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Home and Garden > Cleaning > Odors on February 28, 2012

Removing Cigarette Smoke Odors

cigarette smoke odorsThe odor from cigarette smoke is strong, pervasive, and often difficult to remove. This is a guide about removing cigarette smoke odors.
     

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Here are questions related to Removing Cigarette Smoke Odors.

Minimizing Cigarette Smoke and Odors

I need to know how to get rid of cigarette smoke in my house. My husband smokes. I have used all kinds of spray. Burned candles, still I can smell the smoke. What can I use? I have a small poodle, so I would need something that wouldn't hurt my dog.

Shonda from Grand Rivers, KY

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By Raincheck 04/04/2010

Fill a spray bottle 3/4 full with cold water. Pour in 1/4 cup Apple Cider Vinegar. Every time your husband lights up, spray him down with this solution.

Removing Cigarette Odor from a Room

I have a room attached to my garage that is sheetrocked and insulated, but is not painted or primed. My renters smoke very heavily in this room and now that room and the garage smells. When they took down the pictures that they had hanging up there is a brown tint around where the picture was hanging.

We have had the windows open but this does not help. What is the best way to get the smell out. Also, is priming it now just going to make the smell stick into the walls.

Please help with any ideas!

By Sue

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By meoowmom 10/22/2011

There is a tried and true product easily found at Lowe's, Home Depot etc. It is called TSP my friend smoked like a fiend and never would open windows to air out! When she would move we would go tet TSP and scrub the walls with it, I helped just to see the clean walls.

Removing Cigarette Odor in House

How do you get rid of cigarette smell in your home?

By Linda

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By maydincanada 07/26/2012

I also use bread and vinegar. I put a piece of bread on a small plate and saturate it with vinegar, then set it out in the rooms. Seems to work.

My House Smells Like Cigarette Smoke

My husband smokes cigarettes in the bedroom, but the whole house smells like an ashtray. I've tried to get him to smoke outside but to no avail. Is there anything I can do to get rid of the "ashtray" smell in my house? Thanks.

By Pamela

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By TXBetty 06/07/2011

I've never lived with a smoker and won't let anyone smoke in my home or in my car. That said, I'd beg, plead and cry if I had to in order to try to get him to smoke outside. I have a couple friends who smoke and they are very considerate. My sister whom I haven't seen in years burned a hole in my living room carpet and one in my car. I know this doesn't answer your question which I don't have an answer for but if it bothers you as much as it seems to I'd probably get away from him every time he lights up by going outside. Maybe he'd see how much it bothers you.

Removing Cigarette Smoke Smell from House

My grandbaby is visiting soon and I have been doing everything I know to rid the house of cigarette smoke. I have gotten the carpets cleaned. I am also washing draperies and steaming my tile floors. But I still can smell a stale odor even though I haven't smoked in the house in over a year. I'm thinking the walls and my plastic blinds are holding the odor. I heard vinegar and water may work, but I'm afraid the strong smell of vinegar will run everybody out of the house. Suggestions?

By Molly

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By PIKKA 10/02/2012

White vinegar is a great deodorant if allowed to dry completely, mix with water, not full strength.

But I would use dawn [blue] and a tablespoon of bleach in a bucket of water. Cigarette smoke contains tar, which is sticky so that's for the Dawn, and bleach will deodorize. The walls need that treatment and it will help. Much of the smell will be gone in few hours. Don't overdo the bleach.

Removing Cigarette Smoke Odor on House Walls

My house smells of cigarette smoke, thanks to the people who lived in it before me. I was told to bleach the walls to get out the smell, but was wondering if there were any other ways to get out that nasty smell. Thanks.

By Deborah A

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By Sunj1970 05/24/2011

I used Murphy's Oil Soap to clean my walls for the same reason. It worked well. Good Luck.

Removing Cigarette Smoke Odor from Popup Camper

What is the best way to clean the inside canvas of a popup camper that we bought from chain smokers?

By Dianne E

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Removing Cigarette Smoke Odors

I have been given a brand new wheelchair (electric) which I needed badly, but the lady who had it smoked a lot and it smells of strong cigarette smoke. Anyone have a good suggestion on how to remove the scent from the chair? I have tried Murphy's oil soap, Lysol, Febreze and setting it out in the sun all day.
The chair is regular wheelchair material. Thank you.

By knettles from GA

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By sweetsoo 02/02/2011

If she was a heavy smoker, the smoke has gotten into the mechanism also. I would use baking soda (dry) sprinkle it everywhere, then vacuum in an hour. Coat it again with the baking soda and just leave it to wear off naturally. You can also try the carpet deodorizers for pets and smoke. I get mine at the local dollar store.

Cigarette Smoke Odors in a Refrigerator

I acquired a relatively new refrigerator from a house where someone smoked. The refrigerator has the smell of stale smoke inside. How do I get rid of this odor?

Gretchen from Cincinnati, OH

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By yolanda.r.n. 07/25/2009

Have tried all of the above and now have a combo odor of vinegar and smoke. My grandson thought it was awful! I'm thinking the smoke odor must be coming from within the frig; I'm about ready to just give it away. Lesson learned; never purchase any appliance from a smoking family!

Getting Rid of Cigarette Odors Inside

I use to smoke in my house and company did as well. I have cleaned all my walls, curtains, and carpets, and I still smell cigarette smoke. I use wall deodorant plugs, and wall sprays and candles.

Read More...

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Archives

Here are archived discussions related to this page.

Minimizing Cigarette Smoke and Odors

I don't smoke but my family does and I know these work. To get rid of smoke and smoke odor, there are two things you can do. One: keep a candle lit while smoking, the flame draws the smoke and absorbs it. Or, two: keep a small dish or cup of vinegar near by. The vinegar absorbs the smoke. You can tell when to change the vinegar by the color. When the top becomes dark, dump it and pour fresh. How often you need to change it depends on how much smoking is going on.

By Linda Lush


RE: Minimizing Cigarette Smoke and Odors

buy some cheap oranges push whole cloves in hang or put on a dish this will smell nice and the citrus in the orange cuts through smoke and cooking smells. (08/12/2006)

By anybabs

RE: Minimizing Cigarette Smoke and Odors

I keep candle warmers, or coffee warmers, which ever you care to call them, around the house in various locations with a mason jar full of water and a few drops of eucalyptus and citronella essential oil. they are known odor fighters. I have used the vinigar method and an amonia method by placing vases with either solution in out of the way places, decorative and useful. All of the above work wonders.

You can also keep a simmering pot on the stove with orange peelings or lemon peelings. Tina (08/12/2006)

By trbrown22


Removing Cigarette Smoke Odors

I am cleaning a home for someone who is allergic to cigarette smoke and the house just reeks of it.


Removing Cigarette Smoke Odors

What can I do to get cigarette smell out of my house?

Pat from NC


White Vinegar

Set bowls of white vinegar around in your home. It will absorb the odor and is a frugal way to deodorize your home. You can also use Apple Cider Vinegar too. I have it sitting around since I have pets and nobody can smell anything. Just be sure to change them out every few days,I change mine out every 3 days, but that is just me. It is a frugal costing room Odor Eliminator. (05/09/2007)

By grammaoftwo

Febreeze

Walmart has a generic febreeze that works well. (05/09/2007)

By hagathna

Killz

If it's in the walls, the smells can be hard to get out. I would cleanse really well and then place a treatment or paint on the walls that is made to keep out smell, I think I saw one called Killz? For pet odors? I would check with your local hardware store and they would probably be able to help you out. No amount of "stinky spray" as we call it here, for those stinky moments, will get out something like smoke. The tar leaves marks all over your walls, especially in a bathroom, when the walls get moisture on them you'll see brownish orange spots on the wall, from the tar, ewwwww. Good luck! (05/10/2007)

By michawnpita

Vinegar

Wash the walls and what you can, with water/vinegar mix. Mist spray water over what you can and cover the rest with baking soda. it absorbs the odor. May have to do it a second time. As for wood furniture, wipe well a few times with straight vinegar, sprinkle baking soda on it and "scrub" it. Sorry, I am allergic to cigarette smoke and it is such a vile habit..why people smoke is beyond me! (05/13/2007)

By eyelovecats

Vamoose

We had a rental home that the tenants smoked in for several years. When they moved out we tried everything to get rid of the smell but couldn't. We looked on the internet and tried several of the remedies but to no avail. Our next step was to replace carpets, paint walls, or rent it to another smoker. Before we did that we decided to try a product called vamoose 1808t and were actually very surprised that it did remove the cigarette odors. We highly recommend you try the vamoose product to get rid of cigarette odors. (05/14/2007)

By 1ShellyP

OxyClean

I actually experienced this when I moved into a rented house that was sealed like a drum and a smoker lived there. I washed the walls, woodwork and ceilings with buckets of oxyclean. It not only made the water turn a nasty rusty color but, it also got the odor out, I shampooed the carpets as well, the mini blinds were soaked in the tub with oxyclean and the landlord thought I bought new blinds. It's a lot of work but, in the long run it's cheaper. (06/16/2007)

