Removing Cigarette Smoke from a Home?

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I just bought my new mobile (double-wide) home. New to me, but owned by a smoker. When I first viewed the home I did not smell smoke at all and I am a real shark for smoke smell (I hate it). I viewed the home two times in two weeks. No odor. My offer is accepted and I return for home inspection - smoke! I ask.

Told it was the AC - deceased husband smoked just under the built-in AC. Hmmmm, OK. Returned for a gab and buy/sell with owner (real nice woman) barely a whiff. OK. Walk-thru gets put smack up to closing and at walk-thru I could hardly breath. I opened all windows for two days - still stinks to high heaven!

Question - and thanks for excellent tips here - I could never wash walls by hand (disabled) so I wondered if I might use a thick painting roller and roll the residue off? Even the ceilings could be done this way. I couldn't do that, friends will help, but I could roll the walls. What do you think of this as a method? Seeing as how I wasn't able to smell anything at viewings (I'm sure her realtor put the fear of god into her that buyers would flee if she didn't smoke outside, but once she had a P & S Agreement she slipped back and by move out time it was packs and packs galore).

I'm hoping a wash with water and vinegar or TSP (but don't you have to also rinse TSP?). I sure could not do the cleaning twice) prior to KILZ primer and paint will do the job. I will also, of course, wash all shelves, cupboards, etc. What do you think? Thanks.

By Sue B

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Frugal Sunnie
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July 2, 20131 found this helpful

Best Answer

Whenever I've had to rid a house of heavy cigarette smoke I've had to really scrub with the vinegar and water so I'm not sure the roller would have the same cleaning ability but hey, give it a try-you may discover it works nicely!

One thing, if the house has central AC you will probably need to have the ducts cleaned too as the residue will have been circulated through the ducts, sad to say. Also a good flushing will clean the condenser and rid the unit of any accumulated residue.

If the AC is a wall or window unit you can use vinegar and water to clean all the parts you can get to (Q-Tips, wetted fin combs or gently scrubbing the fins with a wetted soft bristle toothbrush; soak the washable filter and grill in dishwashing liquid followed by a vinegar and water soak followed by a cold water rinse).

Central or wall, if the AC doesn't have a washable filter, replacing it will go a long ways towards clearing the air:)

Good luck, please update if the roller idea works because that would really be a great bit of info re the cleaning up after a heavy smoker.

Diana Sue M.

July 8, 20130 found this helpful

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