mewalsh100
I got a really good deal on a luxury car, but the guy was a smoker and I'm not. What is the best way to get rid of the stale smoke smell in a car? I plan to fully detail the car, so I'm sure that will help, but I'm wondering if there are any tried and true ways? Any auto detailers auto there?
Answer
Yes, we're here. I am anyway. 15 years experience. And I'm considered an interior specialist. I've detailed most every make and model out there. Even luxury and foreign vehicles. (Wanna try nerve wracking? Detail a Porsche worth $300,000 that is truly one of a kind). Getting rid of smoke smell takes time but it's not impossible. Please don't use Febreeze. It doesn't take care of the problem. Wet dog, smoke, body shop smell, dirty bodies, soured milk, rotten meat...I've dealt with it all and more.
The headliner MUST be cleaned - but carefully. Get it too wet and the glue that holds it will give out. And then you have a falling headliner to contend with. You should be able to tell where the most smoking took place in the car by the color of the headliner (unless it's a really dark color). That's where you want to really make sure you clean well. Citrus based cleaners are the best for this. May I recommend Lustro's Citrex? (It's listed under degreasers on the site but depending on how you mix it it's multipurpose with no dyes to mar your interior). Yes it's a bit spendy but well worth it and as a concentrate it goes a long way. Add a bit of their upholstery shampoo and you have an amazing cleaner. You want a soft brush to use for the interior. Stiff brushes are only good for carpet and mats. I use a separate brush for carpets and a completely different one for seats, door panels, etc. An odor absorber like charcoal wouldn't be amiss either. Just make sure you put it in a bag of some sort that will breathe yet keep the material contained. Vinegar in a dish placed in the car (while parked) will help as well.
Here's what 99% of people miss - your cabin airflow. Get a new cabin air filter if the car has one. And get a quality odor killer. With the car running, have it on outside or fresh air and fan on high. Find your outside inlets. They are usually by the wipers. Spray some directly in there. Wouldn't hurt to do this before you change the cabin air filter and after. If the previous owner used the recycle setting for the air flow it requires a further step. You should be able to tell when you run the fan on higher settings. If it smells musty, smoky, stinky or just "off" it is an easy fix. Change the setting to recirculate after spraying some more odor killer in the outside inlet. If it smells really bad turn on the a/c but put the temp setting on heat. And again, use fresh air setting and recycle. That will 'cook' out a lot of stuff. You might want to open all the doors for this and stand back.
And since we're talking about interiors let's go over dressings. Please don't use Armor all. You want a good quality, silicone free dressing. Armor all is neither. It also will leave a film on your windshield when the interior gets hot. And it attracts dirt and dust and plugs the pores of the dash. Emulsion 36 is the best I have found. It doesn't plug the pores of anything it's put on. A little goes a long way and it lasts. It can restore the look of vinyl and leather and some plastics back to new.
Using a carpet cleaner/extractor on the mats and carpets would be a good idea as well. If you don't have access to one a gallon jug and a wet/dry shop vac will do.
I'm not a Lustro rep. Every shop I've worked at has changed over to their products because they work if used right. The true test is time. What does the car look like after sitting on the sales lot for a couple months? I've done my homework and not only researched the different products out there but I've used them as well. I'd do half a car in one product line and the other half in something else. Nothing like a side by side comparison to really show differences. Drop me a line if you have any more questions. But most of all, have fun detailing your car. Take a few days to do it if need be.
p.s. Don't forget to take out the ashtray and clean it as well. A toothbrush is a great interior brush that works great for things like ashtrays.
Yes, we're here. I am anyway. 15 years experience. And I'm considered an interior specialist. I've detailed most every make and model out there. Even luxury and foreign vehicles. (Wanna try nerve wracking? Detail a Porsche worth $300,000 that is truly one of a kind). Getting rid of smoke smell takes time but it's not impossible. Please don't use Febreeze. It doesn't take care of the problem. Wet dog, smoke, body shop smell, dirty bodies, soured milk, rotten meat...I've dealt with it all and more.
