GEN 1 Smoke Smell Removal

[Jhollowell]

Hey guys, previous owner smoked in my truck and the smoke smell isn't terrible but you can still smell it when the truck sits in the sun. Has anyone had good luck getting the smell out? i have had it detailed a few times but i think the main culprit is the head liner and from what i've heard they aren't easy to clean. How hard would it be to remove it and be able to clean it on a bench? Also, has anyone had good luck with any cleaning products to use on the carpets and headliner? There is a company in Seattle that charges 300+ to run some fogger machine that they claim will eliminate all odors or your money back. i'm a little skeptical if they don't clean the carpet and headliner first. I've had the ozone thing done during the details and never noticed a difference. I've also had some charcoal odor bags in there for about a year and still not much difference. I'm thinking the next step is doing some actual work and getting the headliner cleaned. Any tips or experience would be helpful.

 

[1BAD454SSv2]

How much is a new
Headliner? May be worth it to just replace. I think windshield has to be removed. If crew cab. I have scab so mine came out through side. You could get a windsheld if you got a crack or rock chip. Hint hint. Before they come to house have old one loose and when they pull windshield slide old one out and new one in. Then let them finish the install then button up the headliner after.

 

[GCATX]

Buy a $50 ozone machine and let it rip in there for a day. Let it run for a little while with the hvac recirculating air too.

 

[MFNG]

The guys from The Straight Pipes on YouTube had it done with success somehow.

I’d see if you can reach them and ask how they did it. I don’t think they mentioned removing the headliner.

 

[CoronaRaptor]

Probably in the seat foam and everything, not just the headliner. Have you had the carpets and headliner shampooed yet? I would do that myself at a carwash somewhere first. DO the seats as well.

 

[MTF]

I'm a smoker and people who sit in my truck say they can't smell that I smoke in the truck, unless I just smoked before picking them up.
I'm the only smoker so when my family members sit in my truck they will tell me if they smell smoke.

I use Simple Green (full strength) in a deck sprayer with a fine mist tip to spray the HVAC system once a year in the spring.
I use almost two gallons and basically spray wash the vents spraying right down into them with the fan off until it drips out the drain holes.
Then I'll turn the fan on high (fresh air only) and open the hood and spray right down the fresh air intake in the cowl on the passenger side, this is were I use a full gallon.
You have to get the squirrel cage fan really wet to wash everything out, it will drip out the condensation drain hole in the firewall and drip out the fan housing in the cab under the glove box.

I use a 50/50 mix in a spray bottle to spray the head liner, I carefully spray the liner lightly and wipe with a micro drying cloth, you don't want to make the liner wet.

Simple Green is a deodorizer so don't wash the Simple Green out, let it permeate the whole truck for a day or two.
It will be strong for a while, so if you need to drive, be for warned, it's intense!!!

I do this for my wife's and daughter's SUVs to get ride of the mildew smell they get because both will only drive with the windows up and AC on recirculating, then add the fact that all the leaves and crap collecting in the cowl rotting.

 

[1BAD454SSv2]

MTF with the Newports

 

[B E N]

It's going to be in all your HVAC plumbing, inside the door panels, in the carpet and jute backing, behind all the plastic panels, in the dash etc. You will need to strip the interior, replace all the permeable stuff, scrub everything else, scrub all the sheet metal, clean every inch of wire.

Maybe Febreeze makes a fogger?

 

[CoronaRaptor]

Drop it in a treated pool for a day, the smell of smoke will be gone.

 

[JohnyPython]

Steam cleaning: