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How to Get Cigarette Smoke Out of Foam

Dawna Theo

Cigarette odor is one of the most difficult odors to remove because it attaches to all porous surfaces, including foam. Cigarette smoke lingering in foam furniture can be removed, but may take several methods and attempts before you are successful.

  1. Take any removable coverings off the foam. If it is a couch cushion, unzip the covers and remove them. Wash the covers by hand or take them to a dry cleaner.

  2. Take the foam outside and let is sit in the sun for several hours. The sun and fresh air may pull out the cigarette smoke. Bring the foam inside and vacuum it. Vacuum it with the hose end with a brush attachment. Brushing and vacuuming the foam may loosen up the tobacco stuck in the porous foam fibers.

  3. Sprinkle the foam completely with baking soda to absorb the odor. Leave the baking soda on the foam for 12 hours, and then vacuum it thoroughly with a brush attachment. Repeat this process several more times if necessary. If the cigarette smoke is deeper into the foam, mix baking soda with water and saturate the foam deeper. Allow the baking soda to dry and then vacuum the foam.

  4. Wash the foam in the washing machine or bathtub. If the foam is small enough wash it in washing machine on the gentle cycle with one cup of vinegar to neutralize the odor. Soak the foam in a tub of water with several cups of vinegar. Take the foam outside to dry in the sun. Vacuum the foam thoroughly.

  5. Spray the foam down with a commercially made odor eating spray or fabric freshner. Vacuum it and then repeat with the odor eating spray again.

  6. Spray the foam down with an orange-oil based cleaner. Scrub the foam with a brush while it is damp with the orange spray. Let it dry thoroughly. Vacuum it with a brush attachment.

  7. Use coffee grounds or charcoal to absorb the odor. Place the foam in a large plastic trash bag or cover it with a plastic tarpaulin. Put a bowl of coffee grounds or charcoal in the bag or under the tarp with the foam. Wait 24 hours and then remove the foam to see if it is odor-free. If it smells like coffee now, that is okay, coffee smell dissipates quickly on its own.

  8. Have a professional do an ozone treatment on the foam. Ozone treatments are done with an ozone air purifier in a sealed room. The ozone machine sucks out all odors in every item in the room.

The Drip Cap

  • Cigarette odor is one of the most difficult odors to remove because it attaches to all porous surfaces, including foam.
  • Wash the covers by hand or take them to a dry cleaner.
  • Vacuum it with the hose end with a brush attachment.
  • If the cigarette smoke is deeper into the foam, mix baking soda with water and saturate the foam deeper.
  • If the foam is small enough wash it in washing machine on the gentle cycle with one cup of vinegar to neutralize the odor.
  • Vacuum the foam thoroughly.
  • Spray the foam down with a commercially made odor eating spray or fabric freshner.