Read on to find out a few of the best ways to remove pesky smoke smells from your home.
Whether you are a smoker who has kicked the habit, or you have just moved into a home where cigarettes were abundant, the smoke smell left behind can be very tricky and tedious to remove. Here are a few of the most useful ways you can do it and leave your home smelling fresh and clean.
Increased/Improved Ventilation
The first thing you want to do is improve the ventilation of your home. More often than not, smoke smells linger because there is nowhere else for them to go, and then eventually, they settle into your walls, furniture, etc.
While it certainly isn’t the cure-all for your problem, improving the ventilation in your home will give you a bit of immediate relief, and allow a large portion of the lingering smell to escape.
Air Purifier
Another step you should take is investing in one of the many air purifiers for smoke odors. In simple terms, air purifiers suck in dirty air, and use water, filters, or a combination of both, to clean the air and release it back into your home.
This won’t work at removing smells that have settled deeply into your walls or furniture, but it will start filling your home with cleaner air, and remove a lot of the harsh smoke smell.
Clean Hard Surfaces
The next step is to clean all hard surfaces in the home thoroughly. Whether it be countertops, walls, stairs, flooring, or everything in between, a deep clean will do wonders at removing the smoke smell.
Don’t forget that flooring materials such as hardwood, marble, limestone, and certain types of tiles are porous, meaning they can easily absorb smoke odours when exposed to them for an extended period; the same can be said for walls and countertops made from similar materials.
Clean Soft Surfaces/Fabrics
Next on your list should be cleaning all the soft surfaces and fabrics in your home. While this won’t apply if you are a non-smoker moving into a new home with your own furniture, if you were a smoker or have bought tainted secondhand furniture, this is a must.
Curtains, pillowcases, linen, couch covers, etc., can all easily absorb smoke smells. The best option is to stick it all in the washing machine and give it a couple of cycles. A helpful tip is to use enzyme-based sprays, which are typically used for pet odors, as they can break down smoke particles.
Deep Clean Your Carpet
Carpets are often one of the main culprits when it comes to smoke smells, as they are very good at holding onto odors for months, even years after they were first exposed to them. Because of this, a deep clean is the only option.
Whether it is using a professional service or hiring a machine yourself, an industrial-strength deep-cleaning vacuum is one of, if not the best way to get the smoke smell out of your carpets. sm
Steam Cleaning
If you are running out of options, or the methods you are trying aren’t working, you should opt for steam cleaning. When it comes to breaking down smoke particles, heat is one of the best routes to go.
Additionally, bacteria can add to the odor problem, and steam cleaning can sort out that problem for you, too. A professional service is usually the way to go, as they can offer Ozone generator cleaning, which removes smells at a molecular level.
Use Natural Deodorizers
You should also be using deodorizers and odor neutralizers when cleaning and after you are done. Natural odor deodorizers include things such as vinegar bowls; place a few bowls of vinegar around your home, as these will absorb and break down smoke smells.
Another option is using baking soda, which can be sprinkled on your carpets, or placed on dishes around the home. Finally, activated charcoal is arguably one of the best natural deodorizers, and placing a few bags of it around your home will make an almost immediate difference.
Odor Neutralizers
On top of deodorizers, you may also want to use a few odor neutralizers. For instance, peel a couple of oranges and place the peels and some cinnamon in a pot to boil. While it will smell like Christmas, it will also help neutralize odor molecules and leave your home smelling fresh.
You can also use essential oils as neutralizers, with a few of the best being eucalyptus, tea tree, and lemon. However, these would only act as a cover-up, and therefore, it is best to use them in conjunction with a deep clean, not by themselves.
Replace Where Necessary
Finally, if all else fails, you may want to simply remove and replace what you can. For instance, wallpaper is often a culprit for smells, and can be easily removed and replaced. In more extreme cases, you may need to pull up and remove carpets as well.
However, this is often a last resort, as nowadays there are numerous chemicals and pieces of equipment that make it easier than ever to eliminate smoke smells.
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