Stinking interior!

[Phillip J Fry]

Hi to all,

My partner has recently purchased her first puma,which she is over the moon with.The only problem with it is the previous owner was a smoker,so the interior absolutely stinks of "stale fags"!.Please has anyone got any suggestions on how I can remove this awful odour.
All suggestions gratefully welcomed.

Phil[/quote]

 

[red]

Hi Phil,

Welcome to the site, stale smoke is never a good smell.

I find Autoglym interior shampoo very good; not sure how it fairs against smoke but got to be worth a try before getting a professional clean etc.

I'd clean the seats, carpets, headlining; clean or replace mats. give the plastic bits a good clean and also the insides of the windows.

 

[Phillip J Fry]

Hi Red,

Thanks for replying,
I will try what you have suggested.
I will post what, if any success I have.

Phil

 

[red]

Great, there might be others able to supply knowledge of their own experiences too

I've read stuff about baking powder and fabric softener sheets like bounce?

 

[Dal]

Welcome Philip,

If you can get a good strong vacuum cleaner to your car , then something as simple as shake and vac might help in the carpets. The headlining might be the best place to concentrate on as that might be where most of the smoke went. That Autogym shampoo Red recommended is good.

[shameless plug]

Might want to look here as well..
http://www.projectpuma.com/viewtopic.php?t=2271" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[/shameless plug]

 

[red]

This is quite interesting:

http://www.getridofthings.com/get-rid-o" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ... -smell.htm

Not aimed specifically at cars but im sure it applies.

 

[Phillip J Fry]

Hi Dal,
Thanks for the welcome and the suggestions and to you Red for the additional advice.

Cheers

Phil

 

[red]

k: let us know the results

 

[Phillip J Fry]

Will do!

 

[Phillip J Fry]

Hi all,

Update on my "Stinking Interior"

1,Gave the interior a good vacuuming(using the brush attachment).

2,Cleaned all upholstery with a foaming fabric cleaner(including the roof
lining,boot area,parcel shelf,mats etc.

3,Placed a neutralizing air freshener under the passenger seat and a very
strong scented air freshener in the cubby hole in between the front
seats.

The next morning I found a huge improvement in the interior,this
morning it is still smelling good,so "touch wood"it has cured the"stink".

So to recap,Lots of elbow grease,grunting,sweating and bombarding
with heavy scented fresheners seem to work!!!

Thanks to all for your input
Phil

 

[blackersno1]

i made the unfortunate mistake of spilling old champagne in my car and it reeked after a few days. I did the same process twice before it went. Was a horrible smell yuk!

 

[benking]

i made the unfortunate mistake of spilling old champagne in my car and it reeked after a few days. I did the same process twice before it went. Was a horrible smell yuk!

Dont drink and drive

You spill it :-D

 

[blackersno1]

haha i was expecting that post,

i thought it was a smart idea to take an already opened bottle back to my gf house as i dont drink champagne but unfortunatley i didnt secure it and it fell over,

not my brightest decision really

 

[BOK]

No small job to remove the smell as it would have embedded itself in all the plastics and fabric.

If you have the money, send it for professional valeting...it's a pretty unpleasant job to really clean an interior fully, i.e. spray on fabric cleaner on all surfaces (including headlining, boot, carpets) and wipe clean with a damp cloth etc... then allow it all to dry.

It took me literally a whole day to rid an interior of dog in one of the cars I'd bought, then half a day to let it dry.

EDIT: sounds like you've already done the above....odour neutralisers don't really work as they simply mask with a smell of their own. It would be best to let it air without it and see how it is. If it still smells you'll have to give it another go. It's amazing how much dirt is lifted out of a 'clean' car seat when using decent foaming fabric cleaner :shock: