Cigarette smoke smell in Boxster...any way to remove it?

[suburban99]

My Boxster has got a cigarette smell inside. Any products you know of to remove it?

[geoff]

Try an electrostatic ionizer and spray some Lysol. That's what I've seen work in hotel rooms. Wipe everything down with water until the rag you are using comes out clean after wiping. Vacuum / steam clean all the carpets. If your top has a headliner, try removing that and cleaning it thoroughly. Wherever possible, wipe down the inside and outside of parts. You might want to search for what can be sprayed through the vents to get rid of the stench in there.

Also, if you keep the top and/or windows down parked outside on a hot day, smells seem to dissipate faster (obviously not with the ionizer going, since that defeats the purpose). If the smell is in the headliner, putting down the top probably defeats the purpose.

[stickshiftnz]

One thing too, cleaning all the surfaces may take care of much of the cigarette smell, but you may want to have your air conditioning evaporator cleaned too, since the fins may hold some of the smell. There are shops which specialise in this, they hook up the machine to the recirculation source vent and run the apparatus with the airconditioning on.

[kbrandsma]

I agree with geoff, place an ionizer air cleaner in overnight. Removes smoke smell forever.

[wvicary]

Inspect the cabin filter also as they can be the cause of some odors.

[roger_mck]

My Boxster has got a cigarette smell inside. Any products you know of to remove it?

The smoke residue is oily so as Geoff remarked you must wipe down all of the interior surfaces. Any proper cleaner that also remove oil/grease will do.

[fdorn]

You should try this stuff if the smoke smell is really strong.

http://www.naturesairsponge.com/

I have a 98 Audi A6 winter beater that just stunk like hell. I couldn't stand it. I wiped down the interior completely with vinager. Put one of there for 2-3 weeks. smell is gone.

[EZ Aire]

Ozium and/or Frebreez along with a thorough cleaning with 409 or similar for all interior parts. followed by your favorite detailing product. also new pollen filter with a shot of ozium for some carry through into the ducting. Clean carpets front and rear firewall.

It took a while, but it is gone...I used to smoke.

[Pumas]

Hello,

I just purchased a 2001 Boxster and the previous owner had a dog and smoked cigars in the car. My wife uses coffee beans all over our home to combat scents and I've always enjoyed this. After cleaning the car extensively I placed coffee beans in the ashtray, as the sun beats down on the car, the coffee beans roast to some degree and the car smells great. Fragrance counters at department stores use this technique to combat all the competing scents and it works very well. My ashtray is broken so that it stays open and I consider it a plus. In the wife's car she melted a hazelnut candle into her ashtray then covered it with beans, the sun melts the candle and the beans and it's the best smelling vehicle I've ever been in, it's very natural and subtle.

People also ask me about the beans in my car all the time, like it's an excuse to talk to me about the car.

I had lusted over an early 911 for a long time and one day this Boxster fell into my lap and I feel that it's a better car for me, my job and my lifestyle. I feel like the most fortunate man on earth; I have a wonderful woman, a nice little home, a job I love and a Boxster.

Justin

2001 Boxster 2.7 US Tiptronic triple blue

[70Sixter]

Hello,

I just purchased a 2001 Boxster and the previous owner had a dog and smoked cigars in the car. My wife uses coffee beans all over our home to combat scents and I've always enjoyed this. After cleaning the car extensively I placed coffee beans in the ashtray, as the sun beats down on the car, the coffee beans roast to some degree and the car smells great. Fragrance counters at department stores use this technique to combat all the competing scents and it works very well. My ashtray is broken so that it stays open and I consider it a plus. In the wife's car she melted a hazelnut candle into her ashtray then covered it with beans, the sun melts the candle and the beans and it's the best smelling vehicle I've ever been in, it's very natural and subtle.

People also ask me about the beans in my car all the time, like it's an excuse to talk to me about the car.

I had lusted over an early 911 for a long time and one day this Boxster fell into my lap and I feel that it's a better car for me, my job and my lifestyle. I feel like the most fortunate man on earth; I have a wonderful woman, a nice little home, a job I love and a Boxster.

Justin

You are a lucky man, Justin. All that and the wisdom to realize what you have and to appreciate it!

:welcome: :welcome: :welcome:

[porscheturbo]

My Boxster has got a cigarette smell inside. Any products you know of to remove it?

My car had a fire in it, wipe down all interior pieces with vinegar, peel a full bag of oranges, leave the peels in the car. shut the car completely and wait a few days. sounds crazy but it worked great.

[number9ine]

I hear good things about Total Release odor eliminator. Whatever you use, make sure it's subtracting smell and not adding (Febreze and Lysol as mentioned above are bad choices because of this). You'll want to find a good carpet cleaner, leather cleaner, and a good vinyl cleaner for door panels/dashboard. Getting in all the nooks n' crannies is important for removing the smell--my father is a heavy smoker and I've detailed his car a number of times. You may want to try removing the vents to clean them out, and replace the pollen filter as suggested by others here.

Don't forget to set the top in service mode and pull out cubby and engine cover carpet for a good shampoo. Whoever smoked in the car probaby did it at speed.

Mark

[Pumas]

I hear good things about Total Release odor eliminator. Whatever you use, make sure it's subtracting smell and not adding (Febreze and Lysol as mentioned above are bad choices because of this). You'll want to find a good carpet cleaner, leather cleaner, and a good vinyl cleaner for door panels/dashboard. Getting in all the nooks n' crannies is important for removing the smell--my father is a heavy smoker and I've detailed his car a number of times. You may want to try removing the vents to clean them out, and replace the pollen filter as suggested by others here.

Don't forget to set the top in service mode and pull out cubby and engine cover carpet for a good shampoo. Whoever smoked in the car probaby did it at speed.

Mark

Thank you Mike, I'm certainly very fortunate.

-Justin

[HDmanny]

I purchased a truck at the same time as my 2003 Boxster and it smelled like tabacco (I think the previius owner dipped). I mentioned it to the guys that detaiks both the Boxster and truck. They gave me a spray bomb like you use for bugs, they told me to set it off with the air running circulating inside air for 20 to 30 minutes. Then open the windows after shutting the truck off for about 30 minutes. I tried that and it worked great, since it was going throughout the entire air conditioning system and vents no more smell.

[suburban99]

I purchased a truck at the same time as my 2003 Boxster and it smelled like tabacco (I think the previius owner dipped). I mentioned it to the guys that detaiks both the Boxster and truck. They gave me a spray bomb like you use for bugs, they told me to set it off with the air running circulating inside air for 20 to 30 minutes. Then open the windows after shutting the truck off for about 30 minutes. I tried that and it worked great, since it was going throughout the entire air conditioning system and vents no more smell.

What was the name of the bomb?

[dtownmil]

I have heard that cutting open a bag of charcoal (like Kingford) and leave it in the car when not using it will absorb odor. I haven't tried this, but it sounds reasonable.

[suburban99]

I rented an Ozone machine and left it in the car for 2 hours with top up and defrost fan on.

Then aired car out for 2 hours and repeated. Smell is gone :) Cost $24.00 to rent machine for 24hours. Did my Daughters 4runner and my Lance Camper as well.

Highly recomended.