The headliner MUST be cleaned - but carefully. Get it too wet and the glue that holds it will give out. And then you have a falling headliner to contend with. You should be able to tell where the most smoking took place in the car by the color of the headliner (unless it's a really dark color). That's where you want to really make sure you clean well. Citrus based cleaners are the best for this. May I recommend Lustro's Citrex? (It's listed under degreasers on the site but depending on how you mix it it's multipurpose with no dyes to mar your interior). Yes it's a bit spendy but well worth it and as a concentrate it goes a long way. Add a bit of their upholstery shampoo and you have an amazing cleaner. You want a soft brush to use for the interior. Stiff brushes are only good for carpet and mats. I use a separate brush for carpets and a completely different one for seats, door panels, etc. An odor absorber like charcoal wouldn't be amiss either. Just make sure you put it in a bag of some sort that will breathe yet keep the material contained. Vinegar in a dish placed in the car (while parked) will help as well.
Here's what 99% of people miss - your cabin airflow. Get a new cabin air filter if the car has one. And get a quality odor killer. With the car running, have it on outside or fresh air and fan on high. Find your outside inlets. They are usually by the wipers. Spray some directly in there. Wouldn't hurt to do this before you change the cabin air filter and after. If the previous owner used the recycle setting for the air flow it requires a further step. You should be able to tell when you run the fan on higher settings. If it smells musty, smoky, stinky or just "off" it is an easy fix. Change the setting to recirculate after spraying some more odor killer in the outside inlet. If it smells really bad turn on the a/c but put the temp setting on heat. And again, use fresh air setting and recycle. That will 'cook' out a lot of stuff. You might want to open all the doors for this and stand back.
And since we're talking about interiors let's go over dressings. Please don't use Armor all. You want a good quality, silicone free dressing. Armor all is neither. It also will leave a film on your windshield when the interior gets hot. And it attracts dirt and dust and plugs the pores of the dash. Emulsion 36 is the best I have found. It doesn't plug the pores of anything it's put on. A little goes a long way and it lasts. It can restore the look of vinyl and leather and some plastics back to new.
Using a carpet cleaner/extractor on the mats and carpets would be a good idea as well. If you don't have access to one a gallon jug and a wet/dry shop vac will do.
I'm not a Lustro rep. Every shop I've worked at has changed over to their products because they work if used right. The true test is time. What does the car look like after sitting on the sales lot for a couple months? I've done my homework and not only researched the different products out there but I've used them as well. I'd do half a car in one product line and the other half in something else. Nothing like a side by side comparison to really show differences. Drop me a line if you have any more questions. But most of all, have fun detailing your car. Take a few days to do it if need be.
p.s. Don't forget to take out the ashtray and clean it as well. A toothbrush is a great interior brush that works great for things like ashtrays.
I want to learn about cars but I don't know many, can you help please?
Rahin A
Can you list all the car companies please and what type of car it is like muscle, luxury, or what other type there is.
I DONT WANT COMPANY NAMES I WANT THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF CARS EVERY COMPANY MAKES
Example: Ford Mustang, Ford Taurus, Chevy Comaro
Answer
Pretty much every car company makes every type of car. I'll try to break it down, tho.
Toyota
-Most statistically reliable make
-Owns the 'Lexus' brand, the most reliable 'brand'
-Also owns the somewhat less popular 'Scion' brand
-Cars are usually Front-wheel-drive (FWD)
-High initial prices, will last forever with few faults
-Generally dull cars, mostly bought by people who just want a car that will never give them grief
-Notable cars:
-Corolla: Very spacious for such a small car, used as taxis in a lot of areas
-Camry: Exceptional mid-size car for those who don't really worry about the 'fun' factor
-Lexus LS: Most reliable car since its inception in 1991
-'Hilux-Diesel' trucks: Not available in North America, this 2.4L Diesel engine is available in the 4Runner, the Tacoma, and the former Land Cruiser. These trucks are generally considered to be the most rugged vehicles available. A Hilux Tacoma and two Hilux 4Runners made history as the first vehicles to actually DRIVE to the ice-capped north pole.
