I just bought an 01 LC and the previous owners were weed and cigarette smokers. So obviously the interior has a little bit of a funky smell. I have already scrubbed the carpets and the seats are going to get treated with Leatherique as soon as we get a warm enough day. Can anyone recomend a good product to get the smell out of the headliner, dash, and generally rest of the interior.
Best way to remove interior smells?
- Thread starter vogs77
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Without replacing the carpet and headliner? See it's not just the carpet, but padding that holds the smell. Put a small ozone generator in it for a day or so. Rental tool places carry ozone generators and they should have one small enough to put in the back.
Based on my experience, Be reeeeal careful with ozone generators. Yes, they do remove smoke odors etc... but the ozone will also toast your immune system if you sit in the car with it. Do a shock treatment of an hour or so inside the truck, unplug the machine and let the car air out once it's done. DO NOT get into the car with the ozone machine on or hop in right after you're done. It's bad news for your health.
One final thought... ozone is also very volatile. It breaks down quickly (thus destroying the odors) but it can also act as an oxidizer to plastics and stuff. Do a little research online before popping one in the truck.
One final thought... ozone is also very volatile. It breaks down quickly (thus destroying the odors) but it can also act as an oxidizer to plastics and stuff. Do a little research online before popping one in the truck.
I used an industrial ozone generator that a dealership used to de-stink their used cars. Two one hour sessions, the first with the car closed up, the second with the fan on max non-recirc. Did the job nicely on a very stinky car a friend of mine bought. Have used it in similar circumstances before with great results.
tkd is right. Ozone is a powerful oxidizer, so be careful. Absolutely don't get in the car until the ozone has been completely flushed by the cars ventilation system.
tkd is right. Ozone is a powerful oxidizer, so be careful. Absolutely don't get in the car until the ozone has been completely flushed by the cars ventilation system.
Sorry, I assumed you would know not to sit in the car with the ozone machine. I guess you could plug the exhaust as well for a double shot - just joking of course. Like those guys said, it will work or at the very least help a great deal.
X 2 on the white vinegar, killed the smell of a 1/2 gal of spilt milk that was left to fester in the back of my vehicle. Might smell a bit "vinegary" but I'll take that over ashtray any day.
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Use the vinegar, doesn't have to be a hot day. It will evaporate. I've even put some in a small disposable container in the back of my car and left it for a few days. It will work.
Vinegar is definitely the cheaper way to go, but it is my understanding that even though it is effective at destroying mold spores and as a general deodorizer, it is not that effective at deodorizing long term odors that have set in, especially in carpet and padding. It's just a weak acid (acetic) which destroy or break organic molecules (aromatic odor in this case), so it will work well with those molecules floating around, but not all that well on those in the carpet. Guess it depends on your odor and how long it has been around. Give it a shot and if not, google a tool rental joint in your location and ask them if they have any small ozone generators for rent.
New cabin air filter too, if fitted, maybe a good sanitizing clean of the accessible areas of the air blower box and plenum.
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No cabin air filters on the LC until 05 or 06.
I posted the vinegar idea last year - after using the ozone machine, Frebeze, Zep, and a few other products. The white vinegar seemed to do more than anything else. All told - over a few weeks - I probably did the bowl of vinegar 5 or 6 times. Smoke smell is gone!
Most LCs have slot to install the filters. My 99 was empty, so I installed 2 oem filters by taking the snap-cover off.
Same here for a 2000. Slots with no filters. I put filters in after I replaced the crudded up evaporator core.
My 98 had the slot and door. I checked Carquest and they listed the filters for the LX470. Picked them up for $15 each and they slipped in easily.
You are partiality correct. It would pay to see if his LC has the slot and if it has filters. If it does, then they need changing to help get rid of the smell. Spray the headliner and the carpet. Put a small bowl of vinegar in the back floorboard with the Windows up on a hot day and that cigarette smell will be eliminated.
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Vinegar has been in for half a day today, and through the night. Tomorow is Leatherique day and I will leave the vinegar in the car. Also a ceramic heater will be in the back, 75 and sunny tomorow but i want to warm it up some more because I have read the hotter it gets the better the Leatherique will work. I will check and see if there are any cabin filters installed also tomorow. I will keep you posted on how it works.