Help can smell cigarettes (1 Viewer)

[Diane1969]

well we have bought our first MH and since we have used it this weekend and had the heating on a smell of cigarettes has appeared, we are both very sensitive to smells and can't believe we didn't smell cigarettes when we viewed it twice before buying! I have washed all curtains and have been fabreezing daily.
If I get the upholstery professionally cleaned will that eliminate the smell? Any advice welcome .
Other than that we love the van

 

[scousebird]

Lots of fresh air. We once bought a car that had a really strong smell of dog, leaving everything open was the best thing for it.

 

[JeanLuc]

Are you sure it is the smell of cigarettes? Truma blown air heaters generate a noticeable smell when they get hot. If you are new to motorhoming, this could be what you are smelling.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Diane1969]

Are you sure it is the smell of cigarettes? Truma blown air heaters generate a noticeable smell when they get hot. If you are new to motorhoming, this could be what you are smelling.

Yes it is smoke, once I had the curtains in the house I could defiantly smell cigarette smoke, they smell lovely and fresh now

 

[Zepp]

Are you sure it is the smell of cigarettes? Truma blown air heaters generate a noticeable smell when they get hot. If you are new to motorhoming, this could be what you are smelling.

I was thinking the same ours smells if not used on start up

 

[Judge Mental]

Dealer has used a deodoriser to mask the smell that has worn off. Just Google removing it...very expensive if you want it professionally done needs total steam cleaning by the looks of it... Don't cha just love dealers!

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[FJmike]

Fabreeze dispite the advertising only masks smells. You are going to have to take a long term approach as smoke smells can be very difficult to eliminate. If your seat covers are removable take them off and clean them. Clean every surface including inside cupboards, roof lining . Matress may be a problem so try and get as much air around it. Leave the van with everything open after cleaning and let fresh air do some of the work. I have found Neutral odour products to be effective but you do need to clean everything first, no short cuts

 

[buttons]

You could always contact the previous owner ask if they are smokers, this will eliminate any other cause. If the dealer masked the smell I would have a word with him about him paying for the deep clean.
Like hotel rooms used to be, terrible stink.

 

[jezport]

Google activated carbon, for example http://lifehacker.com/5730852/use-b...tively-remove-unpleasant-smells-from-your-car

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[MattR]

I wonder if it could reduce a bit if you put the heating on full blast for an hour or so with the windows open - some of the smell may dissipate.

I would speak to the dealer if that doesn't work - they have hidden something that has a negative impact on your enjoyment of the vehicle.

 

[Judge Mental]

It's in everything, ingrained in every surface and even ductwork, a/c etc...needs proper deep cleaning. A quick google shows how to deal with ductwork as well.

I would seek professional help and bill dealer. May have to replace soft furnishings if cleaning don't work. Personally would replace foam paddings and mattress.

 

[Candapack]

Saw a van on dealer's website, phoned them. Said, we were interested, but as we lived over 200 miles away, could he confirm it was in good nick, no damp etc, and didn't smell of fag smoke?
Guess what he told me.
How naive was I?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Photo4x4]

Don't cha just love dealers!

Don't cha just love smokers!
What you really mean is: "Don't cha just love smokers!"

As stated above it will be in everything, including the foam in the soft furnishings. It may be worth changing the foam as even when the covers are washed the smell will leach out of the foam. This is why you see vehicles advertised as owned by non-smokers.

I remember as a SOCO I often visited the houses of heavy smokers to find that everything was stained with a brown nicotine tar, walls ceilings, ornaments (and often the occupants). Indeed it often made it impossible to 'dust' for fingerprints!

On quite a few occasions during the summer when parked up in our MH we have had to shut windows because someone was outside smoking and their smoke was drifting into our MH!

I think the answer is to wash every fabric in the vehicle, and then a good deep clean followed by lots and lots of fresh air.

Good luck and please let us know how you get on.

KH

 

[Diane1969]

It's in everything, ingrained in every surface and even ductwork, a/c etc...needs proper deep cleaning. A quick google shows how to deal with ductwork as well.

I would seek professional help and bill dealer. May have to replace soft furnishings if cleaning don't work. Personally would replace foam paddings and mattress.

that is what I've been thinking, been getting quotes for reupholstering as I was thinking it would all be in the foam.

 

[Diane1969]

I am going to contact dealer as the van should have had a full valet, on giving it a really good clean today the floors were so dirty I'm not sure they were ever cleaned ! Ceiling above cab was covered in nicotine , we are going to get it all steam cleaned

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[TheBig1]

might be advisable to at least take photos and give the dealer a chance to have it put right. if not there are specialists in such cleaning

 

[TheBig1]

for some reason my second paragraph didnt post. oh well, these things happen

was going to say, the inside of the heater also needs cleaning. probably covered in nicotene tar that reactivates when melted by putting the heating on. you need to take the front off the heater and clean all the fins and the fan ideally with a degreaser

my parents were heavy smokers and I have had to clean anything I brought home from their house and throw so many things away. its 5 years since anyone smoked in the house but it still stinks. probably soaked into the plaster on the walls and ceilings, which although cleaned and painted, the stains keep coming back

 

[Diane1969]

for some reason my second paragraph didnt post. oh well, these things happen

was going to say, the inside of the heater also needs cleaning. probably covered in nicotene tar that reactivates when melted by putting the heating on. you need to take the front off the heater and clean all the fins and the fan ideally with a degreaser

my parents were heavy smokers and I have had to clean anything I brought home from their house and throw so many things away. its 5 years since anyone smoked in the house but it still stinks. probably soaked into the plaster on the walls and ceilings, which although cleaned and painted, the stains keep coming back

Oh no that's not making me feel very optimistic, we've been in to night and it smells fresh but I will check again tomorrow

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[buttons]

that is what I've been thinking, been getting quotes for reupholstering as I was thinking it would all be in the foam.