Honda
-Second most reliable make
-Owns the 'Acura' brand
-Mostly FWD cars
-While it trails Toyota in reliability, Honda's are generally considered pleasurable to drive, and slightly cheaper for comparable models.
-Honda's tend to be lighter than comparable cars, but don't suffer in crash test ratings.
-Resale values reflect the more desirable cars
-Notable cars:
-Civic: A small car with a very sporty feel. The performance is often deceiving, as a lot of young drivers mistake the low-speed performance (comparable to some BMW's) as indicative of full-speed performance, leading to many understeer-related crashes (a common problem in FWDs). A very good car, provided one realizes that it cannot keep up with a proper sport sedan at speed
-Accord: A very well-priced mid-size car given the technicals. Also FWD. Also very good until pushed to its limits.
Ford
-Despite historically abysmally unreliable cars, has clawed its way up to become the third most reliable make.
-Owns Lincoln, Volvo, Aston Martin and a notable stake in Mazda brands
-Recently sold Jaguar and Land Rover brands to Tata of India
-Historically preferred Rear-wheel-drive (RWD) but current cars prefer FWD models with All-wheel-drive (AWD) options.
-Volvo has long since lost its place as the most safe brand, but this is mostly due to the appearance of minivans, which are the most safe of all vehicle classes, and Volvo does not make a minivan
-Ford is not making money currently, but has yet to request a US federal bailout
-Aston Martin vehicles are oft considered the most beautiful cars available, although they don't stack up in performance to their contemporaries from Italy on a race track.
-The Ford brand remains profitable in Europe, driven by sales of the Focus and Mondeo
-Notable vehicles:
-F-150: Pick-up truck. Top selling vehicle in North America in 2008.
-Focus: Compact. Took top-selling vehicle title worldwide the year it was released in 1998, and has stayed at or near that position since then. Considered the sportiest car in its class, and is considered the turning point of Ford's reliability image.
-Mustang: Ford's muscle car. Available in 'Poser' (V6) and 'GT' (V8). RWD. Also available in 'Why did we drop the aluminium engine for a stupid-heavy steel block when we could have just supercharged it' Shelby GT 500.
-Transit: Most popular work van produced. Most commonly equipped with a small 2.4L Diesel.
-Escape: A very popular small SUV with a hybrid option.
-General Motors
-Also has clawed its way up the reliability scale to #4.
-Owns 'Cadillac', which surprised the world by becoming the second most reliable brand (note that make is the builder, brand is the logo on the front of the car) in 2007
-Also owns Buick, Chevrolet, Saturn, Pontiac, Saab, Hummer and has partnerships with Suzuki, Subaru and Toyota.
-Hummer brand vehicles used to be used as forward attack vehicles by the American military, but since their use as defensive vehicles has proved ineffective, the contracts have ceased. General motors is currently shopping the brand around to raise capital
-General motors lost $52 billion in fiscal 2008, compared to the Canadian deficit of $50 billion. So to speak, GM lost more money than Canada.
-The Buick brand is profitable in China
-Notable vehicles:
-Saab 9-2x: A Subaru Impreza with some aesthetic touches. Still very well priced.
-Chevy Malibu: A very well positioned car often considered better than the Accord, Camry, and Ford Fusion. The hybrid is particularly well positioned.
-Pontiac Vibe: A Toyota Matrix, literally. The two vehicles represent a collaboration between the two automakers. A sensible small wagon.
-Camaro: Chevy's pony car. It is projected to remain far behind the Mustang in sales, as it always has.
Hyundai
-Surprisingly, Hyundai shows strong as the fifth most reliable make
-Strong recovery since offering ten-year insured warranties in the early 2000's.
