Does white vinegar get rid of cigarette smoke?

Author: Ms. Jayne Littel MD  |  Last update: Saturday, September 6, 2025

A gallon bottle of white vinegar only costs a few bucks and helps neutralizes cigarette smell. Vinegar can also be used to remove sticky smoke residue which can be left behind by smokers. To use, fill a spray bottle with vinegar, and spray away on every surface. Then wipe everything down with lint-free towels.

Will vinegar remove cigarette smoke?

Try wiping down furniture, washable walls, floors, etc. with white vinegar. Also, try placing several bowls of vinegar around the room with the smoke damage, leaving them there for several days. If you can't stand the smell of vinegar, try mixing a bit of lavender oil into the bowls to help cut the odor of the vinegar.

What gets rid of cigarette smoke the fastest?

As we've already learned, baking soda and vinegar can effectively get rid of cigarette smoke smell. But activated charcoal works, too! Use all three to help neutralize stale cigarette smells in your apartment. Place bowls of baking soda around the room to absorb the odors in particularly pungent areas.

What neutralizes cigarette smoke smell?

Vinegar: Place bowls of white vinegar around the room. Vinegar neutralizes odors. Coffee Grounds: Fresh coffee grounds can absorb and mask odors. Place them in open containers around the space. Diffusers: Use essential oil diffusers with oils like lemon, lavender, or eucalyptus to help mask and eliminate the smell.

Does white vinegar clean nicotine off walls?

Nicotine stains are commonly found on the walls of rooms in which people smoke, and these stains can be removed with a simple mixture of vinegar and water.

Does vinegar completely remove smoke smell from clothes and other materials?

What do professionals use to clean cigarette smoke off walls?

Clean With Ammonia Solution

It's recommended to wear protective gear and properly ventilate spaces during this process, which consists of spraying the cleaning solution onto walls, using a sponge to scrub smoke stains, and subsequently wiping areas with fresh water.

Is white vinegar safe on walls?

Use vinegar

White wine vinegar is the age-old solution to every stain and you can use it to clean painted walls as well. If the stain on your painted walls is refusing to come out with water and detergent, then your next option is to use a white vinegar solution.

What blocks the smell of cigarette smoke?

baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda over the smoke-affected area and let it sit for a few hours before vacuuming it up. Be sure to test the baking soda on a small part of the surface to ensure that the surface or fabric doesn't react unfavorably to the baking soda.

How do you clean a smokers house?

Wipe down all surfaces with a mixture of warm water and mild detergent to remove nicotine residue. Pay special attention to corners, walls, ceilings and windows, which tend to accumulate a high concentration of smoke particles. Deep clean carpets and upholstery using steam cleaning or professional services.

How do you make homemade smoke odor eliminator spray?

Neutralizing Smoke Odor with White Vinegar

The acidity of white vinegar neutralizes the high pH of smoke molecules. This is why it I a great odor eliminator. To make a cleaning solution, mix one part white vinegar with three parts warm water in a spray bottle.

How do hotels remove cigarette smell?

Using ozone machines, to remove airborne contaminants and odours from the rooms. Fitting extractor fans in the hotel, which draw cigarette smoke outside. Opening windows, to air out every room and encourage a fresh, outdoor breeze to waft inside. Thorough cleaning, sanitising, wiping and vacuuming of the rooms.

What cleans the air of cigarette smoke?

"HEPA filters… trap particles as small as 0.3 microns with 99 percent efficiency," says Podjasek. "Since smoke particles are typically within this size range, HEPA filters are excellent for removing smoke from the air, preventing it from entering the respiratory system and causing harm."

Does vinegar get rid of cigarette smell in car?

Vinegar and baking soda are known for their odour-neutralizing properties and for good reason. Vinegar, with its strong acidic properties, can help break down the smoke particles on surfaces, while baking soda acts as a natural deodorizer, absorbing odours rather than just masking them.

Does Febreze work on cigarette smoke?

Sometimes smells linger in the home. Whether you're battling cigarette smells or smoky cooking, Febreze has the answer.

How long does cigarette smell last in a room?

Smoke from one cigarette can stay in a room for hours. 1 Opening windows and using fans, air conditioners, air purifiers, air fresheners, and ventilation systems does not get rid of secondhand smoke. Smoking in another room—like a bathroom or bedroom—will not protect children and others from secondhand smoke.

What absorbs cigarette smoke smell in a house?

White Vinegar

Another way you can utilize vinegar's natural odor-absorbing properties is by leaving a bowl of vinegar in any room that smells of smoke. After about a day, the vinegar will absorb airborne smoke particles. The longer you let the bowls sit, the more effective the smoke smell elimination will be.

Will vinegar clean a smoker?

Create a cleaning solution by mixing equal parts of vinegar and water. Baking soda is another excellent cleaner, especially for scrubbing. It can be used in combination with vinegar for a more potent cleaning effect.

How long will a bowl of vinegar absorb odors?

A bowl of vinegar can start absorbing odors almost immediately and is typically adequate for up to 24 hours. When left out in a room, the acetic acid in vinegar neutralizes alkaline odors, such as those from smoke, cooking, or pet accidents, by binding with the odor molecules and neutralizing them.

Will a bowl of vinegar absorb cigarette smoke?

Try mixing vinegar and lemon juice in a bottle and spraying it as a mist the way you might use an air freshener, or place bowls of white vinegar out in a room where people have been smoking overnight—by morning the smell of the smoke may be gone.

What destroys cigarette smoke smell?

Use vinegar

Like baking soda, this removes odours naturally – you can also leave bowls of it around the home to absorb the smell. You can spray the vinegar onto your curtains and rugs to deodorize them.

What is the best cleaner to get rid of cigarette smell?

baking soda, detergent, air freshener, and dryer sheets for clothes. white vinegar or bleach, wood varnish if necessary, and odor-sealing primer for removing cigarette odor from the home. air purifiers.

Where should you not use white vinegar?

In addition to common household appliances and electronics, we'll reveal which surfaces should be avoided when cleaning with distilled white vinegar.
  • When to Avoid Cleaning With Vinegar. ...
  • Clothes Irons. ...
  • Countertops. ...
  • Dishwashers. ...
  • Electronic Screens. ...
  • Flooring. ...
  • Kitchen Knives. ...
  • Ranges.

How to clean smoke off walls with vinegar?

Vinegar can also be used to remove sticky smoke residue which can be left behind by smokers. To use, fill a spray bottle with vinegar, and spray away on every surface. Then wipe everything down with lint-free towels. Vinegar can safely be used on floors, walls, blinds, doors, mirrors, windows, and sills.

Do you have to rinse after cleaning with vinegar?

Fill a bucket with 1 gallon of warm water and 1/2 cup cleaning vinegar. Use a sponge or microfiber mop, wringing well to prevent over-wetting the floor. Rinse the mop head often. There's no need to rinse the floor; the solution will not leave residue or streaks.

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