Partners car stinks of cigarettes worried about children being in it

[sarie3873xx]

Help pls …My partner got a new car a year ago. It absolutely stinks of cigarettes even though it’s been valeted and cleaned over and over.

To the point if you sit in it you come out smelling like a smoker. Some days not as bad as others. Worse when it’s warm.

we have two little ones. (3 & 1) and I’m worried it could be bad for them ? Tonight my little boys hair smelt of it just from being in he’s car seat!! 😞

what can we do to get rid of this smell? Could this be a danger to their health? Even though it’s not actual smoke? I’ve just googled it and scared myself silly.

I don’t understand how this smell will not come out of the car !? It’s driving me insane.

P. S he doesn’t smoke.

Either he does smoke, there is something wrong with your sense of smell, or there is something wrong with the car.

@FuzzyDiva Yes the car stinks of it. And then also makes anyone getting in it stink of it too. I will go in smelling nice and a 20 minute journey later smelling like an ash tray

Can other smell this as well?

@FuzzyDiva yes no can’t work out how after so long it’s still such a strong smell. Main worry is if it is bad for my kids 😑

Are you absolutely, 100% sure that no one is smoking in it? It seems unlikely the smell would persist to that extent through time and valeting.

He’s smoking in the car.

My husband is a smoker. When he smokes in the car it stays around for a day or 2 after. Our kids are grown so not in the car and it doesn’t bother me as he rarely drives our car.

When I was a smoker in my youth and was insured on my mums car, she soon set me straight with ‘if you’re going to smoke, please don’t do it in my car’

I had a car like this OP, I just waitee it out but the smell persisted for over a year!

It eventually faded after lots of odour removal sprays etc, but I would consider ozone treatment if you want instant results.

It might be unpleasant but I can't imagine it would harm anybodies health.

I think car sales garages use a smoke bomb thing that they put in the car and it gets rid of the smell. You could investigate that?

Someone is smoking in the car, my ex smoked when he’s driving (never with the kids in the car) and I can 100% say that once he’s aired it and cleaned it there is no hint of a smell at all.

I had a car like this. Old lady who owned it before me had been chain smoking in it for 20 years. I never did get rid of the smell!

No it's impossible to get rid of the smell.

It doesn't go after a few days

You can get an ozone machine to try and clear the smell and toxins

I'd not be happy with little ones in there

We once bought a piano from what must have been a heavy smoker and it stunk for about 3 years. The whole room reeked so bad I avoided going in. It's very unpleasant but I assume wouldn't be actually harmful to anyone to occasionally be in the smell. I think time and a lot of airing is the only solution.

He is 100% smoking in the car.

A smoker's car smells but once you get rid of the cigarettes it should not smell any more, maybe a faint whiff, nowhere near bad enough to make you smell like a smoker.

Yes sorry OP if it is that strong it is probably because he is smoking in it. But it does seem odd. Any other hints that he might be smoking? Do his clothes ever smell?

when you're not using it, leave open bowls of white vinegar in it

got rid of the smell of cigarette smoke in my father's flat after he died, he was a really heavy smoker and rarely opened the window.
Only took a week or so.

If it's enough that your child smells of it, I wouldn't be happy with little kids being in that car. I assume he bought it cheaply because of the smell? Can he sell it and get a different car?

Why did he/you buy that one in the first place?

As people who will never be in the market for a brand new car, we're happy with a few scratches, scuffs and marks here and there; but a car that stank of smoke, even if otherwise perfect, would make me turn right around and look elsewhere. I'd much rather more miles or a year or two older for the money than one that reeks of smoke.

Either he's smoking in it or your mind is playing tricks on you, as you associate the car with the smell.

There's no way in a million years a car that's been valeted and cleaned over and over, and hasn't been smoked in for over a year, is going to make passengers smell of smoke.

Sprinkle Bicarbonate of soda all over the seats and carpets and leave it for a couple of days before vacuuming it. Spray white vinegar on the ceiling and doors at the same time.

We had one like this. We bought an odour bomb from Halfords in the end. You set it off in the car and leave it totally shut up for a while. Afterwards there was a chemical smell which faded over time

There is no danger from the smell OP.