Cleaning tar and nicotine residue from ceiling.

[windman200]

hey guys, just bought a used coach and the ceilings have yellowed from tar and nicotine residue from smoking, I’ve tried numerous cleaners and degreasers with little success. any thoughts would be appreciated.

[ducksface]

5,000 youtube videos.
The chances of someone here having bought a heavily smoked in unit and having any experience passed that singular purchase are pretty slim.
Yours isn't an rv exclusive question. It rolls to houses on about a 10,000 to 1 slope.
The cleaning would be the same.

Welcome to the forum.
We're here to guide you even if it's guidance off site.

[Bob Denman]

Welcome to the forum, and congratulations on the start of your next Great Adventure!
Have you considered taking the RV to an auto detailer? Just be sure to specify that you only need the ceiling cleaned.
Good luck!!

[ChrisCruises]

Sure, spray Formula 409 cleaner on it, let it sit briefly then wipe off with clean, white Bounty paper towel. It will be yellow with nicotine/smoke. Repeat until you're just wiping off cleaner and that icky yellow scum is gone. Once done, spray with a very light concentration of bleach and water about 30 parts water to one part bleach. That will suck the odor out. Skip ALL products designed specifically for smoke odors. Most just cover it up with an odd perfume scent (actually a water-based odor mask) that initially smells good in comparison but you will get tired of it rather quickly. That's probably about the best you will do and if you are a non- or former smoker (like me), you will notice that the smell will linger forever...like years.

There, now you don't have to watch 5000 videos...although there is a ton of value in doing so.

[lwmcguir]

If you have 3% peroxide use that with a small amount if dawn, just enough dawn as a wetting agent

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by ChrisCruises

Sure, spray Formula 409 cleaner on it, let it sit briefly then wipe off with clean, white Bounty paper towel. It will be yellow with nicotine/smoke. Repeat until you're just wiping off cleaner and that icky yellow scum is gone. Once done, spray with a very light concentration of bleach and water about 30 parts water to one part bleach... T.

When our Office went smoke-free about 28 years ago: we used 409 to clean the walls. We had our 5 year-old (at the time) help to wipe down the walls.
It cured him of ANY thoughts about taking up smoking!

[cavie]

bleach water and a spryer.

[windman200]

hey guys, thanks for the reply's. I'll give them a try!