To worry about third-hand smoke in my second-hand car

[SaraKatie]

Bought a car today and when I was driving it home I realised there’s a smell of cigarette smoke. I’d taken it for a test drive and did notice it then, but for some reason I didn’t think much of it at the time, I guess I thought it would air out, but now I’m really worrying all of a sudden. It has been valeted and I can’t smell it when I sniff the seats, it’s just sort of in the air. I tried putting a bowl of vinegar in the footwell overnight to see if it helps, but I’m worried about the bad effects of third-hand smoke. I have a 17 month old and am currently trying for a baby (on the two week wait) so I’m extra paranoid. I don’t know if I should try and get it deep cleaned (even though it was valeted), try and return it (don’t know if the dealer will allow that) or sell it. I really love the car otherwise and it was affordable for us.

If you are worried about the mere smell of cigarettes harming your baby, you probably won't want to know about the toxic substances released from the plastics in your car interior.

For example...

pureti.com/content/documents/Ecology-Center-ReportToxic-At-Any-Speed.pdf

@Dangleclack

There are no proven harms from "3rd hand smoke" to humans. Any research paper will mention "may, might,could" cause "something" but no definitive explanation of what any harms might be. It's an area ripe for grifters to exploit, California excels at it. Then again everything causes cancer there, even Disney World.

I think you’re behind the times, and I’m not sure what California, where Disneyland is located, has to do with anything. As of 2020, a Yale-led study discovered that the compounds and carcinogens known as third-hand smoke can be carried into a non-smoking area by smokers, by measuring compounds in a movie theater. As the article states: “The amount of these hazardous and reactive gases wasn’t trivial, the researchers said. The gas emissions were equal to that of being exposed to 1-10 cigarettes of secondhand smoke in a one-hour period.” They also point out that nicotine was the most prominent compound they discovered. I assume you’re not arguing against the dangers of either secondhand smoke or nicotine. news.yale.edu/2020/03/04/third-hand-smoke-no-joke-can-convey-hazardous-chemicals

So I definitely wouldn’t be holding any babies in clothes that had been smoked in, etc. Eventually yes, we will probably view third-hand smoke as a given the way we now view secondhand smoke.

Bicarb and tea tree oil did bugger all for my car. It was an ex-motability car and just four years old when I got it.

@Horehound

I think it can be harmful? I think it's worse than if you actually smoked yourself. If I were you I'd get a steam fabric cleaner thing and go over the car using that.

Don't be so bloody ridiculous

Third hand smoke can be damaging, but less so that being in traffic!

@Pleatherandlace

Driving your children around in a car is much more dangerous than the vague smell of third hand smoke in said car. You sound very neurotic.

Thanks for commenting just to tell me that. 🙄👌👍

And actual thanks to the posters with helpful suggestions.

@Pleatherandlace thank you. Neurotic is the word I was thinking of. You bought a second hand car and you're worried about 'third hand smoke'. I didn't even know third hand smoke was a thing to be honest. But as nobody is actively smoking in the car I presume this is a smell. So you're not inhaling it into your lungs. Worry about the emissions from your exhaust that you are forcing others to inhale. Or if you're that precious go and get a new one. An electric one.

@Horehound

I think it can be harmful? I think it's worse than if you actually smoked yourself. If I were you I'd get a steam fabric cleaner thing and go over the car using that.

Worse than smoking? Are you serious?!

[quote Onetraumaatatimeplease]@Pleatherandlace thank you. Neurotic is the word I was thinking of. You bought a second hand car and you're worried about 'third hand smoke'. I didn't even know third hand smoke was a thing to be honest. But as nobody is actively smoking in the car I presume this is a smell. So you're not inhaling it into your lungs. Worry about the emissions from your exhaust that you are forcing others to inhale. Or if you're that precious go and get a new one. An electric one. [/quote]
Are you a smoker? It is a thing, you not knowing about it doesn’t change that. 🙄 But thanks for your unhelpful and irrelevant input.

@Horehound

I think it can be harmful? I think it's worse than if you actually smoked yourself. If I were you I'd get a steam fabric cleaner thing and go over the car using that.

You can't be serious surely?

@murbblurb

A valeting wont deal with the stench of a smokers car. It needs a deep clean of carpets and fabrics.

What do you think a valeting consists of? Every car valet I’ve ever known cleans the carpets and the seats.

Panicking about a vague smell of smoke in your car harming your yet-to-be-conceived child does, however, reach new heights of Mumsnet neurotic angst.

If you read my post you’d see that (a) there’s an existing 17 month old child and (b) I had a miscarriage three weeks ago so am very concerned about the same happening again for any reason, but sure.

@SaraKatie

If you read my post you’d see that (a) there’s an existing 17 month old child and (b) I had a miscarriage three weeks ago so am very concerned about the same happening again for any reason, but sure.

I did read your post and I’m very sorry about your miscarriage. You don’t need to try and guilt posters disagreeing with you by pointing it out again though.

You bought the car today, so it wasn’t the cause and a smell of smoke will not cause a future miscarriage or harm your 17 month old.

So, you read my post but deliberately misrepresented the facts in order to make a snarky comment? Third-hand smoke is not the same thing as a vague smell of smoke, but don’t let facts get in the way of a good snipe. 🤦‍♀️🙄👋

@SaraKatie No. I'm not a smoker.
I think your pearls are choking you much more than any third hand smoke.

Well seeing as you don’t know what third-hand smoke is (or how to operate a search engine), I’m surprised you can tell the difference.

Honestly the fumes you breath in when you are driving in your car are known to be harmful us and in particular to children. If you don't mind that risk (and let's face it most of don't) it seems mad to worry about the very small potential risk of third hand smoke...

Thank you for giving me this point of view in a constructive way.

I wouldn’t cover the car in febreeze for example. The chemicals I. That are awful. Especially with kids and breathing that in

I’d get it professionally cleaned. Someone recommended bicarb. Which is a really good one! That and white vinegar in a spray bottle. Then hoover the next day. The felling is going to be a problem though

@SaraKatie

So, you read my post but deliberately misrepresented the facts in order to make a snarky comment? Third-hand smoke is not the same thing as a vague smell of smoke, but don’t let facts get in the way of a good snipe. 🤦‍♀️🙄👋

I haven’t misrepresented any facts, let alone to make a snarky comment. And I know what the concept of third hand smoke is, thanks

It’s entirely understandable, but you really are being OTT and getting stroppy with people not immediately replying ‘omg hun, you must get rid of the car your poor bubz’ isn’t helping you. Again, I’m genuinely sorry about your m/c, but it’s not healthy for you to spend your time frantic that someone smoking in your car god knows how long ago is going to harm your kids or give you another m/c.

It will be fine, just don't lick it eh?

Some great suggestions above to go with.

@SaraKatie

Well seeing as you don’t know what third-hand smoke is (or how to operate a search engine), I’m surprised you can tell the difference.

Oof

You haven’t misrepresented any facts? You said I was freaking out over a ‘smell’ affecting a non-existent child. That’s absolutely not what third-hand smoke is, and there is an existing child. You tried to suggest I mentioned my miscarriage to guilt you, when I was providing relevant context for my concerns, which I assumed you’d missed given the disparaging nature of your comment. I was actually looking for helpful advice and recommendations, which several posters provided. You seem unable to do so, so you should probably move on.

I won’t... my toddler might. 😂

Seriously, dude, go to bed and stop stressing,