[Shotimes] smoke, cleaning headliner?

[Chris "Zap"]

    I don't know if this has been mentioned, but Febreze really works well
on removing odors from cloth and the like.  I have had to unfortunately had
to use it to remove smoke odor in my apartment building because someone is
impolitely smoking mass quantities of things.  It works wonders :)  I have
sprayed it in the air in the hallway (not an indended use mind you) and it
really got rid of the odor.  Also, I recommend the Vinylex/Lexol for the
interior.  It definitely cleans well, and it probably will leave some odor
that will cover other scents (as will the Lexol).

-Chris
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Donald Mallinson" <dmall@mwonline.net>
To: "van Oss" <vanOss@centurytel.net>
Cc: <shotimes@autox.team.net>
Sent: Friday, April 16, 2004 9:57 AM
Subject: Re: [Shotimes] smoke, cleaning headliner?


> Joseph,
>
> I wrote a rather comprehensive article on my car care site
> about this:
>
> http://www.dccarcare.com/tipowk/tipowk5.html
>
> The thing to remember is that smells are usually on the
> surface of stuff, especially smoke.  So the worst thing you
> can do is soak the interior in soapy water, because that
> drives all the smells deep into the material, foam etc.
>
> Try using a good general purpose cleaner.  I sell a good one
> by Wurth.  Spray this on cloth, carpets, headliner with a
> light mist.  If your skin is not too sensative, just work in
> in with your hand/fingertips.  Trying to just get the
> surface nice and damp.  Then lightly buff with a clean bath
> towel.  ON the headliner, I would not buff, just work in
> with your fingertips and maybe blot dry.
>
> With this method, you get the smells on the surface, and it
> will be clean looking.  For spills that are deeper, soak the
> area more with the cleaner.
>
> I do NOT like using soap and water...it causes rust and
> mold/mildew.
>
> Use a vinyl cleaner/preservative on vinyl and a good leather
> product on leather.  I like and sell Lexol products for that.
>
> Glass cleaner for the glass and clear plastic.
>
> Finally, make up a spray of about 1 or 2% bleach solution.
> Maybe put a drop or two of Ivory dishwashing liquid (or
> other liquid soap) in it.  The soap is to help the liquid
> soak in rather than bead up.  The bleach is to kill smells
> without bleaching colors or making the car smell like a laundry.
>
> Spray this mixture in your air intake at the base of the
> windshield.  With the fan going full blast, run the HVAC
> through all its modes (taking air from outside, not
> recirculate).  Spray a LOT in and this will help kill
> mold/mildew in the HVAC system and get rid of odors there.
>
> Then spray this mixture under the seats, on the package
> tray, under the dash, in the trunk.  Remember, that smoke
> gets EVERYWHERE so you must treat everywhere to get it out.
>
> I have seen some really bad cars come back to be decent with
> this method.
>
> I have a few gallons of an odor product we used to sell
> called Odor Wand.  If you try the above and it still smells
> like smoke, give me a call, I can get you some of this for
> my price plus shipping.
>
> Don Mallinson
>
> van Oss wrote:
> > I am prepping a wagon for a relative with allergies.  The car's previous
> > owner smoked.
> >
> > I plan to do what I reasonably can to minimize the odor.  Mostly going
after
> > the soft surfaces.  We have a brand-new carpet to install, and we have
front
> > leather seats from a non-smoking car.  The cloth rear seats, and the
> > cargo-area carpet, we can shampoo.
> >
> > What advice about cleaning the headliner?  Do I have to worry about the
> > cloth being attached to the fiberglass backing with a water-soluble
> > adheasive (that's been said on the list in the past)?  What can I safely
> > use, preferably leaving the headliner in place?
> >
> > I know some smoke might have got into the vents, but I'm not pulling the
> > dash.  We will, of course, scrub all the interior plastic trims.
> >
> > Any other stuff we should do?  Thanks.
> >
> > VO
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