A shellac-based primer is the best product to use in this situation. Our favorite is Zinsser B-I-N Shellac-Based primer. An oil-based primer will also get the job done. These stain-blocking primers are excellent at sealing the surfaces and locking in the odors.
Shellac and shellac based primers are excellent for sealing in smoke, nicotine, and pet odors and are widely used by restoration specialists. Besides, It'll take me alot less time to shoot the floors with a coat of primer than it would to scrub them all down with Krud Kutter or TSP.
Handwashing regularly: Baking soda can help remove cigarette odor in many instances. Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda into a few squirts of shower gel or liquid soap in the palm, then thoroughly rub the mixture together and clean the fingers, nails, and areas between each finger using warm water.
Zinsser Cover Stain is the best primer to kill off nicotine. It dries in 30 mins and onced primed you can put your emulsion on top as usual.
``A heavy stain and odor blocker, KILZ Restoration can block stains from tannin, water, fire damage, smoke, nicotine and more.''
Besides using white vinegar to scrub the walls and floor, you can also look to your drinks cabinet for a solution. Vodka is a disinfectant and deodoriser. Spray it onto the walls, leave it for a little while and then wipe it off. Or you can simply soak a rag and wipe the walls to get rid of the smoky stench.
To seal and block smoke stains and odors, apply 1 coat of KILZ® Original (stirring thoroughly before and occasionally during use) to the walls and allow to dry. Apply primer using a brush first to “cut in" around the edges, then use a roller to fill in.
Original Kilz Primer allowed more seep through when put in two coats to two different walls in the same area, whereas Zinsser provided superior coverage.
A high-quality stain-blocking primer followed by latex or oil-based paint can effectively mask tobacco stains.
Cover Stain® is especially effective on nicotine and water stains. New wood trim can be primed, sanded and topcoated the same day, saving time and money. Cover Stain® is the only interior / exterior primer, sealer, stain sealer and bond coat that dries for recoat in only two hours.
Another option is to pour a cup of undiluted vinegar (white or apple cider vinegar), lemon juice, or ammonia into a spray bottle. Put on gloves and protective eyewear, open your windows, and/or use a fan to encourage ventilation.
KILZ Restoration® is a new generation water-based primer, sealer and stain blocker that offers the performance of traditional oil and shellac-based primers. It tackles tough stains and seals persistent pet, food and smoke odors. It can also be used to block odors from subfloor when replacing carpet or wood flooring.
It tackles tough stains including severe water damage, rust, smoke, nicotine, grease, tannin, ink, pencil, felt marker, pet stains and more.
The smoke seed primer solution contains a combination of natural substances that overcome dormancy and stimulate seed germination. The degree of germination success varies with the species, but on average, treated seeds give at least twice the number of seedlings that untreated seeds do.
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.
KILZ RESTORATION Primer also seals persistent pet, food and smoke odors. Use on interior surfaces including drywall, woodwork, plaster, masonry, brick, painted metal, ceramic tile, glass and most other glossy surfaces†.
Applying paint directly over top of the remaining stains or odor will not cover them up. You'll need to apply a good, solvent-based stain-blocking primer to prevent them from bleeding through the paint. You may be able to get by with a product such as Zinsser's Cover Stain, which is an oil-based stain-blocking primer.
A great choice for this purpose is KILZ® Original primer. Trusted by professional painters for over 40 years to tackle the toughest odors, this hardworking primer helps to block most heavy interior stains including water, smoke, tannin, ink, marker, pet stains and more.
Zinsser BIN is shellac-based, whereas 123 is water-based. This makes Zinsser Bullseye 123 a lot quicker and easier to apply. It's also better suited for use on bare wood, or to prime plastic and composite before painting. BIN may be harder to apply, but it is by far the better stain block.
The product does seal odors but it has a unique smell as well. In one of the areas we applied two layers of the primer and the smell is still there after installing underlayment and flooring, but it's lighter.
B-I-N® effectively seals and blocks all types of odours (from smoke and fire damage to odours from pets and nicotine). It may be used in areas where incidental contact with food items occur. B-I-N® is the ultimate shellac-based primer, sealer and stain killer.
Although there are water-based primers that claim they will block the smoke smell, don't believe it. Go with a very good oil primer here. The how-to steps are the same as for the shellac, as listed below.