Many years of smoking can cause a home’s walls and contents to become stained and emit foul odors. Professional cigarette smoke odor removal may be necessary. Find out more about cleaning homes affected with tobacco residue and odors.
What’s cigarette smoke?
Cigarette smoke residue, a yellowish-brown gluey substance, sticks to any surface in a house, making it difficult and costly to clean up.
The environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), which results from the burning of cigarettes, pipes, and cigars, is also known as “secondhand smoking.” It contains over 7,000 compounds, of which more than 40 are linked to cancer according to the Environmental Protection Agency. ETS is often called “passive smoking” and can affect both smokers as well as non-smokers.
How does smoking affect your home?
The effects of smoking are not limited to the individuals who have been exposed. It also creates odorous substances that stick on every surface where it has occurred. Smoking can cause yellowish-brown stains to be permanently removed by binding to walls, furniture, or plastics. The odor-absorbing properties of cigarettes are also penetrated by cigar smoke, including carpets, upholstery and bedding, as well as clothes.
The HVAC system in a building can also carry the smoke odor and chemicals throughout. These odors can cause skin irritation and may make surfaces unattractive. Long-term smoking in enclosed spaces can lead to the same results as a fire. Tobacco smoke chemicals can be more difficult to get rid of than those from a fire.
Tobacco residue can be difficult to remove. Professional equipment and services are required. Here are some tips to get rid of cigarette smoke odors.
Home Odor Reduction from Cigarette Smoke
Solutions to remove cigarette odors over the long-term
You must clean every corner and surface of your home to remove the cigarette smoke smell.
- To let in as much fresh air as possible, first open all windows and doors.
- Replace, clean, or replace your furnace filters, air filters, and AC filters.
- Use products with ammonia or glycol to clean walls and ceilings. These ingredients can neutralize unpleasant odors. Allow the walls to dry, and then check for any lingering odors.
- You can still smell the cigarette odor if you have cleaned your walls and ceilings. Before painting, use a sealant that will lock in odors.
- All surfaces in your home should be cleaned: windows, floors, carpets and furniture. If the tobacco smoke is difficult to remove, you can hire a professional cleaner.
Solutions to remove cigarette odors temporarily
These are some tips for short-term, inexpensive solutions:
- You can use an air purifier to clean your home.
- Sprinkle baking soda on your carpets and allow it to sit overnight for bad odors to be absorbed. Vacuum it the next morning.
- To neutralize the smell, place saucers of white wine around the house.
- Indoor plants can absorb up 87% of indoor pollutants
- You can place small cups of coffee around the house.
- You can use scented or unscented candles.
- Orange peels can be left around the house.
- For 24 hours, place pineapple slices in the room. Keep all doors and windows locked.
- You can place bowls of activated carbon around your home.
It can be difficult and time-consuming to completely remove the cigarette smoke smell from your home.
How professional remove smoke odor from property
It is difficult to remove tobacco residue from the affected areas. There is no magic solution that will remove all traces and smells.
Air fresheners are temporary and can cause health problems. The odor will not be completely eliminated if you cover it with paint, even if you haven’t cleaned the room first. The smoke residue can seep through the paint and spread offensive odors throughout the room within weeks to months.
Clean and seal all structural surfaces is the best way to get rid of tobacco smell and residue. Tobacco smoke removal begins with cleaning all surfaces. To help remove the very small particles of tobacco smoke, every cleanup includes deodorizing agents.
After technicians have cleaned the visible surfaces, specialized equipment may be necessary to remove any odors that aren’t easily accessible (such as those in walls and joints). The professional equipment used to remove the smelly particles from the difficult-to-reach places will be hydroxyl and ozone generators.
Next, seal the surfaces with a sealing agent. You will need a product that seals smoke residues. These products can seal in all traces of stains and odors. The surfaces are now ready for painting, refinishing, or applying new covers.
What about soft things? Soft items, like upholstery, bedding, draperies and clothes absorb odors well and can be easily damaged. They are difficult to restore and may require specialist help. These items and materials are often replaced.
