Stale cigarette smoke on car seat please help!

[tigger32]

We have just been lent a 1st baby car seat for dc3 due nov, but it stinks of cigarette smoke!
I have hand washed it and dried it outside but it still smells, any ideas please??

The main cover can't go into the washing machine because it has a hard plastic trim to keep the cover in place.

Also the hood says sponge only, I've sprayed it with linen spray but no luck their either.

All ideas greatly received, thank you.

[TheOnlyDailyMaleForMeisDH]

Go out and buy fabric conditioner. Decant it into a spray bottle with 80% water to 20% fabric conditioner. Saturate the car seat cover in it. Blow dry it with a hairdryer. The heat activates the surfactant in the fabric conditioner (alternatively do this with very hot water but it's best to use the hairdryer so you don't melt your spray bottle!)

When car seat is dry - vacuum it to remove any leftover dust.

[TheOnlyDailyMaleForMeisDH]

Alternatively make a paste of bicarbonate of soda and water, spread on the seat and leave to dry then vac away. This will also leech out the smell.

[ceres]

i wouldn't use febreeze or fabric conditioner - full of nasty chemicals. the bicarb might work but sounds like it could be messy!

i swear by white vinegar for getting rid of smells, dilute it 50:50 with water in a spray bottle and spray the car seat.

yes it will pong of vineger but the smell will fade quickly once it dries and it should smell nice and fresh. maybe leave it outside in the fresh air to dry?

you have plenty of time between now and november to give it a repeat treatment if needed. good luck!

[tigger32]

Thanks for the tips, I think I'll start with the bicarb as I have some in my cupboard, then Ill try the others if necessary. I presume the bicarb won't damage the fabric in any way?
Thanks you both again