Cigarette smoke

[Saito2]

I recently picked up a used RC. I was happy with the price, so I tossed it in the trunk of my car and headed home. When I got home and opened the trunk, it smelled like 5 people were smoking in there! I've sprayed it down several times with odor eliminator-type products but to no avail. I think this thing spent its life in a bar. Any ideas on getting rid of the cigarette smoke smell? The tires are the worst, but the plastics in the chassis are pretty potent too. I won't even bring it into my hobby room for a tear down at this point for fear of making the room smell.

[TeaMonster]

I know car valeters use something to remove the smell from cars to prepare them for sale. Seem to think it's called an odour bomb or something like that, not sure if it would in this application though.

[MadInventor]

I'd suggest doing a tear down outside and wash everything thoroughly in soapy water for starters,and see what it smells like then.

 

[Wooders28]

I've found putting the car in a plastic storage box with lid and an air freshener inside works quite well.

I left them for months rather than days, so not sure how long you would need to leave it undisturbed for though.

[Darat76]

cigarette smoke is just like the smell of smoke in a house after a fire has occurred.

a full tear down and clean of all parts will help, but not completely remove the smell, ozoning all the parts will help some more, but painting all the plastics is the only way to completely eliminate the odour. Unfortunately you can't paint the tyres, and ozoning rubbers like the tyres will make them brittle and cause them to perish. the electronics (if installed) are going to be difficult to safely clean, but for the most part should only have the odour on the casings.

It is most likely the tyres (and foam inserts if any) will have absorbed the most of the smoke, and will be giving off most of the smell. Pull the wheels and tyres off the car and put them in separate places to ensure that that is the case and go from there.

[waterbok]

I think coffee helps (dry powder that is, maybe even used). Put it in a closed bag or box and leave it there for a couple of days. 

[Nitomor]

I bought a lightsaber once (Master Replicas Darth Maul) and I've cleaned it, metal polished it etc, and to this day it still stinks and even the inside of the blade is nicotine stained, its disgusting, it lives in the garage loft. Might have to try some of the tips on here! I like the coffee one lol.

[topforcein]

Once you've cleaned the RC leave it out side for as long as you can the smell will wear off.

Know how bad is the smell in your 1.1car still .???

[waterbok]

Grandma's tips for removing odors

baking soda, can rub onto the object

roasted coffee beans

activated charcoal

small amount of ammonia or vinegar in a bowl

think works best applied in a closed container/bag and leave for couple days/hours.

 

[Saito2]

Some really good ideas to try here. Thanks!

[Robert5000]

Take up smoking. Preferably pipe smoking. This way all your stuff will reek of it and you won't know the difference. And you can point at stuff with your pipe and look like you're an old timey sort of chap. 

[Gruntfuggly]

Try cat litter - it's very good at absorbing smells.

[Percymon]

Despite having bought numerous used RC cars, I can only recollect one that stunk of cigarette smoke (not helped by it being packaged with old newspaper that I probably could have rolled up and sold as cigarettes such was its nicotene content !).  I was soooo disheartened , but after abandoning it to the shelf in the garage for a few weeks it did improve significantly.  After a full strip down, hot wash of the parts in soapy water with some floral disinfectant added, and rebuild it was free of any smoke smell.

Ironically, I sold the car on to a smoker

[IBIFTKH]

Or soak it in a mixture of beer, whiskey and a half-eaten dodgy kebab for the full 'Saturday night' aroma...

[Mad Ax]

4 minutes ago, IBIFTKH said:

Or soak it in a mixture of beer, whiskey and a half-eaten dodgy kebab for the full 'Saturday night' aroma...

this is quite clearly the best suggestion yet.

Is it a Lunchbox?  You could paint it up like an authentic kebab van.

[Fuijo]

If all else fails, there are some very powerful detergents available.

 

I used to spend/waste vast amounts on full size cars and whatever it took to clean them. I came across a very cheap general purpose detergent called W5. It was

sold in one of the German supermarket chains in the UK, but I can't remember which one. This stuff was amazing. It would clean brake dust from wheels just

as well as the acid products, but unlike them didn't affect anything else like the tyre sidewall. I also used it to clean up spilled engine oil from a diesel engine on a patterned brick driveway

leaving no trace. I can't believe it wouldn't shift nicotine stains and their odours  from RC car parts. Obviously test it first to make sure it wont harm decals or anything, but it is just a detergent.

[Thirteen30]

I bought a set of wheels for my Yeti that almost made me gag from how bad the cigarette smell was. I gave them a quick wash in soap and water and let them de-stank in fresh air outside for a few days. Eventually the funk went away unless you really got up close. I'd even give simple green a try.