Removing cigarette smell in car

[CleanHankie]

DH's company car has just been replaced with one from a colleague who has resigned (newer and bigger than the one he had). It's lurvely, except the previous owner was a smoker and the car smells as such. DH stopped off on his journey home with it to purchase one of those car air fresheners. However it now smells of smoke and artificial strawberry-ness.

It has leather seats so we can't use Febreeze. Anyone have any suggestions as to what we can do to shift the smell?

[ceres]

try leaving a dish of white vinegar in the car overnight. this is really good for absorbing smells. if it is really bad you might have to repeat it for 2 or 3 nights. (the car will smell of vinegar in the morning - this disappears after a few minutes once the dish is removed and the window is opened).

i also sometimes wipe down the car seats with a water and vinegar solution - but i wouldn't try this on leather. if you want to clean the leather seats i would use a specialist product.

[BallpointPen]

Maybe try cleaning the leather? Is it saddle soap you're supposed to use for leather? Think it is.

For the dash board and all the other black bits on the car my ex-mil used to use baby oil, cleaned effectively, gave then shine and made the car smell like being on holiday. Give that a try too.

Also lots of long journeys with all the windows open, flush out the pong!

[CleanHankie]

Thank you both. Will give the vinegar a go to start with.

[Tortington]

i have a fabulous tip = found out by accident.

get a liquid airfreshner - y'know the type - and pour the lot out on the boot of the car.

it permeates for ages.

also - starburst might be good or zoflora love the smell of that