Tobacco and Cigarette Smoke Odor Removal

After years of smoking in a home, walls and contents become blemished and develop foul odors, and professional cigarette smoke odor removal is often necessary. Learn more about cleaning homes affected by tobacco residue and odors below.

What is cigarette smoke?

Cigarette smoke residue is a yellowish-brown, gluey substance that sticks to every surface in a home, making it difficult and time-consuming to remove.

When cigarettes, pipes, or cigars are burned, the environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) that results, also known as “secondhand smoke,” is a complex mixture of over 7,000 compounds, more than 40 of which are associated with cancer, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Exposure to ETS often referred to as “passive smoking,” affects both smokers and non-smokers.

How does cigarette smoke affect your home? | Smoke Odor Removal

Smoking affects the people exposed to smoke and produces odorous substances that stick to every surface of the area where smoking has taken place. The yellowish-brown substance is eliminated through smoking bonds to walls, furniture, and plastics and can permanently change their appearance. Cigarette smoke also penetrates more odor-absorbing objects, such as carpets, upholstery, bedding, walls, clothes, electronics, and more.

Additionally, the HVAC system of a building carries the smoke odor and chemicals throughout the structure. The affected surfaces will become unpleasant to look at, and the odors may disturb many people. The result of long-term smoking in enclosed areas is similar to that of a fire. However, tobacco smoke chemicals are much more challenging to eliminate than those of an actual fire.

Ultimately, tobacco residue is tough to remove and requires professional equipment and services. But, if you want to DIY, here are a few cigarette smoke odor removal tips.

DIY Cigarette Smoke Odor Removal from Homes

Long-term cigarette and smoke odor removal solutions

To eliminate cigarette smoke odor, you must thoroughly clean the tobacco smoke residue from every surface and corner of the home:

• First, open all windows and doors to let as much fresh air in as possible.
• Clean or replace the air filters, furnace filters, and AC filters.
• Clean walls and ceilings using products with ammonia and glycol — two ingredients that neutralize bad odors. Let the walls dry and check if the odor persists.
• If you can still smell cigarette odor after cleaning, repaint the walls and ceilings with latex paint. Use a sealant designed to lock in odors before painting.
• Clean everything in the home: floors, windows, carpets, furniture, upholstery, draperies, blinds, and other household surfaces, fixtures, and items. Hire a professional cleaning company if the tobacco smoke is too difficult to remove.

Short-term cigarette and smoke odor removal solutions

If you want inexpensive short-term solutions, try these tips:

• Use an air purifier in your home.
• Sprinkle baking soda on the carpets, leave it overnight to absorb bad smells, and vacuum it the next day.
• Place saucers of white vinegar around the house and leave them overnight to neutralize the smell.
• Get indoor plants that can absorb up to 87% of indoor pollutants.
• Place small bowls of coffee throughout the home.
• Use scented or non-scented candles.
• Leave orange peels around the home.
• Place pineapple slices around the room with all doors and windows closed for 24 hours.
• Place bowls of activated charcoal around the home.

Completely removing the cigarette smoke odor from the home is time-consuming and complicated. Call a professional smoke remediation specialist like PuroClean to remove the scent if the situation is complex.

How professionals remove smoke odor from a property

As tobacco residue is present throughout the affected area, removing it is often very difficult. No magic formula will whisk away unwanted residues and smells in your home.

Masking the odor with air fresheners only works temporarily and can pose health risks. Moreover, covering up a tobacco smell with a fresh coat of paint without cleaning first will not effectively eliminate the odor. Within weeks or months, the smoke residue will begin leaking through the paint and spread offensive odors through the room, just like before.

The only effective way to remove tobacco residue and smell is to clean and seal all structural surfaces. Restoration specialists start tobacco smoke removal by cleaning all surfaces. The cleanup always includes deodorizing agents to help eliminate the tiny particles of tobacco smoke.

