How to Eliminate Cigarette Smoke Odor From a House or Apartment
On the list of unpleasant odors in a home or apartment, cigarette smoke ranks high. Unfortunately many smokers don't notice the smell, and many non-smoker renters and owners who move in after a smoker face the battle to eliminate the stale, sour odor. Candles, plug-ins and air freshening sprays help for a few minutes or even a few weeks, but that unpleasant smell returns. Eventually you may grow accustomed to the odor and only notice it when you come home. But your guests notice it immediately. You can permanently eliminate the smell of cigarette smoke by using a few tips and products. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- White vinegar
- Cleaning rag
- Carpet shampooer
- Carpet shampoo
- Upholstery cleaner
- Air purification machine
- Smoker's candle
Instructions
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Clean everything in the apartment with white vinegar. Vinegar cuts the leftover tar and nicotine resin that creates the infamous cigarette odor. Vinegar is safe to use on all surfaces, including some fabrics. While vinegar has an unpleasant odor, the scent eventually fades and diminishes, unlike cigarette smoke odor. To clean with vinegar, dip a rag in pure or diluted white vinegar and wipe it over various fixed surfaces like appliances, countertops, bathtubs, floors, ceilings and walls.
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Shampoo carpets in your home or apartment to help eliminate smoke odors that have penetrated deep into the carpet fibers. Whether you use your own machine, rent a machine or hire a professional team, a deep carpet cleaning with a carpet shampoo or diluted vinegar eliminates the tar and resin clinging to the carpet and creating the obnoxious odor.
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Launder fabrics to eliminate smoke odor absorbed by the material. Wash infrequently washed fabrics like drapes, curtains, throw pillows and furniture fabrics. Use upholstery cleaner on sofas, chairs and couches to remove the resins and tars that create the smoke odor.
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Prevent cigarette odors from returning by smoking outdoors and using air purification machines, smoker's candles and other products developed to pull odors from a room.
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Tips & Warnings
Odors may not disappear immediately, but repeating all steps frequently helps to permanently eliminate the unpleasant smell.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit cigarette image by bright from Fotolia.com
