How Do You Remove Cigarette Smoke Smell From Furniture?

Question

I inherited a very nice bedroom set. But, the person who gave it to me was a heavy smoker. I would like to know what I can use to get ride of the smoke smell? Although I believe the outside of the pieces are sealed, the insides are not.

Just to clarify, this is all wood furniture, no upholstery is involved!

Answer 1

It's an Urban Legend that Febreze is hazardous to pets. Use it on upholstery only, not wood. Old news from 1998, so disregard that hazardous to pets thing all together - that is false. You can read about it on snopes, the urban legends reference page:
http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/febreze.asp

Wood will absorb odors without a doubt, so the parts have been finished will need a good cleaning, maybe 3 good cleanings, to get the years of nicotine off. I would start with cleaning it with Murphy's Oil soap, the directions are right on the bottle. It smells good and is an excellent wood cleaner. You dilute it with water and it's very gentle stuff.

If any of the furniture is upholstered, you can have that professionally steam cleaned to get rid of the smell. The same people that clean carpets can come to your home and clean anything else that is upholstered, so you might want to call and ask them about it.

Over time the smell does fade, but you'll have to keep up with the Murphy's oil soap to keep the wood nice and clean. I used it on wood floors and furniture. Go ahead and try febreeze on upsholstery, but keep it off the wood.

Best of luck to you.

Answer 2

If you only use Fabreeze, it will only cover the odor and not get rid of it, kind of like a Marine shower - where the cologne only covers the b.o. but the b.o. remains.

I would recommend using a steam cleaner. You should be able to find one with an upholstry nozzle. If the fabric of the furniture allows, use a detergent. You can check the tag of the furniture or else do a swath check by testing the color fastness of the fabric in area not exposed to view.

If the fabric is not colorfast, use only hot water (the hotter the better). I would recommend going over the furniture a couple of times.

If a couple of runs with the steam cleaner doesn't get the odor completely out, then try the Fabreeze. At least with the steam cleaning you will have gotten the majority of the "smoke" out.

P.S. I just realized you might be talking about wooden furniture. In which case, soap and water to get the "tar" off.

Answer 3

Here's what worked for me: Get a bag of cedar shavings, like you would use for a hamster cage, and pour the shavings inside the drawers. Let them sit there, allowing the wood to absorb the odor, change as necessary. You could also sprinkle dry baking soda in the drawers and vacuum a few days later. Baking soda is supposed to absorb odors. Hope you find something that works for you.

Answer 4

Use a service that cleans carpets and furniture--they have pretty good products that deodorize and clean furniture--and they're usually very quick.

You can also get a product called Odo-Ban. It's non-toxic and kills odors (haven't seen it around for a while--try searching on www.dogpile.com for it).

Answer 5

that sucks! i would say get some scented oil or sachets of potpouri to put into the drawers. if the insides arent sealed use a wood product like murphy's oil soap to clean first and then try my first suggestion. good luck!

Answer 6

febreeze is the only thing i know of. you could use a carpet shampooer on things such as a mattress, but it could make it worse. if possible set the items outside to air out for a bit.

Answer 7

Dry coffee powder pouch will do the trick, place it on top of the cushion for half a day. Sun it too for optimum effect.

Answer 8

as this furniture is all wood I would wipe it down with ammonia and water mix. then polish it real good with an oil treatment for wood.

Answer 9

Spray it with bleach and leave it out in the sun all day the heat of the sun will kill the smell

Answer 10

Clean it.Also be careful with products like febreeze,,they are hazardous to pets.