-Owns Kia
-Spectacular value but considered cheap by many
-More expensive models don't carry the Hyundai logo
-Notable cars:
-Tiberon: A well priced car that some would call the only FWD sports car, due to its spectacular weight distribution.
-Kia Sedona: Minivan. Surprised the world in 2005 by taking the title of 'safest production vehicle'.
-Accent: A very affordable car which comes standard with everything a car should have but nothing that isn't needed. If you aren't concerned about image or driving enjoyment, this should be the first car you test-drive.
-XG350: A spectacular value that, given its price, is oft considered near-luxury. While it is not on par with cars such as the Lexus ES, the fact it costs barely over half the price makes this fully-equipped car worth the look.
-Genesis: Fresh on the market, this car is aimed to take on the Infiniti G37, BMW 335, Mercedes C350, Audi A4 3.2, and all at thousands less.
Volkswagen
-Owns Audi, Lamborghini and Bentley, and a notable stake in Porsche
-World leader in passenger-vehicle turboo-diesel engines, which are notably more efficient than hybrid gasoline engines
-Other than Bentley and Porsche, all Volkswagen vehicles are FWD with AWD options or solely AWD.
-Notable cars:
-Golf: The primary competitors to the Ford Focus
-City Golf: The previous model of the Golf, produced in Mexico for American sale at a notable discount
-Audi A5 and R8: Wait-lists were so long for these vehicles that test-drives were unavailable in 2008. The demand was so strong that if you wanted one you had to buy it having never sat in one.
I'm going to have to finish this tomorrow.
Pretty much every car company makes every type of car. I'll try to break it down, tho.
Toyota
-Most statistically reliable make
-Owns the 'Lexus' brand, the most reliable 'brand'
-Also owns the somewhat less popular 'Scion' brand
-Cars are usually Front-wheel-drive (FWD)
-High initial prices, will last forever with few faults
-Generally dull cars, mostly bought by people who just want a car that will never give them grief
-Notable cars:
-Corolla: Very spacious for such a small car, used as taxis in a lot of areas
-Camry: Exceptional mid-size car for those who don't really worry about the 'fun' factor
-Lexus LS: Most reliable car since its inception in 1991
-'Hilux-Diesel' trucks: Not available in North America, this 2.4L Diesel engine is available in the 4Runner, the Tacoma, and the former Land Cruiser. These trucks are generally considered to be the most rugged vehicles available. A Hilux Tacoma and two Hilux 4Runners made history as the first vehicles to actually DRIVE to the ice-capped north pole.
Honda
-Second most reliable make
-Owns the 'Acura' brand
-Mostly FWD cars
-While it trails Toyota in reliability, Honda's are generally considered pleasurable to drive, and slightly cheaper for comparable models.
-Honda's tend to be lighter than comparable cars, but don't suffer in crash test ratings.
-Resale values reflect the more desirable cars
-Notable cars:
-Civic: A small car with a very sporty feel. The performance is often deceiving, as a lot of young drivers mistake the low-speed performance (comparable to some BMW's) as indicative of full-speed performance, leading to many understeer-related crashes (a common problem in FWDs). A very good car, provided one realizes that it cannot keep up with a proper sport sedan at speed
-Accord: A very well-priced mid-size car given the technicals. Also FWD. Also very good until pushed to its limits.
Ford
-Despite historically abysmally unreliable cars, has clawed its way up to become the third most reliable make.
-Owns Lincoln, Volvo, Aston Martin and a notable stake in Mazda brands
-Recently sold Jaguar and Land Rover brands to Tata of India
-Historically preferred Rear-wheel-drive (RWD) but current cars prefer FWD models with All-wheel-drive (AWD) options.
