Need help with deep cleaning car interior

kissenger

kissenger

kissenger

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Just bought a new (used) car, specifically a Kodiaq. Very happy with it other than it’s a bit smelly and grimey inside. So, I’ll need to give it a deep clean.



What is your process for that kind of thing and which products are you using? I think it was an ex-smoker’s car, so will need something good for getting rid of smells.
 
I’ll save the fire until last.

I don’t have a wet vac, so I suppose I’ll need some kind of shampoo that I can lather in and then dry vac. I recall hearing about some kind of smoke bomb to get rid of smells?
 
kissenger said:
I recall hearing about some kind of smoke bomb to get rid of smells?
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A good tool that you can use alongside the other stuff. I wouldn't use that on its own though, as the smells are likely stuck to the seats, carpet, etc. Those will need a proper clean.

The headliner too will probably be full of nicotine and tar. A smoke bomb won't do much with that.

How much effort you want to go into this depends on you. Seeing people smoking inside a car has to be one of my biggest pet peeves (or just smoking in general), and I probably wouldn't have bought an ex-smoker's car especially if it smells that bad, but that's just me.

If I had no choice and if it were me, I'd just pay a professional detailer to nuke the interior.
 
MassiveJim said:
You won't get rid of a smoke smell straight away, will take time as it gets in all the vents and soaks right into the fabrics/ seats etc.
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It's actually really easy to get rid of the smoke smell, but you'll need an ozone generator.
Still best to give the interior a good clean first, seats out and wet vac it all.
 
While not a permanent fix - I have found a couple of Holts Car Sanitiser (unfortunately the price keeps going nuts on them but you can get them at a reasonable price) followed by running the aircon on max temperature for say 15 minutes and then sticking a dehumidifier in for a bit does make a huge difference for awhile - most of the other smoke/spray bombs I've not found do anything that lasts more than 2-3 days max.

To make any serious dent in a car which has been smoked in requires a lot of hands on cleaning (EDIT: Or you can do the ozone approach mentioned above - but it will take time and access to a generator).
 
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look after a fleet of rental taxis and we get some absolute howlers back

normally its our contracted car wash and £50 a pop for a full deep clean but theres some that we just admit defeat on, i've had one in the yard that still has a wiff of BO about it 4 weeks and 2 valets after it was returned. professional detailer with access to an ozone machine is your best friend for one thats been smoked in budget a few hundred quid but YMMV
 
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Yes, I'd contemplate renting a steam cleaner - used steam effectively on the bmw pleather seats, on carpet used a aerosol moussing upholstery cleaner(w/toothbrush)
for headliner steam would be good for comparatively delicate surface, ozone isn't going to remove any impregnated smoke oils/staining, steam might.
(just do a trial bit to make sure headliner glue is stable)
 
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However much you're going to spend on new stuff to sort this properly, like a steam cleaner, you're probably better off paying a couple hundred quid or so to a professional detailer to nuke the interior and sort it for you.

If you already had some of this stuff, then attempting it yourself might be better value, but sounds like you don't.

https://www.thevaleters.co.uk/mobile-car-valet/car-mould-and-odour-cleaning - not sure where you're based, but one example of a place based in London. Their odour and mould sanitisation package includes ozone treatment - £240 for large vehicles, which I believe they consider your size car to be large.
 
Steam cleaner for the vents.

Ozone machine is great too. They are not that expensive. Around £40-50 and will kill majority of the odor if the source is removed.

Wet vac with drill brush for the carpets.

A bucket and water for the seat belts.

Then finish off with a Aircon bomb.
 
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