A PuroClean of Lansdale Technician in The process of Smoke Odor Removal

Once the technicians finish cleaning the visible surfaces, specialized equipment is often necessary to remove the very last of the odors that are not accessible (such as inside walls or joints). This will usually involve hydroxyl or ozone generators — professional equipment that effectively destroys the smelly particles that penetrated the hard-to-reach areas.

The next step consists of sealing the surfaces with a sealant. A product designed to seal smoke residues is required. These can lock in the very last of the stains and odors. Finally, the surfaces will be ready to paint, refinish or apply new coverings.

What about the soft items? The soft things in a home, such as upholstery, bedding, draperies, and clothes absorb odors very well and are often easily damaged. Because of this, they are challenging to restore and may require specialists successfully. Often, the decision is made to replace these materials and items.

Effective Strategies for Tobacco/Smoke Odor Removal from Your Home

Tobacco smoke creates an odor that is notorious for its ability to saturate living spaces and persist long after its source is gone. Whether you’re a new homeowner dealing with a smoke-infused property or a seller preparing to list a home, understanding how to eliminate tobacco smoke odor is crucial.

The Challenge of Tobacco Smoke Odor

Tobacco smoke odor can be incredibly difficult to remove due to the tiny size of smoke particles, which can be as small as 0.001% of the width of a human hair. These particles can penetrate almost any part of a house, circulate through ventilation systems, and even seep through apartment floors, often leading to disputes between tenants and landlords.

While it’s known that tobacco smoke is a carcinogen, the health effects of residual smoke particles are less clear. According to the American Cancer Society, the cancer-causing effects of cigarette odors are likely very small compared to direct secondhand smoke exposure.

Odor-Absorbing Materials

Certain materials are believed to absorb or neutralize tobacco smoke odors, at least temporarily. Here are some effective options:

• Vinegar: Place a bowl of vinegar in each affected room overnight to absorb odors.
• Citrus Peels: Leave a large amount of citrus peels in your home for several days until they become desiccated.
• Baking Soda: Sprinkle baking soda over smoke-affected areas and let it sit for a few hours before vacuuming. Test on a small area first to ensure no adverse reactions.
• Coffee Grounds: Fill coffee filters with coffee grounds, tie them closed, and place them in affected areas.
• Charcoal: Similar to vinegar, place bowls of charcoal in smoke-infused rooms overnight.

Removal Strategies for Smoke Odor

For more permanent solutions, consider these comprehensive strategies:

1. Ventilate the Space

• Open all windows and turn on fans to improve air circulation.

2. Clean Light Bulbs

• Replace or clean light bulbs to prevent smoke residue from dispersing when turned on.

3. Clean All Hard Surfaces

• Use ammonia-based cleaners for hard surfaces (avoid woodwork with acidic cleaners).

4. Paint Surfaces

• Apply a sealing primer and paint to trap odors.

5. Replace or Clean Carpeting

• Replace carpet if possible, or have it professionally cleaned.

6. Clean Blinds and Curtains

• Soak blinds in all-purpose cleaner and scrub; professionally clean or replace curtains.

7. Use a Chemical Sponge

• Remove smoke residue from lampshades, books, and other materials with a chemical sponge.

8. Use an Ozone Generator

• Use an ozone generator to oxidize and neutralize odor molecules in unoccupied spaces.

9. Install a HEPA Filter

• Improve indoor air quality by installing a HEPA filter.

10. Burn “Smoker Candles”

• Use candles with enzymes that neutralize smoke odors.

11. Regularly Replace Air Filters

• Replace heating and air conditioning filters regularly to maintain clean air.

By implementing these strategies, you can significantly reduce or eliminate tobacco smoke odor from your home, creating a fresher and healthier living environment. Whether you’re preparing to sell or simply improving your living space, these tips can help you achieve a smoke-free home.

For cigarette smoke odor removal, call the pros!

To remove tobacco smoke odors in your home effectively and in the shortest time possible, hire a professional restoration company like PuroClean. We provide complete smoke cleaning and sanitation, professional deodorization, and duct cleaning services.