-Volvo has long since lost its place as the most safe brand, but this is mostly due to the appearance of minivans, which are the most safe of all vehicle classes, and Volvo does not make a minivan
-Ford is not making money currently, but has yet to request a US federal bailout
-Aston Martin vehicles are oft considered the most beautiful cars available, although they don't stack up in performance to their contemporaries from Italy on a race track.
-The Ford brand remains profitable in Europe, driven by sales of the Focus and Mondeo
-Notable vehicles:
-F-150: Pick-up truck. Top selling vehicle in North America in 2008.
-Focus: Compact. Took top-selling vehicle title worldwide the year it was released in 1998, and has stayed at or near that position since then. Considered the sportiest car in its class, and is considered the turning point of Ford's reliability image.
-Mustang: Ford's muscle car. Available in 'Poser' (V6) and 'GT' (V8). RWD. Also available in 'Why did we drop the aluminium engine for a stupid-heavy steel block when we could have just supercharged it' Shelby GT 500.
-Transit: Most popular work van produced. Most commonly equipped with a small 2.4L Diesel.
-Escape: A very popular small SUV with a hybrid option.
-General Motors
-Also has clawed its way up the reliability scale to #4.
-Owns 'Cadillac', which surprised the world by becoming the second most reliable brand (note that make is the builder, brand is the logo on the front of the car) in 2007
-Also owns Buick, Chevrolet, Saturn, Pontiac, Saab, Hummer and has partnerships with Suzuki, Subaru and Toyota.
-Hummer brand vehicles used to be used as forward attack vehicles by the American military, but since their use as defensive vehicles has proved ineffective, the contracts have ceased. General motors is currently shopping the brand around to raise capital
-General motors lost $52 billion in fiscal 2008, compared to the Canadian deficit of $50 billion. So to speak, GM lost more money than Canada.
-The Buick brand is profitable in China
-Notable vehicles:
-Saab 9-2x: A Subaru Impreza with some aesthetic touches. Still very well priced.
-Chevy Malibu: A very well positioned car often considered better than the Accord, Camry, and Ford Fusion. The hybrid is particularly well positioned.
-Pontiac Vibe: A Toyota Matrix, literally. The two vehicles represent a collaboration between the two automakers. A sensible small wagon.
-Camaro: Chevy's pony car. It is projected to remain far behind the Mustang in sales, as it always has.
Hyundai
-Surprisingly, Hyundai shows strong as the fifth most reliable make
-Strong recovery since offering ten-year insured warranties in the early 2000's.
-Owns Kia
-Spectacular value but considered cheap by many
-More expensive models don't carry the Hyundai logo
-Notable cars:
-Tiberon: A well priced car that some would call the only FWD sports car, due to its spectacular weight distribution.
-Kia Sedona: Minivan. Surprised the world in 2005 by taking the title of 'safest production vehicle'.
-Accent: A very affordable car which comes standard with everything a car should have but nothing that isn't needed. If you aren't concerned about image or driving enjoyment, this should be the first car you test-drive.
-XG350: A spectacular value that, given its price, is oft considered near-luxury. While it is not on par with cars such as the Lexus ES, the fact it costs barely over half the price makes this fully-equipped car worth the look.
-Genesis: Fresh on the market, this car is aimed to take on the Infiniti G37, BMW 335, Mercedes C350, Audi A4 3.2, and all at thousands less.
Volkswagen
-Owns Audi, Lamborghini and Bentley, and a notable stake in Porsche
-World leader in passenger-vehicle turboo-diesel engines, which are notably more efficient than hybrid gasoline engines
-Other than Bentley and Porsche, all Volkswagen vehicles are FWD with AWD options or solely AWD.
-Notable cars:
-Golf: The primary competitors to the Ford Focus
-City Golf: The previous model of the Golf, produced in Mexico for American sale at a notable discount
-Audi A5 and R8: Wait-lists were so long for these vehicles that test-drives were unavailable in 2008. The demand was so strong that if you wanted one you had to buy it having never sat in one.
I'm going to have to finish this tomorrow.
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