[968Z]

Ok, I'm not an anti-smoking Nazi. Just wanted to make that clear up front. I had the cab top replaced last week. Great job, but apparently everybody at the upholstery shop smoked like a chimney (probably not wise for business in an auto and furniture upholstery shop), but I digress. My car now has that "smoked in" smell, and I can't semm to get rid of it. It has been a smoke free car for all of its 134K miles, and I would like to return to that if at all possible. Is there anything that can be recommended barring a complete detail job? The smell is even in the new top.

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[Darryl]

That would irritate me as well...not very professional/courteous. I would try Febreeze or similar product but I'd be real careful to make sure whatever you use doesn't fade or damage the new top. Something like that may also work on the carpets. Consult a professional cleaning service to see what they may recommend. It may fade eventually with lots of top down driving and I'd leave the top down whenever possible if you have a garage. I've got a stale smell in my cab which I think is combination old cigarette and old leather. I plan on a good spring cleaning of the interior.



- Darryl

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[jeffm40]

This is not one of granny's old tricks but it does work.. Take an apple and cut it into several small peices. Put it on plates in floorboard, back foot rest area and cargo area. Leave it overnight and into the day and the apples will absorb the smoke smell completely.

Trust me it works!

Good luck!

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[Greimann]

Professional smoke abatement services use ozone generators to remove smoke smell from furniture, carpets, drapes etc. Perhaps there is a vehicle service that uses the same technology. Try the yellow pages.



Otherwise, if you wanted to mask the smell, try 40 or 50 pine tree mirror danglers <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[968Z]

Ok, I'll bite! I've got to try the apple thing. If nothing else, I'll prove or disprove the process! I'll report the results here. It's worth a shot.

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[waikiki968]

[quote name='968Z' date='Jan 22 2006, 05:04 PM']Ok, I'll bite!  I've got to try the apple thing.  If nothing else, I'll prove or disprove the process!  I'll report the results here.  It's woth a shot.

[right][post="14926"]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/post][/right][/quote]

I second the Ozone Generator. I've used this successfully in boats and cars and after a couple of days you won't even know the problem existed. Inexpensive generators can be had from many sources--the best I've found (read expensive) have come from http://www.bilgebuster.com. If it can control boat head odors, cigarette odor is not a problem. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/tongue.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[Mark]

If the apple doesn't work try sprinkling coffee grounds (unused) around the car then vacuum after a day or two. Ozone machines work well and I believe you can rent one fairly cheap.

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[flash]

i assume you are not a smoker - if that is true, then, am i missing the obvious? - TAKE IT BACK! this is unacceptable workmanship - make them correct it - you didn't pay to have your new top laden with that smell

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[kramermic]

Flash, i was thinking the same thing when i first read this.

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[flash]

yeah - it sucks and it aroyal pain in the butt, but no other way to get rid of it - you can mask it, but that still ins't right



something with cigarette smoke got into our guest room closet and we now have to clean all the clothes in there to get rid of it - and she keeps a LOT of stuff in there - gonna cost about 300 in dry cleaning, and still not sure it's going to come out of the furs - so, i feel the pain

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[RPM]

There is no effective way to eliminate smoke odor. You can mask it temporarily, but it will return. Take the car back and make them replace the top. That fabric is too near your nose to ever be right.

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[968Z]

Preliminary report....The apple worked fairly well! I will re-test using my wife's nose (far more sensitive) this evening

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[jeffm40]

That's good news. It worked for us in my wife's GS300 (similar situation as yours). I did however leave the apples for 3 days. Of course they turned brown but the smoke odor was completely eliminated!

Good luck

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[flash]

well, i'm willing to try anything twice - i'm going to do this to the closet tonight

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[94SilverCab]

Flash,



Please record the temperature, ambient pressure, wind direction, time of day, type and size of apple(s) so that your results can be reliably reproduced. Will you be attempting this closet freshening with a varity of apple types and will they all be from a single source, or will you be selecting apples of the same type from different sources?



Please be thorough in reporting all relevant relations you have with the apple vendor and whether you anticipate that they will be sponsoring any future issue of "Granny Smith" magazine.



Please be sure to publish your findings in a timely manner with all accompanying charts, photographs and other data and be prepared to respond to an agonizing number of convoluted questions regarding your testing procedure by many dubious members of the community.



Otherwise, I fear that others will not be able to take your reccomendation as to the overall results of this procedure.



Forgive me, I just couldn't hold it in...

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[flash]

in addition to the above controlled conditions, of course i will be staggering the segments of the carefully and exactly disected apple, in precise dimensional locations throughout the closet - i will be using an infra-red camera, and spectrum anyalyzer, as well as a gas chromagraph to determine the exact effects on the apple - certainly a standard chemical analysis will be done



test results will obviously want to be verified with the department of weights and measures, as well as the FDA for accuracy



i should have the results out in about 13 years



roflma- thanks - i needed a laugh today

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[Tim in N FL]

968Z,

In one of my former cars, I had a similar problem and purchased a product called Odor Gun by Delonghi (black bottle, white script, orange top) at K-Mart...circa 1999. This stuff worked GREAT on the odors I had in my car including a musty smell from a small water leak in the floorpan that stunk up the carpeting until I repaired it. If you can find this product, I'd highly recommend it.

Best,

Tim



ps.

I see that you're a Gator fan. I'm a former Univ of Florida professor...but am a Univ of Georgia graduate (undergrad). Who would have thought I'd ever end up working in Gator Kountry <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/tongue.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[968Z]

For the sake of scientific integrity, I used two varieties of apples. A standard Red Delicious, as well as a variety of Gala. Seemed to work really well. Next time though, I will use a "Granny Smith" as the crisp sour-sweet aroma is quite pleasing.

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[ether_joe]

I agree, take it to a professional cleaner, then take the bill to the original shop and have them pay for it.



We paid $300 to get a work truck professionally cleaned a few years ago. the guy had been smoking in it for years so I'm sure not nearly as permanent as your scenario. But not chump change.



What idiots, this is a Porsche not a Chevelle. (oops, I guess they never did a Chevelle softtop huh?)



<img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/mad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[Larry Currie]

Call Serpro.

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