Disclaimer: We do not recommend smoking weed inside a car or driving under the influence of any kind of Cannabis. Always prioritize safety and follow local laws regarding cannabis consumption and vehicle operation. This guide is for informational purposes to help address lingering weed odors and maintain a clean car.
Weed smells can be particularly stubborn when they settle into your car’s upholstery and vents. If you’re looking for practical solutions to completely remove the odor rather than just cover it up, you’ve come to the right place.
This blog will help you tackle the problem of weed odor effectively, with simple and actionable steps to restore your car’s freshness.
What Does The Weed Smell Linger?
You may have heard the term "hotboxing," which refers to a group of people smoking marijuana in an enclosed area. This causes the space to fill with smoke, and anyone inside would continue to inhale it. When marijuana is smoked in such a confined space, the odor tends to stick to the car interior like fabric, upholstery, and carpets. Additionally. the smell can also circulate through the car’s HVAC system, becoming trapped in vents and filters.
Initial Steps to Reduce Weed Smells
1. Ventilation & Airing Out
Start by airing out your vehicle to remove trapped odors.
Open the driver and passenger side doors wide, ensuring cross-ventilation.
Roll down all the windows and turn on the car’s fan to circulate fresh air for at least 15 minutes.
This step is especially useful after recent use, as it prevents odors from settling into fabrics and vents.
2. Immediate Cleanup of Ash and Debris
Of course, don’t forget to clean up any remnants of marijuana! Clean up any visible ash, or debris immediately after smoking.
Use a handheld vacuum for crevices and seat folds. This prevents particles from embedding into the fabric or carpets, which could intensify the smell over time.
Cleaning Cars with Weed Smell
1. Vacuuming Techniques
Thoroughly vacuum the areas including:
- Seats
- Carpets
- Floor mats
- Trunk
- Door panels
- Seat creases
- Under the seats
It is helpful to start from the top and work your way towards the bottom, as this will catch all the ash and particles left.
Use an upholstery attachment to extract dirt and odor-causing particles from fabric and leather surfaces.
2. Cleaning Upholstery and Hard Surfaces
For Fabric: Sprinkle some baking soda followed by upholstery shampoo for odor absorption and removal.
For Leather: Wipe down with a mixture of mild soap and water, then apply a leather conditioner to maintain texture and reduce smells.
Don’t forget the hard surfaces like the dashboard, cup holders, and steering wheel, as they can harbor smoke residue.
3. Addressing the Trunk
Empty the trunk and vacuum thoroughly.
If your trunk is carpeted, clean it using a similar approach as the main cabin, incorporating baking soda or an odor eliminator.
For persistent odors, use activated charcoal or coffee grounds to absorb smells overnight.
4. Cleaning the HVAC System
Cleaning Vents and Ducts
Spray an odor eliminator or disinfectant directly into the air vents.
Run the fan on high for 5–10 minutes to circulate the product throughout the system.
Replacing Cabin Air Filters
Check and replace the cabin air filter if it’s dirty or clogged.
Filters can trap and spread odors, so changing the air filters in timely manner is important for a fresh-smelling interior.
Here’s a detailed guide on how often to replace car air filters.
AC Cleaners & Sprays
Use specialized AC cleaning sprays to clean the ducts and evaporator coil. These products kill bacteria and neutralize odors within the HVAC system. AC cleaning sprays can also be used to clean the evaporator and other car parts to ensure fresh air circulation.
Getting Rid of Weed Smell in Car Carpets
Wet-dry Vacuums
The ash on the carpet can linger, causing an odor even after cleaning or vacuuming. Therefore, you may need to shampoo the carpets using the appropriate car interior detailing tools, such as wet-dry vacuums.
This process extracts moisture completely in less drying time and prevents mold growth.
Steaming Cleaning
Another method to eliminate the weed smell in car carpets is by steam cleaning. The high temperature helps break down odor-causing particles and leaves the carpet refreshed and deodorized.
If you are confused about steam cleaning, check our detailed guide on how to effectively clean car seats with a steam cleaner.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Masking Odors: Sometimes, masking odors with air fresheners can make the problems worse since the most essential step is to eliminate the source of the smell.
Skipping the HVAC System: Neglecting the air vents and filters can leave odors circulating.
Ignoring Trunk Odors: Lingering smells in the trunk can seep into the cabin over time.
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Frequently Asked Question
How long does it take for the smell of weed to go away in a car?
With proper cleaning techniques, the smell of weed can go away within a few hours.
However, if the smell is older it may require deeper cleaning methods which could take a day or two.
Why does the inside of my car smell like weed?
The interior of you car might smell like weed because cannabis odors tend to cling to upholstery, carpets, and headliners. The smoke particles contain oils and resins that embed themselves in fabrics and hard surfaces of your car.
Additionally, if the HVAC system was running while smoking, the odor can circulate through the vents and filters, further spreading the smell throughout the car.
