Can’t get rid of the smell of smoke in your car? We know how frustrating a lingering smell can be – and you deserve to drive comfortably, with no distractions.

Even if you’re rolling down your windows, the smoke smell can linger on your car seats, surfaces and floors.

We’re here to talk you through the steps to removing a smoke smell from your car, so that you can get back to driving in style.

 

Step One: Remove Any Visible Signs of Smoke

Using an interior brush, you can sweep away any visible residue from cigarettes or cigars that is making your car look and smell dirty.

 

Step Two: Hoover Up Any Smoke Ash

Now that you’ve swept the ash, you can hoover up any that you haven’t already been able to remove from your car to help lift the odour particles.

You can change the attachment on a cordless vacuum or use one that is designed for cars.

Be sure to check the floors, footwells and upholstery, and check your car’s storage compartments for any cigarette butts and ash, too.

 

Step Three: Use an Interior Car Shampoo

If you want to lift smoke smells from surfaces, a shampoo designed for your car’s interior can be used to remove any dirt or grime – whilst leaving a nicer smell behind.

Most interior shampoos can be used on the steering wheel, doors and plastics in your car.

Or you can buy all-surface cleaners that are designed for cars with odour-eliminating in mind.

These cleaners can deodorise your surfaces when you work them in with a microfibre cloth.

Wear rubber gloves and scrub your upholstery and footwells with an upholstery cleaner.

Get a sponge, cloth and bucket of warm water and take time on each section of the car, using fresh soapy water when it starts to look dirty.

Leave the seats to dry completely, ideally with the windows down.

For an extra clean, why not scatter baking soda over the floors and seat and leave it for a few days before hoovering it up?

 

Step Four: Clean Your Car’s Vents

Your car’s air vents can gather dust, mould and bacteria over time – and can end up smelling bad even without the addition of smoke smells.

Smoke particles can permeate your car’s vents until they are removed, so it’s worth giving your vents a good clean.

To give your air vents a light clean, use a soft brush or air duster – you can also use a product designed to eliminate odours that is safe to use in your vents, following the instructions that come with the product.

You can use your hoover nozzle on the air vents to remove some of the build-up.

If the smell is particularly bad, seeking professional help with an air conditioning service may be the best option.

 

How Can I Reduce Smoke Smells in My Car?

To try and reduce the smell of smoke in your car going forwards, there are a few things that can help:

  • Don’t leave used cigarettes in your car

  • Always smoke with the windows open

  • Wash the inside of your windscreen after you smoke

  • Wash car seats with suitable products weekly

  • Hose down rubber mats with the right products

For a couple more unusual tips, keeping blocks of charcoal in hidden areas like the car door bins or leaving a bowl of freeze-dried instant coffee in your car overnight can sometimes help with unpleasant smells.

So, there you have it. By using the right products and being diligent, you can reduce the smoke smell in your car, so you can get back to enjoying the journey.