Getting the smell out

[lvfd221]

I am sure that this has been asked before. I just picked up a couple of kits from a smokers house. How do I get rid for the smell from boxes and kits. 

Thanks

[johnyrotten]

Activated charcoal works well, I've used that in  vehicles I've bought. You can get it in small mesh bags. You could also try ozium spray, but that shouldn't be breathed in according to the instructions.  Put them in a large tote, spray and seal overnight. Then open them outside and let it air out. I use it in my truck when I detail it, it's available almost everywhere. 

[stitchdup]

put them in a tote with some clean kitty litter and stick the lid on for a few days. also works to keep stored vehicle interiors going foosty

[mcs1056]

I have an older Ionic Breeze Air Purifier I run almost full-time. It was good enough to de-funk my son's goalie pads,and it works great in my "I guess you don't want to spend time with me" room.

[Mike 1017]

Put them outside in clean air?

Mike

[maxwell48098]

One of the dealerships that I used to call on as a Chrysler Service Rep in the '70's would buy cars at the insurance company auto auction that had someone non-violently die inside them.  They went really, really cheap because they smelled horrible inside.  So what they would do is to get a bale of alfalfa hay that they'd spread around the interior and trunk of the vehicle.  Then they put it out in the sun for a month or so.  Amazingly, the alfalfa absorbed the foul smell that was inside the vehicle.  But then the interior of the vehicle interior smelled like alfalfa!  To get rid of the alfalfa aroma, they'd then spread a couple bags of charcoal around the inside of the vehicle and put it back out in the sun for another 3-4 weeks.  Amazingly, the charcoal absorbed the alfalfa aroma.  They'd detail the car, then put it on the used car lot.

On model kits that I've purchased from heavy smokers, I washed all of the parts in soapy water.  For the box, I'd put three or four charcoal brickettes inside and leave it out in the sun for a couple of days.  The smoke smell would be gone.

 

A.J.

 

[lvfd221]

Thanks everyone for the help. I will try some of these and see what works.

[1930fordpickup]

I just wash the plastic with dish detergent of your choice. Use a tooth brush or similar to aid the washing.  The box a whipped down with a baby wipe to get the yellow off. Then placed it a big baggie with a couple of dryer sheets. 

The tires I washed left sit open and they still smell like smoke 10 years  later after sitting in baking soda baggie. 

[carrucha]

Years ago I bought a glue bomb Johan 1964 Cadillac on Ebay that reeked of cigarettes.  For some reason the engine compartment was stuffed with cotton balls which held the smell.  I removed the cotton balls and let it air out in the patio for a couple of days.  That got of rid of the cigarette smell.  

[Chris V]

On 5/13/2025 at 8:56 PM, 1930fordpickup said:

I just wash the plastic with dish detergent of your choice. Use a tooth brush or similar to aid the washing.  The box a whipped down with a baby wipe to get the yellow off. Then placed it a big baggie with a couple of dryer sheets. 

The tires I washed left sit open and they still smell like smoke 10 years  later after sitting in baking soda baggie. 

I recently inherited some kits from a freind, who was a heavy smoker. I’ve also noticed that it’s virtually impossible to rid the smell from some vinyl parts.

[stitchdup]

1 hour ago, Chris V said:

I recently inherited some kits from a freind, who was a heavy smoker. I’ve also noticed that it’s virtually impossible to rid the smell from some vinyl parts.

have you triied soaking the vinyl parts in white vinegar? it should help reduce the smell but it might need a week or two soaking

[Chris V]

4 minutes ago, stitchdup said:

have you triied soaking the vinyl parts in white vinegar? it should help reduce the smell but it might need a week or two soaking

Vinegar is one of the few remaining things I haven’t tried. I am slightly concerned that the vinyl may be somewhat porous and absorb the smell of the vinegar…

[stitchdup]

2 minutes ago, Chris V said:

Vinegar is one of the few remaining things I haven’t tried. I am slightly concerned that the vinyl may be somewhat porous and absorb the smell of the vinegar…

it will but thats what kills the smells. once its been soaked you could soak them again with normal cleaners but vingar should evaporate pretty quick. its the base for most good glass cleaners so one of them might also work. I used vinegar a lot when i was working

[1930fordpickup]

There are some good ideas posted I need to try that I have not yet tried.