Other option of course would be to take up smoking.....

 

[johnp10]

Other option of course would be to take up smoking.....

This from Buttons the heretic!

 

[scotzsue]

We had the same problem when we bought the Mizar, dont know how the smell was masked. the dealer had the vehicle upholstery steam cleaned prior to purchase it was only when using it we really started to notice the smell. Took all the curtains home and washed them, put a neutrodol gel container in the van and fabric conditioner sheets in the cupboards after giving them all a good scrub. with use and lots of fresh air the smell has gone, especially after our long break in sunny europe. No longer need the neutrodol and the conditioner sheets have gone in the bin, they made me wheeze more than the fag smoke.
Initially we felt as though we could 'taste' the smoke but the smell really has gone.
Hope you are as lucky with your van.
Fortunately the 'dry clean only' curtains came up a treat and no shrinkage.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Spanishsteve]

Apparently open bowls of vinegar will reduce and or get rid of the smell. I recently viewed an empty property which had been totally repainted and re carpeted, the previous occupant was a chain smoker. However, it still smelt so I googled how to get rid and the vinegar solution came up. A deep clean of hard to reach places will probably need to be done as well.

 

[TheBig1]

Apparently open bowls of vinegar will reduce and or get rid of the smell. I recently viewed an empty property which had been totally repainted and re carpeted, the previous occupant was a chain smoker. However, it still smelt so I googled how to get rid and the vinegar solution came up. A deep clean of hard to reach places will probably need to be done as well.

then it would just smell like a chip shop

seriously though vinegar is a brilliant tool for all sorts of cleaning including breaking down nicotene grease. A friend of mine, now passed away sadly or I could ask him, was a contract cleaner and would use white vinegar and a carpet cleaning machine for grease stains.

 

[Johnnyb]

We bought a one year old MINI that had been smoked in and once the dealer supplied over powering air freshener wore off we could constantly smell stale smoke, horrible! We returned the car for a "deep clean" but the same thing happened again. I had this stuff recommended to me and it's worked a treat. I had to reapply it once after some very hot weather brought out a very slight smoke smell but the car interior is now totally smoke free.

Dakota Non Smoke

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[buttons]

This from Buttons the heretic!

Now come on John, never have I ever condemned anyone for smoking in their own space....
It is the sharers who need to be kept under control. Locking yourself in your motorhome with all windows shut tight and air vents taped over is perfectly acceptable.

 

[GeebeeJaybee]

If you have a steam cleaner (or can borrow one) try steaming everything you can (even wood is ok providing you dont linger too much). Do this with the windows all wide open and the heating on. You need the moisture to escape not settle back again. If it is not warm inside it will condense instantly at this time of year.
Keep re-doing this weekly if possible using febreeze in between.

I did this in a car we had once whose previous owner had smoked.

 

[DanielFord]

I'm afraid that tobacco smoke permeates into everything, especially the foam inside upholstery. It is extremely difficult to get rid of the odour. That's the bad news, the good news is that there are many companies out there who specialise in getting rid of bad smells (yes seriously).
In fact, a decent vehicle interior detailer will probably be able to clean the van sufficiently to erradicate the smells.

What is a possibility is since you are noticing the smell when the heating is on, it could be that a previous owner smoked whilst the heating was on, thus drawing tobacco smoke through the vents. This will leave deposits on the inside of them. You could try cleaning the inside of the accessible pipes to see if this helps?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Diane1969]

We had the same problem when we bought the Mizar, dont know how the smell was masked. the dealer had the vehicle upholstery steam cleaned prior to purchase it was only when using it we really started to notice the smell. Took all the curtains home and washed them, put a neutrodol gel container in the van and fabric conditioner sheets in the cupboards after giving them all a good scrub. with use and lots of fresh air the smell has gone, especially after our long break in sunny europe. No longer need the neutrodol and the conditioner sheets have gone in the bin, they made me wheeze more than the fag smoke.
Initially we felt as though we could 'taste' the smoke but the smell really has gone.
Hope you are as lucky with your van.
Fortunately the 'dry clean only' curtains came up a treat and no shrinkage.

Thank you for this post it has given me hope , we can't smell the smoke at the moment due to a really thorough clean, but we're away this weekend and will have the heating on so see how it goes

 

[Viennese]

I looked at a van for sale by a big dealer at Lincoln Show and was surprised that it smelt so much of smoke - they didn't try hard enough to get rid of the smell, obviously. Wonder if they managed to sell it!

 

[CandC]

If, as suggested, smoke has been drawn into the heating system and settled there, perhaps you could try spraying febreze into the intake vents while the heating is running?