While it’s not yet clear if the odour of tobacco on its own is enough of a health hazard, it still can be pretty irritating. Figuring out how to remove the cigarette smell from your home can be an uphill climb, but don’t fret. In this article, we go over 15 tips and tricks that can help you get rid of the scent in no time!
How to Remove Cigarette Smell from Your Home
Depending on how long the space was exposed to cigarette smoke, there are different ways to tackle the lingering odour. To save time and effort, start with the simplest solutions and make your way up if the odour persists.
Let’s jump right in!
Get Rid of the Cigarette Butts
First things first, start by clearing up the source of the smell. If you have any cigarette butts lying around, throw them and take the trash out immediately. The same applies to ash, too. For the unlit cigarettes, you can either store them someplace or remove them entirely from the room. Leaving them in the open will contribute to the odour, making your cleaning job harder.
Wipe the Light Bulbs
As you exhale, the smoke carrying the tobacco rises and adheres to the light bulbs and fixtures. Once you open those, the heat releases the scent back into the room. That’s why it might be a smart idea to get yourself a ladder and wipe all the bulbs with a clean cloth. Don’t forget the lampshades either!
Ventilate the Space With Fresh Air Sources
The key to getting rid of cigarette smoke quickly is efficient ventilation. Even cranking the windows open can help. If you have access to a HEPA filter, all the better. It’ll clear up any tobacco particles stuck in the air.
Run an Ozone Generator
Ozone generators are air purifiers that work by pumping gas ozone into the air. Most of them have built-in ionizers that clean up the air particles. However, you have to evacuate the place before running the generator. Otherwise, it might cause respiratory irritation.
Wipe All Hard Surfaces
Get a scented cleaning solution, or just use bleach to wipe all the surfaces. That means mobbing the floors, counters, tables, and shelves. You might need to do a second wipe with water only to remove any bleach residue. Obviously, you’ll have to swap the bleach with polish for wood surfaces.
Deep-Clean the Carpets
Unlike hard surfaces and tiled floors, there’s no easy way to clean carpeting from smoking odours. You’ll have to do a deep-clean with a duster, detergent, and several rinses to eliminate the smell. For this reason, it might be easier to roll up the carpets before smoking.
Vacuum the Upholstery
With long-term smoking, any upholstery sofas or chairs in the room soak up the tobacco into the fabric and stuff foam. To reduce this saturated odour, try vacuuming the upholstery periodically. It’ll save you the need for a professional cleaning surface later on.
Wash the Linen
Washing the linen can reduce the smell significantly, especially if you used to smoke on your bed. Go around the room a couple of times and see what other items could have caught up with the tobacco, from drapes to stuffed animals.
Soak up the Odour With Charcoal
Charcoal is a notorious absorbent, meaning that it soaks up odour particles from the air and locks them into its porous surface. All you have to do is throw a piece of charcoal in all the nooks and crannies around the room and leave them there for a week. Keep in mind that you might have to heat it in the oven to activate it first.
Fill a Bowl With Vinegar
White vinegar’s acidity doubles as an antibacterial and a neutralizer for alkaline odours. Just pour some vinegar into a bowl and let it sit for a while. It can hold its value for a week before it needs changing. However, unlike charcoal, the acetic acid scent might be too strong for you to handle in the long term.
Ball up Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds, in general, are good for neutralizing odours, and you don’t even have to waste any resources with this method. You’ll just ball up some grounds in a filter, tie it up, and throw it in the corners to reduce any lingering scents. As a plus, your home will smell like your favourite cosy coffee shop!
Spray Essential Oils
Essential oil drops can add a refreshing touch to window corners and freshly washed linen. It’s very subtle, but once you get close enough, the scent will be a nice surprise. If you use peppermint oil, you get the bonus of repelling spiders and insects. That’s an easy double win!
Light a Floral Candle
Lighting a candle is perhaps one of the most common solutions to masking smoking odour indoors. People think that it has to do with “burning” the tobacco itself, but it all just comes down to the scent that the candles release into the air. In a sense, it just dilutes the smell by adding more scented particles to the air. It’s a simple but rather effective fix.
Burn Incense Sticks
Incense can quickly mask the odour of indoor smoking. Moreover, its effect lasts longer than candles. However, it’s not the best solution for odours that accumulate over time. It might also be too intense for people with sensitive noses.
Limit the Exposure
If you’ll still be actively smoking in the same space, it might be worthwhile to take some preventative measures. Before smoking, make sure you close up all the drawers and closets. Instead, open up the windows to clear up the smoke as you go. You can also cover up valuable items that you can’t wash easily, like books and embroidered pillows, with dryer sheets. It’ll protect them from tobacco residue.
Final Thoughts
Knowing how to remove cigarette smell from your home is crucial for smokers and non-smokers alike. After all, you never know when you’ll walk into a room that has soaked up tobacco over the years!
