You may want to use materials that absorb odors such as activated charcoal strategically placed throughout the house to absorb and eliminate the lingering smoke odor. Similar to fire smoke, cigarette smoke can permeate the HVAC system, requiring thorough cleaning and maintenance.
Set up fans to draw air from outside and push indoor air, out. Box fans placed in windows make quick work of removing smoke.
Baking Soda: Place bowls of baking soda around the area to absorb odors. Leave them for several hours or overnight. Activated Charcoal: Similar to baking soda, activated charcoal can effectively absorb smells. HEPA Filters: Use an air purifier with a HEPA filter designed to capture smoke particles and neutralize odors.
The best way to remove the smell of smoke from a room is to ventilation. This can be done by opening windows and doors, or using fans to circulate air. However, in some cases, this may not be enough. If the room is small or there are no windows, you may need to use an air purifier.
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.
You'll look like a windmill, but a wet towel will suck in smoke particles.
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.
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.
To remove soot and smoke from walls, furniture and floors, use a mild soap or detergent or mix together 4 to 6 tbsp. tri-sodium phosphate and 1 cup household cleaner or chlorine bleach to every gallon of warm water. Wear rubber gloves when cleaning with this solution.
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.
Similar to boiling lemons or making stovetop potpourri, vinegar steam is a great way to neutralize potent smells. Add half a cup of vinegar to one cup of water and simmer on the stove while you cook (or after) to absorb any smells in the air.
Secondhand smoke can linger in a room for up to about five hours. In fact, it can even travel through stairwells and ventilation units. This means people who live in apartment buildings risk exposure without ever leaving their home. Particles from tobacco smoke can settle on surfaces and last several months.
Open at least two windows or doors on opposite sides of the room. This creates a cross breeze that will suck fresh air in through one opening and push the smoke out of the other.
"Vinegar can help neutralize odors in the home, such as in the kitchen or refrigerator," says Katie Dills, senior vice president, The Cleaning Authority. The best part? All you have to do is leave a dish filled with 1/2 inch of white vinegar in the offensive-smelling room for it to work its magic.
If you're worried that cleaning with vinegar will make your home smell like pickles, don't worry – the smell disappears pretty quickly, especially if you air out your space properly. Open windows and doors to encourage air flow. Once dry, you'll find that vinegar leaves a fresh scent.
Baking soda is sodium bicarbonate, or sodium hydrogen carbonate, which is a base. Contrasting with vinegar, baking soda absorbs acidic smells. Such as spoiled food, which makes them excellent choices for refrigerators. It will absorb smells and can even be used as a breath freshener.
Light from the hallway, which often remains on throughout the night in hotels, and the sounds of footsteps and conversations from people walking in the hallway can penetrate through the gap under the door. The towel effectively covers this gap and muffles sound and light, improving sleep comfort.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.