Smoke smells can be pleasant when they first come from a roaring fire or a fine cigar, but they quickly grow stale when they hang around your home and permeate furniture. Small particles of ash, nicotine, or cooking grease that collects on surfaces are what give off the lingering smells. While air fresheners can temporarily cover up the smells, a thorough cleaning is necessary to get rid of the smoke smell in your home. Consult a specialized cleaning service to remove the smoky smells if you have a large kitchen or home fire. Try these solutions to get rid of cigarette or campfire odors in your home.
Table of Contents
How To Prevent Smoke Smells In The First Place
- In the oven or on the stovetop, never leave food cooking unattended.
- To prevent fires, keep small heating devices away from drapery and upholstery.
- To stop the smoked air from being circulated throughout the house, close the HVAC return vent in the smoking room.
- To prevent fires, keep an eye on open flames on candles, wax warmers, and chafing dishes.
- Have the chimney flue inspected and cleaned every year.
- Don’t let people smoke cigarettes or cigars inside.
- Close doors leading to other parts of the house to help keep cigarette smoke in one room.
- Change the filters on your air purifier frequently.
- Before starting a fire in the fireplace, make sure the damper is open, and take out the ashes after each use.
What You’ll Need?
- Baking soda
- Distilled white vinegar
- Buckets
- Sponges
- Washing machine
- Soft-bristled brush
- Mop
- Microfiber duster
- Carpet cleaner
- Lint-free cloths
- Fabric refresher spray
- Step stool or ladder
- Borax
- All-purpose cleaner
- Vacuum
How To Get Rid Of Smoke Smells
- Increase ventilation. As soon as you smell smoke, open windows, and doors to let more air into the room (unless, of course, the smoke is coming from outside). Turn on the circulating fan and the ceiling fans.
- Remove ash. Empty the ashtray and take out any remaining, cold ashes from the fire. Place them in the proper container outside after taking them there.
- Use vinegar. Several little bowls should be filled with distilled white vinegar and left in conspicuous locations around the space. The vinegar will aid in odor absorption.
- Use baking soda. Add dry baking soda to carpets and upholstered furniture as needed. Utilizing a soft-bristled brush, lightly blend it in. Prior to vacuuming, let it sit for at least four hours.
- Wash accessories. Throw any accessories in the washing machine that can be washed, such as pillows, curtains, or bedding. By adding one cup of baking soda to the wash water, you can increase the freshening power of your regular detergent.
How To Wash Walls To Remove Smoke Smell
- Remove dust. Use a microfiber duster to get rid of cobwebs and dust before washing the walls for any reason. You don’t need to scatter them all over the walls.
- Get a cleaning solution ready. For every quart of warm water, combine 1 teaspoon of all-purpose cleaner with 1/2 cup of baking soda. Fill a second bucket with clean water and give the mixture a good stir. As required, make an additional cleaning solution.
- Start at the top. In order to avoid drips, dip a sponge or microfiber cloth into the soapy solution. Wipe the wall gently beginning at the top. As the soil is transferred, frequently rinse out the sponge or cloth. As you move the ladder, work in a grid to ensure that you cover the entire wall.
- Rinse the wall. To get rid of any soap residue, rinse the wall with clear water and a second clean sponge. To prevent drips on your freshly cleaned wall, wring the sponge until it is barely damp. Regularly swap out the rinse water.
How To Remove Smoke Smells From Upholstered Furniture
- Upholstery should be vacuumed. The upholstery can be cleaned with the help of the vacuum’s hose, upholstery brush, and crevice tool. Cover every square inch, including the sides and back of the furniture, starting at the top. Smoke odors can stick to the dirt and dust.
- Sprinkle with baking soda. Use a lot of dry baking soda to cover the upholstery.
- Brush it in. Work the baking soda into the upholstery fibers using a brush with soft bristles.
- Give it time. To eliminate the smell of smoke, leave the baking soda on the fabric for four to eight hours.
- Vacuum away odors. Vacuum the baking soda out using the crevice tool and upholstery brush.
- Use fabric refresher. Use a fabric refresher spray that traps odor molecules on the fabric if odors still linger.
How To Remove Smoke Smell From Carpets And Rugs
- Vacuum the carpet. To remove dirt and dust, thoroughly vacuum the rug or carpet. If you are using a vacuum with a disposable bag, throw it in the trash when you are finished to stop the odors from spreading.
- Use baking soda. Sprinkle plenty of baking soda on the carpet or rug to freshen it. Before vacuuming the baking soda away, let it sit for at least eight hours.
- Spray fabric to refresh it. To capture the odor-producing molecules, mist the carpet with a fabric refreshing spray.
- Examine a steam carpet cleaner. Utilizing a steam carpet cleaner and cleaning solution that is wet, thoroughly clean the carpet. Using a rental machine, you can do this yourself, or you can hire a carpet cleaning service.
How Long Does A Room Retain A Cigarette Smell?
Within three to five hours after the cigarette has been put out, a well-ventilated room can rid itself of the smell of cigarette smoke. The amount of smoke in the room and its size also play a role. For instance, the smell will go away quicker if you smoke one cigarette in a well-ventilated room rather than five or six cigarettes in a space without windows.
Consider smoking near a window to reduce the amount of time the smoke lingers in the space. To help remove the smoke smell from the room before it has a chance to settle, you should also think about using an air purifier while you smoke.
An air purifier costs between $40 and $75 and is available online or at a nearby hardware store. Finally, take into consideration using a portable fan or turning on a ceiling fan while you smoke. The smoke can be guided out the window by the fans.
Here are some quick, easy, and inexpensive methods for getting the cigarette smell out of furniture. While preventing smoking indoors is still the best and most effective strategy, some homeowners find this to be uncontrollable. Therefore, if you ever find yourself in this situation, start rolling up your sleeves to remove the unpleasant odor!
Is The Smoke Smell In Furniture Harmful?
Third-hand smoke is the term for lingering nicotine and other tobacco-related chemicals found on furniture. Children and adults who are exposed to these surfaces run the risk of developing tobacco-related health problems, especially if they touch them or spend a lot of time around them. However, because thirdhand smoke is a relatively new idea, studies are still being conducted to determine the extent of any potential harm.
