What are some ways of removing cigarette odor from a home?

Question

Before moving into my "new" place, I would prefer to get rid of the disguesting odor of cigarette smoke. I'm planning to steam clean the carpets, but what else can be done to rid the place of this odor?

I'm NOT the smoker!!

Answer 1

wash the curtains /blinds/ window treatments
wash the walls with a paint friendly cleaner- mr clean
open windows and keep them open as long as possible and as often as possible, to circulate fresh air...
wash any floors and appliances with a mr clean or nice scented cleaner
wash ceiling fans (if applicable) - this really works bcse the dust on top often holds odors and grease

make sure no more smoking inside after this!! :)

febreeze all fabric surfaces.

Answer 2

Step one: wash down all walls and hard surfaces using vinegar/water mixture with a few drops of dishwashing soap.

Step two: clean carpets/flooring

Step three: if smoke smell still lingers, rent an Ozone generator (available at most tool rental places) and run it in an empty house for 24 hours (do not use in an inhabited space, as it can be harmful in the quantities used to "shock treat" a room.



This will take care of any odors that you may have. Ozone is what the pros use to treat a place after a fire and works great at removing odors, but you do have to remove the source or the odors will just keep coming back.

Answer 3

Steam cleaning the carpet is a must if there is a smokey odor in your new place. It might take a few times to rid the smell in the carpet. The odor is not only in-bedded in the carpet, but the padding underneath.

As for the walls: If your walls are painted with a "washable" paint, you might want to try this. Take one part white vinegar and one part plain water with a clean sponge or clean cloth and wipe the walls down. You can take a sponge mop and clean the ceilings the same way. When the V/W solution starts getting dirty, be sure to replace with new clean solution and continue on. You may want to do this a few time as well.

This trick worked for me, and I hope it works for you. Remember, make sure the walls are painted with a washable paint.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Cleaning the place well works better than covering the smell with air fresheners, etc. In addition to steam cleaning the carpets, try washing the walls and hard floors well. If there is an air exchanger, make sure it is on. Otherwise, open windows as much as possible to let fresh air pass through. You will not get the smell out immediately, but it will go away eventually provided there is no one smoking in the house anymore. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix to this problem.

Answer 5

Either Greased Lightning or Mean Green should be used to clean the ceilings and walls...you can see the nicotine come off. Clean light fixtures Remember these cleaners will strip paint if you leave them on for too long, so work in small areas. Launder all the drapes. Replace any mini-blinds with new ones. If possible, put the furniture in the sun. Then spray each mattress and peice of upholstered furniture with a fabric freshner. Steam clean carpets. Wash down ceiling fans.

Answer 6

I own rental properties and I always make sure they do not smell when the new tenants move in. Make sure you have a professional steam cleaning company that has a truck mounted steamer clean the carpets. Then wash the walls with Ammonia use lemon scent, it smells better, and water. Make sure you wear rubber gloves and the smell is a little strong. But it gets the smell out and you do not have to repaint. I have found that ammonia works better than vinegar, but that is my opinion.

Answer 7

Wash the carpets that have the smoke smell with a cup of vodka in the normal carpet cleaner. Then steam clean. My grandfather smokes and his house smelled terrible, but when he moved out we even washed the walls for the new owners.

Answer 8

Wash the door´s and wall´s if they are painted. with sugar soap. This will help to take most of the smoke stains off, You can also Pop a pot on the stove and add vinegar, this will help too. Another way is to cut an onion in half sit face up and add ammonia, this will absorb the smell of the smoke.

Answer 9

If you have carpeting sprinkle the floors liberally with baking soda and let it sit at least overnight... Longer if you can.... Then vacuum really well. It works- when we moved into our "new" house same thing.. The baking soda will also pick up excess dirt in the carpet...You'll notice the baking soda will turn grey.. A 12 lb bag of baking soda is under $5 and has a ton of other uses...

Answer 10

There are business that specialize in removing smoke damage due to house fires. I would contact one of them and bet they would tell you the type of products to use and other suggestions. It's worth a try. Especially cleaning the carpet.