Cleaning Nicotine from Walls and Fine Furniture

How do I clean fine furniture that has accumulated years of nicotine residue? I live in a mobile home. My walls are also stained from nicotine--how do I clean this stuff? - Lynne from Georgia

Answers:

Cleaning Nicotine from Walls and Fine Furniture

The best product I have ever used is Austin's Orange Cleaner....it's made here in PA. There are national brands of orange cleaner that will work, but not as well. (01/27/2005)

By SAMANTHA PELCH

Cleaning Nicotine from Walls and Fine Furniture

For the walls (don't forget your ceilings either), use a product called tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) - it's sold anywhere you can buy house paint - and it's relatively inexpensive - about $3 for a large carton, and you'll likely only use half of it to scrub your whole house (it stores well too). Basically, it's a powdered mix that you add to water to make a mild acid (so use gloves when using) that eats just about any goo that has adhered to your walls over time.

It's what all the professional painters use to prep the walls and ceilings with. We bought a mobile home many years ago that reeked of nicotine - we had to change our rinse water a lot, but it all came off, and you would never know that smokers had lived there previously. (01/27/2005)

By Shari

Cleaning Nicotine from Walls and Fine Furniture

We bought a mobile home that was furnished and saturated with smoke. We washed the walls down with Murphy's Soap - not the ceilings. They can't be washed. Then we called Servicemaster to come in and fog. This was 9 years ago and it cost $150. Don't know what it would be today. That fogging is guaranteed forever. We had it done twice and there is NO smoke smell. We close up and go north for the summer and when we return NO smoke smell. It's amazing!! Worth the money. (01/27/2005)

By Marylin

Cleaning Nicotine from Walls and Fine Furniture

For the FURNITURE, and walls IF they are wood paneling: Liquid Gold. It's in the house cleaning area, but you might have to do some looking for it.
(01/27/2005)

By john

Cleaning Nicotine from Walls and Fine Furniture

Year ago my friend moved into the same situation and we used equal parts of water and ammonia in a squirt bottle and it worked beautifully. It was wood paneling and it didn't damage it at all.
Keep your area well ventilated and wear a mask for whatever cleaner you use. (01/27/2005)

By Annie.

Cleaning Nicotine from Walls and Fine Furniture

Scrubbin' Bubbles Bathroom Cleaner works great to clean vinyl wallboard. It does most of the work for you. Just be sure to wipe off any residue with a damp cloth. (10/16/2007)

By Dana

Cleaning Nicotine from Walls and Fine Furniture

Awesome Orange is good, also Scrubbing Bubbles, If anyone knows of a better way--please let us know.
Diane (07/12/2009)

By Diane McMichens