3 Tips for Removing Cigarette Smoke Odors

6/7/2021 (Permalink)

Contact the SERVPRO team in Dayton that is ready to remove all unwanted cigarette smoke odors.

Removing cigarette smoke smells can be difficult without the proper knowledge. 

The smell of cigarette smoke can be challenging to remove from your home or business. It is challenging because smoke particles easily cling to all surfaces and fabrics and are nearly impossible to remove with just a vacuum cleaner and air fresheners. Luckily, there are DIY ways you can try to remove the smells left behind by cigarettes in your house. In this blog post, we will discuss 3 tips for removing cigarette smoke odors from your home and make it fresh again!

The three tips

1. Proper ventilation
2. Create DIY solutions 
3. Utilize smoke removal equipment 

What is proper ventilation?

In a house that has been damaged by cigarette smoke damage, you will want to start by properly ventilating the home. To ventilate a home, you will want to keep windows and doors open and use fans to increase air circulation. While ventilating the home, you should also replace your home's HVAC air filters. Many homeowners forget that air filters should be replaced every two to three months for best air filtration results.

Removing cigarette smoke smells out of hard surfaces.

When you look to remove any unwanted cigarette smells from your home, you will want to ensure all hard surfaces are cigarette smoke smell-free. For starters, you can make a 50/50 solution that includes vinegar and water on all the hard surfaces. You can use this solution on the following hard surfaces: 

• Walls
• Light fixtures 
• Doors
• Doorknobs 
• fan blades
• Picture frames 
• tchotchkes
• Windows

Consider throwing out 

Cigarette smoke smell is easily absorbed by items that are made from fabrics like cotton. Consider throwing away the following items: 

• Blankets 
• Pillows
• Stuffed animals
• Mattresses 
• Fabric couches
• Curtains

The above items will be difficult to get a smoke smell out of, but not impossible. If you cannot part ways with some of your fabric items, there is a way you can get the cigarette smoke smell out of them; keep following along to find out how. 

How to get cigarette smoke smells out of fabric, upholstery, and carpeting? 

To remove the smoke smell from all fabric and upholstery, you will want to start with utilizing your washing machine by washing all items that can fit with 1/2 cup of vinegar instead of your normal detergent. For the items that do not fit inside your washing machine, you should put a little bit of baking soda on the affected smoke damage areas and let it sit for a few days, and then vacuum it up. 

For all carpeting damaged by cigarette smoke, you should rent a steam cleaner from your local hardware store and steam clean the carpets. (Note: you can also use a steam cleaner on drapes if it has the proper attachment.) 

When to call smoke removal experts

In many cases, cigarette smoke is too tough for a homeowner to remove on their own. When a customer calls for professional cigarette smoke removal, the professional will utilize an ozone generator. In the restoration industry, ozone is a known powerful cleanser used to eliminate odors. IICRC certified restorers are trained to use ozone generators and ensure the machine is properly placed to oxidize all cigarette smoke molecules completely. 

Smoke removal experts will also inspect the ducts of a home with debris that may contain smoke molecules. A home with any type of smoke damage will also likely contaminate the duct system, which will also affect the fresh air in a home. When the ducts are compromised with smoke damage, the restoration professionals will professionally clean your home's ducts. 

Why contact SERVPRO

When you contact the professionals at SERVPRO of East Dayton/Beavercreek, you will get a highly trained team that will focus on all areas that have been affected by cigarette smoke. 

Please feel free to contact us at any time for questions or services regarding cigarette smoke removal. We are available 24/7, 365 days a year, for all inquiries regarding smoke and fire damage restoration in Dayton.