Things You'll Need:
- Essential oils
- Laundry detergent
- Upright carpet cleaner
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Step 1
Do not allow anyone to smoke in your house, car or office. If someone has to smoke, make him do it outside.
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Step 2
If someone does smoke in your house, keep all windows open in the house, office or car and try to let the fresh air clear out the smoke. Once the smoke has escaped, close the windows and prepare to do some intensive cleaning.
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Step 3
Use one of your favorite essential oil smells like lavender, lemon, cinnamon, etc. and put it in a diffuser (there are even diffusers for the car). Essential oils have a very powerful aroma and, the citrus ones in particular, can eliminate odor. Avoid using incense, because then you will smell scented cigarette smoke.
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Step 4
Wash all of the fabrics that you can. Any towels, clothing, bed sheets, pillow cases, etc. Obviously, you cannot wash your couch, chairs or all of the clothes in your closet, so use a fabric freshener that eliminates odors. It's possible that the essential oils will stain your fabrics, but you can diffuse the oils in the area where these fabrics are. For cars, use a handheld carpet cleaner or go through a car wash that has one. If you have leather seats in your car, wipe it down with cleaning wipes that can be used on leather.
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Step 5
Use an upright carpet cleaner to wash your rugs and carpet. The cigarette smoke will linger here too.
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Step 6
If you move into a place that has nicotine stained walls, wash the walls with bleach first and then apply your paint or wallpaper.
Comments
excellence12 said
on 8/28/2009 Marina, I had Shirley on my mind... forgive me!
excellence12 said
on 8/28/2009 Good information, Shirley! It's a *5*! And, your best advise is to keep it out of your home, altogether, but I realize that isn't always possible for some. Thanks so much!
franchesca said
on 8/26/2009 Great article!
maytenelson said
on 8/25/2009 One more thing, don't use carpet powders in your furniture or carpet. Regular vacuum cleaners can't get these powders out. I bought a Dyson Upright Animal vac a few yrs ago. I was using carpet powders upon moving in some 9-10yrs earlier. That Dyson Vac pulled up the carpet powder in MOUNDS in the vacuum where the Kenmore, Hoover, & Rainbow missed it. I had to empty that Dyson vac 12x before I had all the carpet vacuumed getting that powder out of the carpet & the padding. Dyson makes a special flaky citrus material that doesn't clog vacs & doesn't stick in carpets/padding & furniture for those who think they can take it out of furniture w/vac or steam-cleaner. You're better off hiring a carpet/upholstery cleaning svc to clean your home considering the long haul. No powders, not even baking soda. Check out Dyson Vacuums. They work like the old Timex watches; they take a licking & ke...
maytenelson said
on 8/25/2009 FYI: Nicotine is NOT what stains walls, furniture, teeth, etc... It's the tar and other carcinogens from the combustible materials in tobacco cigarettes. I began using electronic cigarettes on 7/7/09. E-cigs have NO cancer-causing carcinogens of any type in them nor do they have any staining factors or odor. It's water vapor; hence no 2nd-hand smoke issues. By the end of the 2nd week, my house was clear of all smoking odors from 13-14yrs. Fabreze works wonders. I vape e-cigarettes in my house but you can't tell it b/c it doesn't have tobacco or tar or the other icky stuff in them - just water, flavoring, PG/VG, & nicotine...