How To Remove Lingering Smoke Smells
How To Remove Lingering Smoke Smells In Your Home
Smoke is a frustratingly difficult thing to remove; it seems to be easy to get but almost impossible to get rid of. A home or a car in which people smoke will be tainted by the smell for years to come. Here are a few things you can do to combat this problem.
1. Vinegar
Using the non-toxic varieties of vinegar – apple cider vinegar or white vinegar, you can boil some up in a big pot and let its aroma float throughout your house. If you place its steam near clothes it will rid them of their lingering smoky smell. If the smoke is more ingrained and historic then you could consider getting a bucket of warm water mixed with two cups of vinegar, then dipping in a cloth rag or old t-shirt. You can then waft it around in the air and clean certain ceilings, floors, and walls. Vinegar will also work wonders if you add it to your laundry load. Finally, you can even leave little containers of it around your house – the idea is that it is capturing smoky odors, thus neutralizing them. You might be wondering how on earth you are then going to purge your surfaces and air from the vinegar odors. Don’t worry, baking soda should do the trick; however, vinegar odors are not long-lasting so should all be gone within a few days.
2. Baking Soda
fTalking of baking soda, it’s great for eliminating and eating up nasty odors. You just need to sprinkle it on fabrics, mattresses, rugs, carpets, etc., and leave it alone for twenty-four hours. Then, vacuum it all up and your smoke problem should be gone. It’s possible to repeat the process two or three times until it’s significantly better. As with the vinegar, you can just leave small containers of the stuff around; it has the added benefit of removing moisture from the interior air, thus killing two birds with one stone (smoky smells and dampness).
3. Charcoal
You might think that charcoal is a smelly substance; on the contrary, it contains chemical properties that can filter and clean air, sucking up contaminants including smoke. Simply break up some charcoal and place it around your house, in various containers. Many modestly-sized containers are better than one very large container because it creates a larger area overall. Go ahead and replace it with fresh charcoal as and when you need it. Activated charcoal is generally regarded as being more effective than briquettes, due to it being more porous, containing fewer impurities.
4. Coffee
Ground coffee is not only free but is pleasingly able to function in a way that alleviates the smell of smoke. Once the grounds are dry, just place them in containers around your house. You can keep replenishing them as and when you drink your morning coffee; if you’re a fan of coffee (as so many are), you’ll welcome that vague coffee aroma permeating your home.
5. Vanilla
Vanilla extract can be dabbed onto gauze pads or cotton balls, then placed in the areas in question for 24 hours. Droplets can be applied to a damp sponge and surfaces wiped; or, simply leave some cups with vanilla drops strategically around the house. The distinct, sweet smell will fuse itself into the surrounding air, driving out the old smoky aromas.
6. Apples
Slice an apple in two, leaving both halves out where the smoke smell is worst. It should suck up a lot of that existing smell and leave the area smelling like an orchard the next day. You might need to repeat a few times if the smoke is particularly entrenched.
7. Ammonia
For more persistent, stubborn odors, try ammonia. One cup mixed with a bucket of warm water can be used; sponge the substance over the affected areas. Alternatively, heat up a large pot of water mixed with two cups of ammonia, allowing the subsequent steam to infuse itself around the affected space(s). It can also be placed strategically in cups or added to your laundry. Just make sure you wear protective gloves and don’t be breathing in too much of it – goggles and a mask might help, or simply step outdoors while the steam or vapor is doing its work.
8. HEPA
HEPA filters are well known for being able to trap particles as tiny as 0.1 microns, which is great news for asthma and allergy sufferers due to their ability to neutralize mold spores, dust mites, pet dander, and other allergens. However, in order to deal with odors carbon filtration layer is required. By ensuring that your particular model has this extra capacity, a HEPA air purifier can be one you can have on whenever smoke smells are most likely to be released into your living space. A home air purifier is a great investment, one that can complement some of the other less high-tech solutions discussed above.
Sources:
- How to Get Rid of Smoke Smell in Your Rental Unit – RPOA
- How to Remove Smoke Smell from a Home – Texas A&M Agrilife Extension
- How to Remove Cigarette Smell from You, Your Clothes, Your Car, and Home – Healthline