Use Charcoal. Most people don't know this, but ordinary charcoal you use on the grill is an excellent smoke odor absorber. In fact, one of the best methods for eliminating smoke from your home is to use an air purifier that contains a charcoal filter.
Filters labeled “MERV13” or higher are most effective for removing smoke particles. Having a portable HEPA air cleaner available will also help to create a room with filtered air. See https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/air-cleaners-and-air-filters-home. for additional guidance on home air filtration.
If the smoke smell comes from fire damage, it can take weeks or months to disappear. Until it does, the smoke odor will reduce the home's indoor air quality and pose a health hazard for all building occupants.
Use air cleaners to help remove particles and odors
The HEPA filter will remove 99.97% of particles and VOCs that are bound to particles. Keep air cleaners on until the smells go away, and change the filters according to the manufacturer's instructions.
You'll look like a windmill, but a wet towel will suck in smoke particles.
While many people know that an air purifier can help with allergens such as mold and pollens, the good news is that using an air purifier can help to remove smoke from the air as well. Not only can an air purifier help to remove smoke odors, but it can capture many of the harmful chemical components as well.
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.
Increase the Airflow in the Room
If you want to get the smoke smell out of a room, one of the best things that you can do is increase the room's airflow. If the room has windows on different sides, that's ideal – just open the windows and let the breeze do the work.
Baking soda, for example, is an inexpensive and natural odor-absorber. Peek suggested leaving bowls of baking soda around the house for several days for full effect. “Activated charcoal also is an option to help absorb odors. Use it like you would baking soda and place it in bowls around the house for several days.
While aircon's are not designed to filter smoke particles they can be used to an extent to lower the level of smoke inside. Some air conditioners can be set to draw fresh air from outside. If your aircon does this it's essential to turn it off the 'Fresh Air' setting to ensure it's not continually drawing smoky air in.
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.
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.
Increase ventilation by opening windows and doors, and use fans or air purifiers to facilitate airflow. This helps remove airborne smoke particles and freshens the indoor environment.
Purpose: As discussed earlier, an air purifier is designed to clean the air and remove a various range of pollutants like dust, smoke etc., while a humidifier is designed to add moisture to the air. Maintenance: Air purifiers need maintenance in form of filter changes every 6-12 month.
Air out your house
Open up the windows in your home and bring in some clean, fresh air. This will help dilute the smell. The best thing to do is to start ventilating your home as soon as you notice any smoke smells in the house – to stop it from sticking to any of your furniture or clothes.
Do air purifiers really remove smoke? Yes, "Air purifiers remove smoke by using a combination of filters, primarily HEPA filters (which capture the fine particulate matter present in smoke) and activated carbon filters (which filters adsorb volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, and odors)," explains Podjasek.
It lingers
Second-hand smoke lingers for up to 5 hours after your last cigarette. Even if you smoke when they're at school or out playing, second-hand smoke will still be around, waiting for your kids to breathe it in when they get home.
Activated carbon is a highly porous material that has a large surface area that can trap smoke and other odors with high efficacy. The carbon filter in the IQAir HealthPro Series contains small pellets of activated carbon that absorb the smoke odor and other harmful VOCs present in the air.
If you are in a bind and need a quick solution on getting rid of smoke odors, one tip is to rub the clothing item with dryer sheets. You will have to properly wash the item later, but it should help for a bit. If there aren't any dryer sheets around, use an odor-eliminating spray, such as Febreeze.
Locate and remove the source of the smoke smell, then ventilate the room by opening doors and windows and setting up fans. Clean hard surfaces, fabrics, and small personal items that may have been affected by the smoke to get rid of odors.