Ozone generator - cigarette smoke smell in car?

[NutmegCT]

I wondered if anyone has used an ozone generator successfully to eliminate odors inside a car.

I've read several online articles on using them for air purifying and "freshening" - but so far nothing on how effective they are for odors in car carpeting, upholstery, headliner, "behind the dash", a/c ducts, etc.

Thanks.
Tom M.

 

[LarryK]

I gave my Step-Mom one to put in her Mercury as Dad smoked heavy. She said it worked. If you aren't driving the vehicle for a few days, pour vinegar in a wide mouth jar and set in a pie pan on the floorboard, clears smells in a few days. Friend of mine who owned a body shop did this on impound towed cars. Knew bot to clean blood out too.

 

[NutmegCT]

Thanks Larry. Do you recall if that ozone generator was one of the "small" ones like this?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-...late-Air-Purifier-Sterilizer-New/372636948086

Or the "heftier" models like:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/New-Com...ifier-Ozone-Generator-with-UV-f105a/300571933

 

[LarryK]

It plugged one into the cigarette lighter, wasn't real big. Been a while, don't remember where we got it. And wasn't expensive back then. Might be at Dollar General or Walgreens now, might be at WallyWorld.

 

[AngliaGT]

I've used ground coffee.Spread it in a thin layer all around
the vehicle,then vacuum it up later.Do this on a hot day,with the windows rolled up.

 

[NutmegCT]

Thanks gentlemen. I'd heard about the coffee grounds method, but didn't know about spreading it all around the car.

Stupid question: are the grounds *used* grounds? or ground coffee out of a can?

(Also, still can't quite believe that *anything* would eliminate odors in the a/c duct system, or in the upholstery.)

 

[LarryK]

Coffee would smell better than mold. Anything sitting long enough in a car that has a smell will be absorbed by the upholstery, vinyl, mats, carpet and headliner. That being, coffee would work and vinegar, another natural smell remover.

 

[AngliaGT]

Out of the can.I bought a 2003 Dodge Dakota from a
heavy smoker,& used ground coffee.After a short while,the smell was completely
gone.
I also used it on the Dakota I just bought,but made the mistake of using
most of a large can of cheap coffee.The smell was a little overwhelming for a while,
but very slight now.

 

[martx-5]

I've used the ground coffee method. I just put it in a large cup and drove around with it in the cup holder for a couple of weeks. The smell of the coffee was actually nice. It got rid of all the cigarette smell.

 

[John Turney]

Thanks Larry. Do you recall if that ozone generator was one of the "small" ones like this?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Universal-...late-Air-Purifier-Sterilizer-New/372636948086

Or the "heftier" models like:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/New-Com...ifier-Ozone-Generator-with-UV-f105a/300571933

We've used the heftier types to clean houses. Yes, it works, but you have to leave while it's on.

 

[PC]

The machines that actually work well are expensive. Hard to justify unless you're using them professionally.

For a consumer product, there are odor "bombs" that flood the space with neutralizing chemicals. They do unfortunately tend do add scents too.

 

[PC]

Here are a couple of pretty thorough vids on ozone machines. (The technique parts are fairly decent. Ignore the "sciencey" parts. He ain't no scientist.)