nursing home smell for a couple days, but once that smell goes away, so goes the smell you're trying to get rid of.
Put it in a spray bottle diluted with some water, lightly spray everything, let it dry and you're done.
I still have more than enough for my needs so don't know if Sams still carries it, but I know you can get it online. The stuff smells like that sickening sweet nursing home smell for a couple days, but once that smell goes away, so goes the smell you're trying to get rid of.
Put it in a spray bottle diluted with some water, lightly spray everything, let it dry and you're done.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,175
Likes: 0
From: charlotte nc
spray some air cleaner into the ducts with the engine off, Then crank engine and turn on the ac full blast with both doors open. You have to nutralize the order not cover it up........then go get several of the "new car smell" deoderizers from autozone and hang them up in the car for 2 days with the doors and windows shut,,,,,,,,,I bet this will solve your problem once and for all
Last edited by thefarelaneman; Jan 21, 2007 at 11:01 PM.