Smoke, one of the most lingering issues in a household and an air pollution culprit- it can make one’s life miserable as you try scratching your head in a bid to look for ways to get rid of it.
Smoke from cigars or a fire permeates through your fabrics, carpeting, and coats the walls, leaving a film and odor in a way that can be quite embarrassing especially if you have visitors on a regular basis.
To completely remove the stubborn smoke smells you need to create time and follow some crucial steps with care. Doing so will enable you to get rid of a potential health hazard and create a more enjoyable or tolerable living space. Here are some of the most important ways to get rid of any pungent smoking odors from your indoor air.
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Smoke is not an easy matter to fix. However, with time, patience and implementing these tips, you will smell sweet, clean air in no time.
#01. Have a Conversation About It with Your Landlord
If you are a renter, ensure that you have a conversation with your landlord before embarking on any cleaning expedition. Have a look at your lease to see if you have the permit to do work on the house, and also your rights as a tenant.
You may find out that your landlord is responsible for all the hazardous issues concerning the house. He may be the one responsible for getting rid of the smoke smell and paying for any costs or both associated with the cleaning, like hiring professionals.
#02. Begin by Purifying the Air in Your Apartment
Fresh air is vital for any living human being. So get as much fresh air into your home as possible. It might not help you get rid of the stale smoke odor, but it will reduce the level of the stink.
You can also try setting Smelleze® Reusable Smoke Smell Eliminator Pouches around your home, at least one per room. It’s safe to use around your kids and pets.
You should also try getting yourself a powerful air purifier like PurAyre® Ionic Air Purifier & Deodorizer If you have none. Or borrow from one from friends, preferably one with a HEPA filter, since they help to capture 99.99% of microns, including smoke particles. However, cleaning the air with an air purifier may consume some time, so keep it in the room you use the most. You can place it in the kitchen, home office and living area during the day and your bedroom at night.
Remember, having an air purifier is essential for you especially a family member that is allergic to cigarette smoke odor.
#03. Make the Walls and Ceiling Spic and Span
When you are dealing with smoke odors, cleaning the entire house is vital. For example, ceilings are the most critical parts to ensure are clean since they are the worst culprits for retaining smoke. Most of us make the mistake of concentrating on the walls a lot. In fact, most ‘getting rid of smoke smell’ guides emphasize on cleaning the walls. However, that is not enough. The ceilings need your utmost attention too.
So, how do you do this?
Get some cleaning products with ammonia and glycol; they are the key ingredients for neutralizing any smoke smells. Just ensure that the kids and pets are secure. You should also do a test on some area of the walls and ceiling first to observe and see how the paint will withstand the cleanser.
After cleaning thoroughly, let the surfaces dry and then smell them. Can you still detect the stale smoke odors? If not, that is excellent.
Smell it again after two or three days, and if the smoke smell still lingers, consider repainting the walls and ceilings. A new coat of paint will seal off the smoke scent and prevent it from seeping through your new paint job.
#04. Scrub and Vacuum the Carpets
Carpets are the worst culprits when it comes to retaining smoke odors. Try sprinkling some Smelleze® Natural Smoke Smell Neutralizer Powder on the mat and leave it for one-two hours. Ensure that you spread the product generously around the room, getting into corners and covering floor edges for maximum results.
Afterward, vacuum the powder with a functional vacuum system.
If after doing all that the smoke smell still lingers, consider hiring some experts to do a deep-clean. If that does not also work, consider buying another rug. It might be expensive, but it will be the best step you have ever taken.
#05. Thoroughly Clean the Floors and Doors
For the hardwood floors and doors, ensure that you have some wood-friendly cleaners. You can, for instance, consider using Odoreze® Natural Floor Deodorizer & Cleaner Concentrate which is a cleaner for hardwood and other hard surface floors.
You can also try mopping the floor thoroughly, making sure you change the water regularly. If you have no other alternative, hand-scrub the corners and floor edges till they reflect your image. You should remember to clean the baseboards and door frames as well.
#06. Wash the Drapes and Blinds
Take out the drapes and blinds and deep-clean them. Wash the curtains in hot water and make sure to add Odoreze® Natural Laundry Deodorizer Additive to the wash water. This is the best option when it comes to smell extraction since it is an excellent smoke neutralizer and natural cleaner.
For the blinds, wash them in a tub with Odoreze® and allow them to soak in the tub for 20 minutes then scrub them using a fine scrub brush and hang them to dry. This should help get rid of the smoke smell.
