Smoker's Odor Interior

[KirbyT]

Does anyone have products or methods to help eliminate that smoker's smell from a used vehicle?

At MTE OdoRize from Florida was touting their products as a way to kill that smell. I have seen no strong reviews to trust...
WG Product Line

I know that a few vendors do offer a chemical "odor bombs" such as the P&S Odor Doc and similar products but never have used any of these type. Ozone machines are the alternative quoted by many detailers but they too have people say yes and no on the results.

Vehicle is from a potential customer, a 2020 Mazda CX-9 SUV with leather interior. Car purchased with no smells but that was two months ago and now the smells have become noticeable. I suspect the Houston humidity has activated that source and the car was sold and given a light treatment to mask the odors.

Any suggestions for products or methods and how much is the service worth? I will not guarantee the smell will not be fully eliminated but can only try to resolve the issue.

Kirby Thomson
dba MyGuy Auto Detailing

 

[Mike Phillips]

Hi Kirby,

As you know from taking 3 of my classes, (thank you), I'm not known as Mike the famous Interior Detailer", it's not my passion. I can get an interior just as clean as the next guy but I prefer to let others have the blessing.

My colleague here at AutoForge, Nick Rutter, purchased an Ozone Generator of the Big River Company and says it works great for removing most foul odors. I'll ask him which model he purchased and get back to you. I don know he used it just this last week to remove either cigarette or cigar odors out of the inside of a friends SUV and again - he said it worked great.


-Mike

LOL

 

[KirbyT]

Thanks Mike, I was really looking forward to this forum to grow again and get more readership! Looking forward to buying more products from the Autoforge.net once I thin down my stash from your past....LOL

Yes, I would be interested in learning more from Nick's Ozone experience, just hate these type of requests where it is like a bad game of darts. You can hit the board but can you really come out tops?

Stay cool and will consider another class in future. FYI, I have attended 4-classes with your and others. Griot's Garage, Autogeek Show Car class Jan-2019, Roadshow class Austin, TX, and finally the Show Car Class from Sept-2020 (earned my SV).

And yes, you need to stay strong on paint and let others do interiors.

 

[Mike Phillips]

Stay cool and will consider another class in future. FYI, I have attended 4-classes with your and others.

Autogeek Roadshow Class at Griot's Garage
Autogeek Show Car Class Jan-2019
Autogeek Roadshow Class Austin, TX
And finally the Show Car Class from Sept-2020 (earned my SV).

Thanks for the correction. All 4 classes were GREAT! Cool people and cool cars!

And yes, you need to stay strong on paint and let others do interiors.

Will do. Stay true to your core strengths. Completely happy to let someone else carve out the interior segment of our industry.


-Mike Phillips

 

[Big Dave]

I used an Air-conditioning Cleaning Bomb in one of my previous cars, it had smokers stink rear it's ugly head a few weeks after I'd bought it second hand. The interior smelt very clinical for a week or so after using it. The cigarette stink never really came back, sometimes I thought I could smell it, but only just.

With the vehicle idling, air con on the coolest setting, fan on full, and set on recirculate, you set it off inside and leave the car completely sealed for 15 - 20 minutes. The brand I seem to remember using was Einzett, which is now Nextzett I believe.

And stand back when you open it after, don't stand in the door like I did and get a lung full, it wasn't pleasant.

 

[Mike Phillips]

I used an Air-conditioning Cleaning Bomb in one of my previous cars, it had smokers stink rear it's ugly head a few weeks after I'd bought it second hand. The interior smelt very clinical for a week or so after using it. The cigarette stink never really came back, sometimes I thought I could smell it, but only just.

With the vehicle idling, air con on the coolest setting, fan on full, and set on recirculate, you set it off inside and leave the car completely sealed for 15 - 20 minutes. The brand I seem to remember using was Einzett, which is now Nextzett I believe.

And stand back when you open it after, don't stand in the door like I did and get a lung full, it wasn't pleasant.

Thanks for sharing. I hope I never get asked to remover cigarette or cigar smoke odor from a car, mostly because I think the expectations from the owner/customer are perfection and think this is a challenging goal to meet for this type of problem, but if I do get asked, I'll give the Nextzett Klima Cleaner Air Conditioner Cleaner a try.

We also carry this on AutoForge.net

Nextzett Klima Cleaner Air Conditioner Cleaner


-Mike

 

[Big Dave]

That's brought back a memory, I used the Einzett version of Klima Cleaner Air Conditioner Cleaner at the same time, fed the hose down the vents and sprayed away. The stink was at its worst when the car was parked in the sun. Using both got rid of it enough that I could mask what was left with air fresheners spayed into the carpet and roof liner.