Do you need to remove the smell of smoke from your home? Whether you’ve moved into a new home or apartment with previous smokers, or one of your house guests unexpectedly decided your living room was their ashtray, the smell of tobacco can be pervasive and difficult to remove.
Tobacco smoke sticks to every surface by sneaking into even the tiniest crevices, leaving a tarry yellow residue and making it extremely difficult to clean.
Another possibility could even be, you thought you were on an episode of Throwdown with Bobby Flay, and that led to an unwelcomed surprise in the kitchen and you’ve been left with the smell of burnt food within a 15 ft radius of the kitchen.
No matter what the cause, here are some helpful tips for removing smoke odor from your home:
1. Clean all fabrics with a mixture of water and vinegar
This includes all bedding, curtains, blankets, pillows, and possibly even clothing. Vinegar, which is comprised of acetic acid, is a fantastic deodorizer (also great on salads). The acidity of the vinegar neutralizes odor molecules and causes smells to dissipate almost immediately.
2. Clean your walls with the same water and vinegar mixture
Most people don’t think about their walls when it comes to foul odors, but the residue left behind from smoke can line the walls of your home. Wiping down your walls and ceiling with vinegar will go a long way to remove the smell of smoke. Don’t forget your windows and mirrors! If the odors remain after cleaning, you may need to go as far as repainting your walls.
3. Sprinkle your carpets and furniture with baking soda
If you’re looking for an easy DIY solution to cleaning your carpets and furniture, simply coat your carpets and furniture with a layer of baking soda. Make sure to keep the baking soda dry or you may end up with an even bigger mess than you started with.
Let your newly created winter wonderland sit overnight to absorb the odors, and then vacuum up the baking soda the next morning. If odors persist, you may need to replace your carpet or furniture.
4. If DIY isn’t your thing, you can machine-shampoo your carpets
If baking soda and vinegar won’t do the trick, you can rent a carpet cleaner from a hardware store, or hire a professional cleaner. Shampooing the carpets yourself will save you money, but you’ll have to put in a little more elbow grease.
5. Rent or purchase an air purifier
Air purifiers will filter the room’s air, removing harmful chemicals and eliminating odors. This is a more expensive, yet effective method.
6. Leave your windows open
Of course, one tried-and-true method for helping remove any odor is to leave your windows open. While following all of the above methods, it’s advisable to leave your windows open to help circulate outside air through your home.
If the above methods don’t work, it may be time to call in the professionals. To remove the smoke odor for good, contact a certified restoration technician who can help eliminate those pesky odors.