Suggestions to get smoke (fire) smell out of vehicle?

[Killer95Stang]

Although this isn't specific to our Rivian, I've spent the last six days driving in the fire areas of the Palisades fire. All the days were spent in a brand new car with cloth interior. Every day since last week, the car smells like an ashtray when I get in. I figured I would do the basics, like replace the cabin filter, wipe down all the hard metal / plastic surfaces and maybe fabreeze the seats. Since this is a City owned car assigned to me, I probably won't be able to shampoo the seats.

Any other ideas for getting the smell out of the car that can also be applied to Rivians that might have been affected by the smoke? I know I've seen no less than a hundred of them while at work this week in the smoke.

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[DuoRivians]

Changing the cabin air filter was the biggest impact for me, after when we had fires in Northern California.

 

[Joe schmoe]

ozone generator

 

[Killer95Stang]

Changing the cabin air filter was the biggest impact for me, after when we had fires in Northern California.

I replaced our Rivians with EVbase carbon activated HEPA filter. I'll see if I can find one that fits work car.

 

[Killer95Stang]

ozone generator

Any idea if the cheap $50 ones from Amazon work, or does it have to be an industrial unit for it to actually do anything?

 

[emoore]

I’ve used fabric softener sheets a long time ago. Seemed to work well just takes time.

 

[Killer95Stang]

I’ve used fabric softener sheets a long time ago. Seemed to work well just takes time.

I'll try that over the weekend, when I finally have a few days where the car isn't in use.

 

[Joe schmoe]

Any idea if the cheap $50 ones from Amazon work, or does it have to be an industrial unit for it to actually do anything?

I have one of the cheap ones (it was maybe $60) and have used it a bunch--we have an old car that sometimes leaks in the rain and gets musty, also a shop/hangar office that gets mice from time to time. Seems to work great, but I've never used one of the expensive ones.

 

[Killer95Stang]

I have one of the cheap ones (it was maybe $60) and have used it a bunch--we have an old car that sometimes leaks in the rain and gets musty, also a shop/hangar office that gets mice from time to time. Seems to work great, but I've never used one of the expensive ones.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll order one up and try it. If it works, I'll pass it around to the other guys in my unit. Such a sad situation for everyone affected up here.

A lot of emotions posting this video, but it kinda gives you an idea of what it was like in the first few hours. I took this short clip at 8:45 pm on Temescul Canyon and Sunset Both sides of the street were on fire at this point.

 

[Joe schmoe]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll order one up and try it. If it works, I'll pass it around to the other guys in my unit. Such a sad situation for everyone affected up here.

A lot of emotions posting this video, but it kinda gives you an idea of what it was like in the first few hours. I took this short clip at 8:45 pm on Temescul Canyon and Sunset Both sides of the street were on fire at this point.

Mine gets passed around all the time--once people know you have one it seems to be on constant rotation.

And thanks for posting the video. I live almost 2000 miles away, but lived on SoCal for a bit in the 90s and still have friends and family there. I'm surprised how many people I talk to on a daily basis who are impacted by the fires.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

There is a past thread with testing on various cabin filters. One did better than factory: EveryAmp https://www.rivianforums.com/forum/...ng-analysis-impartial-3rd-party-review.34973/

 

[Chewie904]

May sound silly, but place a few paper bowls with ground coffee in them in the car overnight. I have done this to remove stubborn musty smells from my Wrangler and it works well. May take a couple of nights but is relatively cheap and worth a shot.

 

[Joe Hoffman]

Your biggest problem is the cloth surfaces not so much the plastic services. A good stiff wash with a rag and soap should get all the plastic surfaces. But get a carpet cleaner machine to do the cloth surfaces. Many of them have an upholstery attachment. Home Depot rents one.
All the ideas of masking the smell doesn’t get rid of the source of the problem.

 

[HaveBlue]

The trick is not to roll down the windows. Also better not to sit in the car as this one didn't survive the smoke. A neighbor of my sister in Palisades. She's staying with us but we are in Pasadena so she went from one fire to another.

 

[Wispitgood]

Although this isn't specific to our Rivian, I've spent the last six days driving in the fire areas of the Palisades fire. All the days were spent in a brand new car with cloth interior. Every day since last week, the car smells like an ashtray when I get in. I figured I would do the basics, like replace the cabin filter, wipe down all the hard metal / plastic surfaces and maybe fabreeze the seats. Since this is a City owned car assigned to me, I probably won't be able to shampoo the seats.

Do you have any other ideas for getting the smell out of the car that can also be applied to Rivians that might have been affected by the smoke? I know I've seen no less than a hundred at work this week in the smoke.

Leave an open bowl of vinegar in the vehicle when not in use for three to six days. It absorbs smoke and other odors.

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