If you live in a house where a smoker lives or has lived, or where there are lingering odors from smoke damage, you may need some remediation.
Getting Rid of Smoke Smell
Whether it’s the odor of actual smoke or the odor of tobacco, it’s not pleasant to smell in a home. Some homeowners try to mask the odor with scented candles and air fresheners, but often, the smoke smell combined with the fragrance creates another unpleasant smell. Here are some tips:
- Some experts recommend scrubbing walls with ammonia and water. It may take a number of attempts to notice any difference.
- Place clothes that smell like smoke or tobacco over steaming vinegar to take the odor out. You can use either white vinegar or apple cider vinegar, which are nontoxic and environmentally friendly.
Other ways to use vinegar to remove bad odors like cigarette smoke:
- Boil some vinegar and allow it to diffuse through the house.
- Scrub down walls with a mixture of two cups of vinegar and a gallon of warm water. Scrub floors, counters, ceilings, and furniture (if it is the type of furniture that won’t be harmed).
- Add a cup of vinegar to the laundry instead of detergent to remove odors from fabrics.
- Place small bowls of vinegar around the house to absorb odors.
Baking soda may also be helpful. Sprinkle it on carpets, furniture, and rugs, leaving it on overnight, then vacuum it up. Repeat the process until the smoke smell is gone. Place open boxes of soda around the house.
Charcoal can also absorb odors; place bits of charcoal in bowls around the home. You can use activated charcoal or charcoal briquettes.
Air Purifiers
One of the best ways to purify air is with an actual air purifier with an activated charcoal filter. These devices are relatively economical to use. Activated charcoal can be chemically altered to treat a specific gas, such as tobacco smoke.
For more information on getting rid of smoke smell and for quality HVAC installations, repairs, and maintenance, contact Ace Hardware Home Services of Dayton.
