I live with 4 people who smoke a LOT, and they all do it indoors (mom, her husband, my brother, and step-brother). I'm still at home because I'm a student (I'm 19) and it's hard for me to make enough money to live on campus or somewhere on my own. Whenever I ask politely if they would consider smoking outside, they won't. I don't see why it's so hard or inconvenient. I am sick of breathing it in and I hate having all of my clothes and things (even my bed) smell like smoke. I feel like it's really bad for me, as well as all of us, to breath in whatever comes from 4 packs of cigarettes a day. Can anyone who's ever been in this kind of situation offer me any advice?
2006-11-25 08:18:19 · 5 answers · asked by flores.alaranjadas 2 in Health ➔ Other - Health
I know how you feel. My husband and i share a house with my elderly mother, who smokes up a storm and is very inconsiderate.
For your bedroom, seal the door as well as possible. You can buy self-stick weatherstripping and draft stoppers at any home improvement store. If the house has a central venting system, insist that the filter be changed to the best-quality filter than you can find, and make sure that it gets changed on schedule. (or with so many smokers, you will probably need to change it more often. Failing that, seal the vent in your room and get a good-quality space heater instead.
Replace all the ashtrays in the house with air-filtering ashtrays. It seems silly, but half the time a cigarette is lit, it's sitting in the ashtray, and the air-filtering ashtrays will pull the smoke down and through a small filter. Every little bit helps.
If you can possibly afford it or convince someone to get it for you, the best solution is a HEPA filter for your bedroom. (from my personal experience, i don't recommend ionic filters. they don't do much at all.) It's not cheap, and neither are the replacement filters, but there's nothing better for actually removing the pollution from the air.
2006-11-25 08:32:25 · answer #1 · answered by Sola_Balisane 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you have a room for yourself, then I would buy a HEPA filter and try to keep the air in your room clean and smoke free. Open the windows when you have a chance and keep your door locked (install a rubber flap on the bottom of the door to keep the smooke out or put a towel infront of the door when you leave). Explain to your mom your situation and ask her if she minds that you keep the bedroom door locked to keep the smoke out. This will probably mean you doing your own laundry, but I think that is a cheap price to pay for clean air.
The rest of your activities within the house our under your mom's and your step father's rule, You basically can't stop it.
good luck
2006-11-25 16:33:22 · answer #2 · answered by Dr. Knowledge 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Consider getting a charcoal-filtered respirator- really. All that second-hand smoke is more than a smoker who lived alone would be exposed to. Put an air purifier in your room and in your closet to remove as much of the odor as possible. Wash your clothes adding vinegar to your detergent to help further remove the odors. Or consider asking a non-smoking relative if you could move in for $150 dollars a month. It isn't fair or safe that your family subjects you to this environment against your will. If you wanted to smoke, you'd light up for yourself!
2006-11-25 16:29:43 · answer #3 · answered by Angela M 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i'm a smoker but i go outside to smoke. i don't want my family or house to get smoked out. there's nothing you can do unfortunately. you are old enough to get your own place. so the way they feel is it's my house, i pay the bills, and i put food on the table. if you are sick of your room and things smelling you should keep your door closed at all times and get some febreeze. sorry i could not help you more.
2006-11-25 16:31:10 · answer #4 · answered by lidakamo 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
go to medlineplus.org
type in living with smokers and press search medline plus
look down the left column and open up the secondhand smoke folder...there are 21 articles that may help you with your quest...
unfortunately, you are 19, so you do not have much bang for your $, they are just inconsiderate souls, but if you were under 18, and you really feel strongly about this, smoking is endangering your health and could be considered child abuse and you could have your parents arrested (or at least harassed by the department of family and children)
good luck!
2006-11-25 16:27:41 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