It is against the law to drag a car like this.
Full disclosure time. This article will be my own because I was a college kid and worked six years at a small used car dealer where I specialized on vehicle reconditioning. I must emphasize used vehicle dealership. It wasn’t just a place that would buy a car that needed a wash and shine. We were specialized in used work vans, and those drivers loved smoking. As such, I feel so sorry for this brave soul.
This video is from Autoshine Cars YouTube. As you can see, the poor Peugeot 207 has seen better days. It doesn’t look bad from the outside, but it is an Whoa Nelly moment when you open the driver’s door. Everywhere you look, there is cigarette ash. It’s worse when you add old food, broken glass and soda to the mix. But the worst part is the nicotine. Sticky brown nicotine residue will be found everywhere, including in the headliner, seat belts, and it’s difficult to get rid of. It’s worth forgetting all the warnings and public service announcements about smoking. Helping a struggling smoker to get rid of this ashy mess is the best way to quit.
There are many options for reconditioning a carpet machine. The air gun is a great tool to remove dirt and grime from carpets and other surfaces before you scrub. It also allows you to clean the carpet without having to soak the padding. It is a must to steam clean the headliner. To remove all nicotine residue, you need to scrub every inch of the interior. It’s exhausting and disgusting. However, this video is nothing compared to the experience of actually driving that hatchback.
Personally, I would have pulled the seat belts, center console, carpeting, and seat belts along with the seats. Although time constraints might not have allowed for such a large project, I would bet a billion dollars that there is more cigarette smoke and crud beneath the console. You can also remove the carpeting and wipe the floor clean – likely containing nicotine and ash.
Although it’s more complicated, the effort involved in this video with the carpeting still inside the car is simply amazing when it is all said and done. Perhaps this video will inspire you to quit smoking. Your car and your body will be grateful.