It’s the first day of spring which means winter is officially over – time to dust away those cobwebs, fling open those windows and let in the fresh air!

The first day of spring symbolises new beginnings and is a great time to take the Fresh Start pledge to make your car smoke free.

Smoking in your car is particularly dangerous to those around you because of the car being a small, enclosed space. With the smoke trapped in the car it is difficult for passengers to get away from it.

Opening the windows doesn’t help as the smoke only blows back into the car, into the backseat where children are likely to be sitting. The poisonous chemicals can also seep into the car lining where they can remain for up to two hours – so even if you have a cigarette in the car on the way to pick up your children they can still experience the negative effects on their health.

By making a pledge not to light up in your car you will be reducing their exposure to the 4,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke.

Because the smell of cigarettes lingers for a long time, it is very important to give your car a good clean before making it a smoke-free zone. The smell of smoke can trigger cravings so without it you’re much less likely to be tempted and to break your resolve.

Here is our Fresh Start check list to help make your car smoke-free:

• Air your car out for as long as possible. Roll down those windows and open the doors too, to try and get rid of the smell of stale smoke.
• Shampoo the seats – find some good product and get scrubbing! Take out the floor mats and wash or replace them.
• Don’t be a sucker for stale smoke! A vacuum cleaner will do that for you, helping you get rid of ash which sinks into crevices.
• Finally, stick one of our stickers in your car to remind everyone that it is now a smoke free zone!

To request a Fresh Start pack to help you on your way, please email with your address.