By trishab002

RE: Removing Cigarette Smoke Odors

I wish I would have seen these stories before I purchased my house in May. The nicotine on the woodwork and cabinets is horrific. I have removed the cabinet doors and washed them in the laundry tub with TSP and hot water. I plan on painting them so it is not a problem; however, now I fear what is lurking in the duct work and what expense this might entail. This is just more of a "project" than what I had bargained for. I am going to try the vinegar remedy as soon as I get home from work. I have used rubbing alcohol and this works also. Thanks for all of the valuable suggestions. (06/21/2007)

By Patricia

Sol-U-Mel

Sol-u-mel is amazing, it removes all sorts of things. When I get home I can get the recipe. (07/09/2007)

By Ashley L

RE: Removing Cigarette Smoke Odors

Hard surfaces can be washed, carpets can be shampooed. You can vacuum your vents as deep as you can reach. If you have an in vent humidifier, a little vinegar in the tray is recommended occasionally anyway. Any time you can open the windows is great. Citrus smells like lemon and orange are great for eliminating all kinds of odors. (07/09/2007)

By Sheraone

RE: Removing Cigarette Smoke Odors

I would be very cautious using muractic acid to clean the tile grout. It may etch the tile since it etches concrete. Also since you have sensitivities to chemical cleaners you will probably react to the muractic acid. Use with caution. (10/18/2007)

By certified

RE: Removing Cigarette Smoke Odors

I agree with Shelly, Vamoose 1808T works wonders. In the time it took Sonia to write her testimony, she could have been well on her way to a smoke-free home...and no need to resent the seller. Then again, if the seller had used the product there wouldn't have been a need for candles in the first place. (11/12/2007)

By In The Service Business


Removing Cigarette Smoke Odors

1 How can I help get rid of smoke and damp odors in my home? I am still a smoker.

Charity from Harrodsburg, KY


Coca-Cola in Wash

Add one can of Real Coca-Cola (not sugar free) per load of wash to your machine for your clothes, draperies and other washables.

From a non-smoker's point of view, it doesn't matter what you do to remove the smell, unless you start smoking outside, the smell will always be there. You best bet is to prime your walls with a good primer, then paint them, that will take care of the smoke that's in the walls. You'll also have to wash your carpeting.

But you can avoid the whole mess by renting a simple machine. An Ozone machine. Just leave it running for most of a day and leave the house. When you return, there will be no more smoke smell. The ozone gets inside the walls, carpets, draperies, and upholstered furniture. It will remove the smell very quickly, like there's no tomorrow. I know! We had a house fire and the smoke permeated everything and the ozone machine they brought over got rid of every bit of the nasty smoke smell in 2 days. (It took 2 days because it was a large 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom, 2 story home). You can usually find Ozone Machines at your local rental store. If not, look in the yellow pages under "Fire". Also, buy a quality air freshener that works with ozone and air the house out as much as possible. (With doors and windows open) (12/24/2008)

By Cyinda


Removing Cigarette Smoke Odors

What do you use to get rid of the odor of cigarette smoke in an air conditioned room?

By forealp from Georgetown, Guyana


RE: Removing Cigarette Smoke Odors

I am grateful to all of the people who have discussed their experiences with cigarette smoke odors. I have just begun the process to purchase a home - and it does smell of cigarette smoke. My Realtor commented on the strong smell when we saw the home today. Now I am uncertain that I would want this home. From all of the discussion of smoke odors being inside the cabinets, possibly oozing through the new paint (unless properly washed, primed and painted), and ventilation systems and refrigerators continuing to hold the smell - I am starting to think that I should not buy this home. It sounds like a major ordeal to really clean one's home of the cigarette smoke odor. If anyone has any more encouraging success stories - they would be great to hear. It sounds like some people have had some success - and some people like the ozone machines, but my tendency is to believe the worst reports (e.g from the physician family below). I am wanting to live a more green life and have even considered repainting with greener paints - but now reading all of this makes me want to steer clear of this home. Thanks everyone! miss green clean (08/29/2009)

By miss green clean


Removing Cigarette Smoke Odors

We recently bought a brand new dishwasher off Craigslist. The dishwasher had never been used, but had been stored in a garage that apparently had been used as the "smoking room". It smells so strongly of smoke.


Removing Cigarette Smoke Odors

How do you get cigarette smoke smell out of furniture?


Removing Cigarette Smoke Odors

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Removing Cigarette Smoke Odors

How do I get the smell of cigarettes out of a room?


Removing Cigarette Smoke Odors

How do I get cigarette smoke out of the house?

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