Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 5: Prepare for cleaning
• Part 2 of 5: Removing smoke odors from carpeting, clothing and linen
• Part 3 of 5: Removing smoke odors from surfaces in the house
• Part 4 of 5: Repainting the walls
• Part 5 of 5: Purifying the air
• Tips
• Warnings

Smoke and nicotine can get into your interior walls, window screens, household textiles and carpets, creating a foul odor throughout your home. Smoke odor is caused by residual resin and tar and can be difficult to remove. If you want to remove smoke odors from your home, you may need to clean and purify your entire house, and even replace the carpeting and repaint the walls if the smoke has caused a lot of damage to your home.

To step

Part 1 of 5: Prepare for cleaning

1. Open all windows and doors to air out your house. Do this regularly while cleaning and freshening up your home.
   • You can place fans in strategic places in your house to enhance the effect. Direct the fans at the corners of a room where fresh air cannot get in, so that the dirty air is blown out of the room. You can also direct the fans at doorways and windows to keep air and smoke smells from leaving the house.
2. Buy products that remove bad smells. Some products are touted as an odor remover or deodorizer. However, it is important that you use products that also have a cleaning effect. Products that simply mask the bad smells will not remove the smoke smell. Look for products that have the following ingredients:
   • Baking soda. Baking soda naturally neutralizes bad smells. It ensures that acidic and basic odor molecules get a more neutral pH value.
   • Activated carbon. Carbon is often used to filter dirt and particles from water, but is also a good odor remover that absorbs odors and foul odors.
   • Hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide removes bad odors by adding oxygen to contaminated or smelly areas. However, this chemical can act in the same way as bleach and should therefore be used with care and only on certain surfaces.

Part 2 of 5: Removing smoke odors from carpeting, clothing and linen

1. Gather all your clothes, duvets and curtains. Gather all your washable clothes and linens in bags so you can start washing them.
   • You may think that a certain item of clothing does not smell, but you may have become so accustomed to the smell of smoke that you can no longer distinguish it from your surroundings. You can assume that in a house that smells of smoke, most objects are likely to smell of smoke as well.
   • Wash all fabrics or have them dry cleaned. It is important that you wash your clothes and linens before cleaning the rest of your house. Garments and linen absorb odors much better than other types of materials. By removing all substances and cleaning them separately, it becomes easier to clean other surfaces.
   • Consider washing and storing your clothes and linens outdoors. If you take them home after washing, you run the risk of them absorbing the smoke odor that is still in your house.
2. Don't forget to clean, wash or replace your curtains and blinds. Many people forget to clean their curtains and blinds. These are the places where tar and resin often end up and penetrate. So remove your curtains and blinds from the windows and wash them. You can also buy new ones if your current curtains are already quite old and smelly.
   • Certain wall decorations can also be made of fabric or canvas. Don't forget to take these out as well and clean them with mild soap, water and a washcloth. Just take them off and keep them outdoors until you finish cleaning.
3. Examine your carpeting. If it is very dirty and smells strongly of smoke, consider replacing it. If you can't, clean it like this:
   • Use carpet shampoo. You can rent a carpet steam cleaner and treat the carpet yourself with carpet shampoo. You can also hire a professional cleaning company to clean your carpet.
   • Sprinkle baking soda. Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on all your carpeting and let it sit for a day. The baking soda will absorb the smoke and any moisture in the carpet. Then vacuum the carpet to remove the baking soda. You can do this several times a week until the smell is gone.
4. Sprinkle baking soda over upholstered furniture and carpeting. You can also choose to use a strong chemical cleaner. Professional cleaning companies that clean houses after a fire also use these strong products.
   • If you can remove the cushion covers, wet them and wash them by hand or in the washing machine with a baking soda mixture. Let them dry a bit and put them back around the pillows when they are still slightly wet. This allows the fabric to stretch to the correct size without creating mold.

