How To Remove Smoke Odor In Your House
The smell of cigarette and cigar smoke is unique and pervasive, such that non-smokers will immediately notice it once they enter a room. Successfully getting rid of this smell from any space, like a room, garage, study, or foyer, will require the right tools and the appropriate preparation. Removing cigarette smoke odor from your home can be challenging, so here are some tips to make it easier.
Preventing A Lasting Smell
One key component in making the job easier is preparing the area exposed to cigarette smoke. Having continuous airflow going out of the room through open windows or doors will help ensure that the smell of cigarettes will not stick around. You should take ash and ashtrays out of the rooms as soon as possible. If a room or area is designated as a smoking area, minimizing the amount of cloth or other fabrics in the room will reduce the amount of odor left behind.
Unwanted Exposure
However, a lot of the time, there will be no chance to prepare your home for cigarette smoke exposure. Rude guests can sometimes smoke in areas with no air exhaust and thus would be difficult to clean. In this scenario, quick action on the homeowner’s side can be critical to reducing the resulting odor left behind. Immediate removal of all cigarette butts and ash needs to be done. Then exposing the room to the outside air by opening a window will help a lot. The homeowner can use appliances like a box fan to increase the airflow to the outside and facilitate proper ventilation. If an odor remains, it is time to take steps to clean the room’s contents.
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Cleaning Up The Content
The first place to start would be the hard surfaces of the room. These would be the walls, doors, floors, fans, and other solid areas exposed to the smoke. One can use white vinegar and hot water solution mixed in 50/50 proportions to wipe down all surfaces. You can use this solution with a spray bottle to easily apply to all surfaces. Have a couple of clean rags at hand so that you can replace each one as they become too dirty and thus lose effectiveness in cleaning. Be very thorough and wipe down every object in the room as cigarette smoke residue can remain even in small items like decorations and frames.
Fabric Problems
Fabrics exposed to cigarette smoke are the most difficult to deal with. Laundry safe fabrics can be cleaned using a ½ cup vinegar solution instead of regular detergent in the washing machine, followed by a regular wash cycle. Items that are difficult to wash due to size or placement can be deodorized by baking soda. Sprinkle carpet and upholstery with baking soda, let that sit for a few days, and vacuum it up. Repeat the process if it is needed. If you have access to a steam cleaner, that would also be an effective way of clearing out the smoke odor. Sometimes removing cigarette smoke odor from your home will require the disposal of items that you can no longer clean of smoke residue. Finally, air filters in your HVAC system should also be replaced so that any odor stuck in them will not recirculate once you turn the system on.
If your property’s smoke odor is severe or seemingly permanent, call us at Rescue One Restoration, and we’ll be able to provide consultation to solve your smoke odor problems.
