If you have a regular smoker in the house you must be familiar with the slightly smoky, burnt smell of tobacco lingering in the rooms, the furniture, and car. And while you might be used to it, your guests might find the odor queer. Also the fact that cigarette smoke smell is bad for your health and might lead to allergies does not make matters any better.
Now the best way to curb this is to quit smoking (easier said than done!), but what one fails to realise is, the smell of smoke still prevails, it’s stuck in the corners of the rooms. Mentioned below are some effective home remedies for removing smoke odor from the house, check it out:
What causes cigarette smoke?
Tobacco smell permeates every nook and cranny of your house and while smokers are usually unaware of this, the cigarette odour is almost intolerable to a non-smoker. Listed below are a few common causes of the lingering smell of cigarette:
- Having a chain smoker in the house
- The high tobacco content and other harmful chemicals cause the odor
- Moving into a place whose former occupants were smokers
- Outdoor cigarette smoke and pollution that clings on to your car
- Continued exposure to cigars, pipes and other tobacco containing products
The effects of cigarette smoke:
The ill effects or dangers of cigarette are well-known to everyone. Even smokers want to get rid of the odour as it is fatal for babies and small children. Mentioned below are some symptoms of effects of smoke smell:
- Irritation, sore throat and allergies
- Breathing problems such as asthma
- Serious medical problems such as lung cancer
- Bad for the environment as well
- Chronic and long lasting diseases
- Other smoke odors such as chimney smoke, barbeque smoke etc.
Home remedies for getting rid of cigarette smoke:
The miniscule smoke particles stick to the house like an ominous shadow, refusing to let go. And no matter how many air purifiers, filters and disinfectants you use, the tobacco smell lingers. Don’t worry though, given below are some easy and effective home remedies for getting rid of the smoke and leave your house smelling sweet again!
1. Charcoal
Charcoal absorbs the smoky smell and is great for purifying water and air. Placing a bowl of charcoal in the smoke infected area is among the easiest home remedies for getting rid of that awful smell of cigarettes. Place it close to the ashtray in case you’re an active smoker.
2. Fabric softeners
Often fabric softeners are pretty effective in removing the smell of tobacco from clothes, soak your garments in a scented fabric softener after you’ve washed it. This not only strengthens the fabric but also rids it off the strong cigarette smell.
3. Cinnamon sticks
The sweet smelling cinnamon can also effectively remove the cigarette smell in the house! Bake or boil some cinnamon sticks in a pan and place it around your house. The wonderful aroma would waft all over the house.
4. Limes and lemons
Who doesn’t love the fresh smell of lemons?! A natural and easily available kitchen ingredient, limes are among the best home remedies for getting rid of the smoke. Sprinkle some lime juice round the house or add some drops into the washing. Also active smokers can use lemon to rid the cigarette smell from their mouths
5. Coffee
Not only does it taste heavenly, the wonderful aroma can also neutralize the smell of cigarettes! All you have to do is place a jar of coffee in and around the house.
6. Hair products
Shampoos or conditioners can also be used for eradicating the smoke, it washes out the smoke particles from your hair; also aromatic soaps remove the tobacco smell from the body.
7. Old newspaper
Leaving old newspapers inside the cupboards and cabinets is perhaps the easiest of home remedies for getting rid of cigarette smell, and it costs you nothing!
8. Baking soda
Sprinkling some baking soda on the corners, the furniture and carpets absorbs the smoke particles easily, leaving your house odour free
9. Vanilla extract
Vanilla extract is a great cigarette odour remover that absorbs the smoke particles, soak a piece of cloth in vanilla essence and place it in the middle of the room. This method is also effective to get rid of cigarette smell in the car.
10. Bleaching powder
Washing the walls with bleaching powder or sprinkling some of it on the curtains and other fabrics neutralizes the tobacco smell.
11. Borax or detergent
Washing the walls, curtains and carpets with washing detergent not only cleans them of the stains but also frees them from the cigarette odour.
12. Vodka
Alcohol is another useful home remedy; sprinkle some vodka onto your clothes, the couches and the carpets. The smell evaporates easily, leaving your house odour free.
13. White vinegar
White vinegar with apple sauce is great for ridding the house of cigarette smell. Wash the walls, curtains and corners with this mixture to get rid of the smoke
14. Re paint the walls
Re painting the house leaves your house all fresh and beautiful, as good as new! And although this is an expensive fix for eradicating the smoky odour, the effects are long lasting. The strong smell of paint covers the cigarette smoke, also paint ensures that there are no tiny particles of smoke on the walls anymore.
15. Steam cleaner
A pretty affordable smoke removing fix, purchasing or renting a steam cleaner to clean the couch, curtains and carpets is another effective home remedy for removing cigarette smell. Ensure that you get a sweet smelling steam cleaner and that you such out all the water from the carpets once you’ve cleaned them
16. Apples
Placing a slice of apple soaked up in vinegar in the smoke affected corners removes the smoke effectively. Leave the apple slice until it shrivels up.
17. Scented candles
Scented candles not only look pretty adding on to the aesthetic appeal of the rooms but also a smart fix for neutralizing the tobacco odour, leaving your place all fresh, sweet smelling and beautiful!
18. Sweet smelling herbs
Herbs such as sage, rosemary, thyme and cedar are among the most aromatic of herbs, soaking these herbs or burning them in a container and allowing the smoke to spread all over the house is among the simplest home remedies for getting rid of cigarette smoke.
Other steps you can implement:
Other than these home remedies, there are some simple rules that you can incorporate in your house to curb the smoky smell:
- Keep the windows and doors open to allow fresh air
- Wash the carpets and walls regularly
- Personal hygiene: clean smelling clothes, hair, shoes and bag
- Install an electric air purifier in your house to filter the air
- Keep room fresheners and car purifiers at your disposal
- Sunshine can do wonders for your house!
Some precautionary measures:
Keep these tips and warnings in mind when you’re on a cleaning spree. Listed below are some precautionary measures:
- Keep it away from children, as most of the products mentioned above is harmful for kids
- Keep the windows open to let the smoke out
- Clean your house regularly, especially the walls and corners
- Insist that people smoke outside the house to minimize the tobacco exposure
- Try quitting, it is possible!
