How Do I Neutralize Smoke Odor in a House?

Cigarette smoke can cause a lingering odor in any home.

Smoke odor can be hard to deal with, especially if you are a nonsmoker. Air fresheners can help hide smoke odor in a house, but the odor will only be masked. For a more permanent solution, it is important to absorb the smoke order instead of just covering it up. Though the odor can be hard to neutralize in a house, there are ways to help eliminate smoke odor.

Things You'll Need

• White vinegar
• Warm water
• Baking soda
• Bucket
• Large sponge
• Small bowls
• Carpet shampooer
• Paint
• Paintbrush

Instructions

1. In a bucket, combine 1 cup of white vinegar, 2 cups of warm water and 1 tbsp. of baking soda. Place the large sponge in the vinegar mixture and squeeze out the excess moisture. Wipe down the walls, ceilings, baseboards and windows with the sponge. The vinegar will help neutralize the smoke odor and clean the smoke residue off the walls.

2. Dust the carpets in your home with baking soda. Let the baking soda sit for a day before you vacuum it up. By letting it sit one day, it will help give the baking soda time to absorb the smoke smell.

3. Clean the carpets in your home. You can have a professional carpet cleaner clean your home's carpets or you can rent a carpet shampooer and do it yourself. If you rent a carpet shampooer, make sure to follow the manufacturer's directions. A carpet shampooer may require a few extra passes on the carpet in order to thoroughly clean the carpet. If the carpet smells really bad, it may need to be removed and replaced.

4. Use a paintbrush to paint the walls with a fresh coat of paint, which will help neutralize the smoke odor in your home. Make sure to paint the walls after they have been cleaned.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't forget to clean any window treatments in the home. Curtains and shades will have smoke residue on them as well, and they need to be cleaned in order to neutralize smoke odor.

• Open the windows for some fresh air. Fresh air can circulate throughout the house and neutralize the odor.

References

• Health Guidance