Part 3 of 5: Removing smoke odors from surfaces in the house

1. Use vinegar or diluted bleach to clean non-dusty surfaces. Bleach and especially vinegar are very good at breaking down the tar and resin in cigarette smoke. The smell of bleach and vinegar may not be very nice at first, but these smells will disappear over time, unlike smoke smells.
   • Mix equal parts distilled white vinegar and warm water to make a cleaning mixture.
   • Mix 115 ml of chlorine bleach with 4 liters of water to clean surfaces such as the sink, sink, shower, bathtub, counter, glazed tile, vinyl and floors. Always rinse surfaces thoroughly with bleach before using.
2. Clean the floors, ceilings, fly screens, walls and other washable surfaces. You may need a ladder to access all washable surfaces in your home.
   • Don't forget to clean the inside of your clothes and other closets, as well as the walls of the basement and hallways, and the inside of closets and drawers.
3. Wipe all wooden, plastic, and metal furniture and appliances with distilled white vinegar. Pour the vinegar into a spray bottle, spray the surfaces with it and wipe with a cloth. Then spray the surfaces with water and wipe them with a dry cloth for delicate furnishings.
   • Spray a few drops of an essential oil, such as lavender or citrus oil, on the surfaces to cover up the vinegar smell. If you choose not to do this, the vinegar smell will disappear on its own after freshening up the furniture.
4. Dust all your knick knacks or wipe them with water. Just wipe them off or wash them with a mild soap. It is best to store them outdoors until all surfaces are clean and refreshed.

Part 4 of 5: Repainting the walls

1. Clean your walls. You can use different products or cleaning mixes to clean your walls and remove dirt, grease and odors.
   • Most professional painters use sodium phosphate to clean walls. Mix 225 grams of sodium phosphate with 5 liters of water or buy a spray with sodium phosphate. Apply this on your walls and then wipe them off with a cloth. Make sure to wear gloves when using sodium phosphate.
2. Use a special primer on your cleaned walls. This remedy is an essential step in removing the smoke odor that has been present in the house for a long time. Repainting with a regular paint will not remove the odor and will simply trap the smoke smell in the paint.
3. Consider painting other areas of your home as well. For example, if an old piece of furniture smells like smoke, you can clean it, treat it with a special primer and then paint to remove the odor.

Part 5 of 5: Purifying the air

1. Replace your air filters and the filters of your air heating system and air conditioning, if you have one. The air blowing through your house will still contain smoke. So if you replace all the filters, the air will be cleaned and clean air will enter your home that does not smell like smoke.
   • You can clean filters with a mixture of sodium phosphate and water. Wear gloves and soak the filter in a mixture of sodium phosphate and water. Do not leave it in for more than an hour. Use a brush to remove any dirt or stubborn odors. Rinse the filter. It should be clean now.
2. Buy an air purifier. You can choose to install one in your air heating system if you have one or you can buy separate air purifiers to put in separate rooms.
3. Place trays with activated carbon in your house. The activated carbon absorbs bad odors over time. Place bowls of activated carbon in places in your home that you cannot air, such as an area without windows or cupboards. Over time, the activated carbon should absorb the odors.

Tips

• Get into a weekly or daily cleaning routine to remove further odors. For example, open your doors and windows several hours a day, vacuum your house daily and wash all fabrics and upholstery weekly.
• To temporarily make the smell disappear, you can spray a product on your furniture that will mask the smoke smell. These products will not completely remove the smoke smell, but can help to temporarily improve the smell in the house.
• Consider also cleaning places outdoors, such as your patio, porch, or backyard. Any place where a smoker has been or where a smell of smoke has hung should be cleaned and freshened up to prevent the smell of smoke from entering your home again.

Warnings

• Read and follow the instructions on the packaging of any cleaning products you use. This way you prevent damage to your house and your belongings. Some products can only be used on certain surfaces.
• Always wear protective clothing such as gloves and goggles when using chemicals such as bleach and sodium phosphate.