A. While car dealers start with detailing, their big weapon for getting rid of smoke smell is usually an ozone generator. While an ozone generator is an effective tool in the right hands, it can do some serious damage when used improperly. Leave an ozone generator in a car for too long, and it can cause damage to leather, rubber, vinyl, and soft-touch plastics. In addition, ozone is incredibly toxic. Ozone exposure greater than 0.07 parts per million over the course of eight hours can cause lung damage. As a result, using an ozone generator requires serious experience and personal protective equipment. We don’t suggest the use of ozone generators at home.