well when i bought my truck in october in 04 i was in the army and i got the undercoating and the paint sealint. well it only got washed and vacumed until october 05 when i got it detailed, i didn't take the best care of it in the winter and it got salt marks all over the interior and also the paint was looking pretty bad, so i washed and waxed it and i cleaned the inside with tuff stuff and it cleaned out really well. i keep reading about this clay bar but i don't know anything about it. should i have to use one? how much is it? how does it work? what does it do? also i smoke and the smoke smell in my truck is foul even for a smoker, when i cleaned my windows the papers were solid gold. what is the best thing to get that smoke smell out of there?

thanks,
joe

 

Clay is an abrasive cleaning techinique that removes bonded contamination from your paint. In short, if your paint doesn't feel smooth as clean glass, you proabably could use it. It's cheap -- $15 or less for everything you need. Check your local Autozone or PepBoys. Clay Magic, Meguiar's, and Mothers (among others) all have kits on the market that come with everything you need.

The clay will remove the bonded contamination that simple washing can't deal with... I clay, on average, around twice to three times per year I guess.

You will need to rewax after clay so, reserve this treatment for when it's time to rewax.

Glass... the best thing is to stop smoking but, beyond my heart association advertisement, Meguiar's NXT Glass Cleaner and Stoner's Invisible Glass are my two favorite glass cleaners. For the odor, I've heard great things about Febreeze and there are several good odor eliminator products on the market from various manufacturers. It's just going to come back though... You have to eliminate the problem before it gets better... oh, whoops, another stop smoking campaign. Sorry.

RP

 

Being an ex-smoker for 3 weeks ARRRGGGHH !!!! I really didn't smoke alot in the truck except for long hauls here's what you do.

1.) STOP using the ash tray ! This is by far the biggest nose buster. Even though I smoked I never used it it any car.

2.) Steam clean the seats

3.) Clean all glass down several times

4.) Vacuum that bad boy out using some carpet deodorizer

5.) Place dryer sheets under your seats

If this doesn't work, then your just going to have to quit.

Hope it helps !

 

Sorry but this advice touches a nerve. I hate people flipping their butts out the window, if you want to smoke that's fine, but don't be boucing the butts off my hood in an effort to make your truck smell better. Being a motorcyclist, I am especially touchy about hot cigarette butts flying at me. Besides, littering is illegal. Don't smoke in the truck or use the ashtray, I don't need your garbage hitting my windshield, chest, helmet, lap or anything else.
See, I told you it hit a nerve....

 

It's assumed that SEU throws his cigarettes out the window when he might not. Not all smokers use an ashtray or throw them out of the window.

Myself, I fill a cup with an inch or two of water to go with my coffee every morning and throw my butts into it so I can throw them out properly in the trash bins when I arrive at my office.

I ride also so I encourage this action in other smokers so I don't have to deal with the very same thing you do like a Marlboro flying at 75 mph into my face.

Back to the original thread.
50/50 vinegar to hot water to scrub the windows (and air it out for a couple of hours afterward) followed by a good glass cleaner such as those Rockpick recommends. Dryer sheets work best in the door pockets And under the seats. Febreeze is your new buddy, as is any pet stain removal carpet cleaner (test in a inconspicious area first for color run) to get the original smell.

Try bringing a cup with you (If you already do not) and use that for a couple of weeks. That should keep the odor out and god forbid don't use the ashtray. I'm a heavy smoker and mine's a change holder, or was at least untill I dropped last week.

 

You're right, I assumed if the ashtray wasn't being used that the window was. I shouldn't have made that assumption, but it bugs me and I replied without thinking about other possibilities.

 

What Texas_Fordlover said. Use a cup !