You will agree that no one likes a smoky house so, it is important to know how to get smoke smell out of house. Whether the smoke was generated from cigarettes, burnt toast, or even a house fire, the lingering odors are not usually pleasant.
Even though you make use of Air fresheners to temporarily mask the odor, there are some persistent odors that require thorough cleaning to get rid of the smoke smell from your house.
1. Effects of Smoke on Your Health
The smoke odor from cigarettes is thirdhand smoke that does not only have a pungent smell but is also very dangerous to health.
This odor that clings to your environment, hair, and skin contains some chemical substances that are associated with health diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, and sudden infant death syndrome.
You should be aware that smoke from cigarettes leaves a carcinogenic residue everywhere it lands. You might not necessarily feel it, but it is actually present in places like the skin and hair.
When your body absorbs nicotine into the lungs via the skin, it affects your sweat gland. This leads to excessive sweating and also distorts the way your sweat smells.
2. What Makes Smoke Smell Linger?
It is very important to understand how the smoke smell works before you think about getting rid of it. You should know that the smell that lingers after a fire occurs is formed as a result of smoke particles.
The particles then float through the air and attach themselves to walls, rugs, windows, Upholstered furniture, and appliances.
You can actually mask the odor for a short period of time by lighting scented candles or spraying air fresheners. Bear in mind that the odor will linger if the smoke particles are still there.
2.1. Materials Needed
There are materials youโll need if you want to get rid of the smoke smell from your house.
The materials include the following;
- Spray bottle
- Baking soda
- Dishwashing soap
- Detergent
- Steam cleaner
- Paint
- White vinegar
- Sponge
- Paintbrush
- Bucket
- Scrub brushes
- Restoration primer
- Rollers
- Wet-dry vacuum
- Mop
- Dishwasher soap
- Air purifiers
- Air filter
- Ammonia
3. How to Get Smoke Smell Out of House
To get rid of the smoke smell from your house, youโll have to consider how long the smoke has been on the property. There are some steps to follow to remove the smoke smell from a house.
3.1. Discard Smoking Items
The first step to getting rid of the smoke smell from your house is to discard anything that has to do with cigarettes to keep the offensive smoke odor away.
You can start by thrashing cigarette butts, ashtrays, and packets of cigarettes.
3.2. Wash Laundry-Safe Fabrics
You can use your washing machine to wash curtains, sofa covers, pillow covers, and linen.
You should carry out one wash cycle with five cups of vinegar and in the next cycle, make use of a regular detergent. You can air-dry them till the house is sparkling clean.
3.3. Increase Air Circulation
You can boost the air circulation of your house and speed up smoke removal by making use of two ventilators. Strategically place one of the ventilators near the window to get rid of stale air. Then, use the other ventilator to push air across the room.
Once this is done, make a mixture of hot water and vinegar and pour the mixture into a spray bottle.
Using the spray bottle and rags, wipe down hard surfaces like picture frames, fan blades, doors, and kitchen counters. Then, using a mop, clean the floor with a mixture of vinegar and water.
3.4. Ventilate the Area
You should ventilate the area by opening all the doors and windows to quickly get rid of the smoke smell from your house. It is essential to open the doors and windows before you start cleaning.
This will help ventilate the room when making use of harsh chemicals for cleaning. You can also place portable fans in windows to help increase air circulation.
If you find out that the smell is becoming overbearing, you can seek professional help.
3.5. Replace HVAC Air Filters
Since smoke can get into the ductwork, it is very important to get rid of the particles there. You just have to replace the filter and run the air conditioner. The filter can be changed once a week for a better result.
This will help remove the smoke smell from the ductwork. However, if the odor persists, you should repeat the process. You can also make use of activated charcoal to remove for odor removal.
3.6. Clean Carpets and Covered Surfaces
The use of baking soda on carpets and covered surfaces can help neutralize smoke odors.
You just have to sprinkle it on your carpet and let it sit in for a few days. Then, you can steam-clean or vacuum the carpet if necessary.
3.7. Remove the Smoke Smell from Hard Surfaces
You should make use of homemade vinegar to get rid of the smell from all the hard surfaces in your house. The floors, walls, ceilings, stairs, appliances, windows, handrails, and even the cabinets should be tackled.
Using a spray bottle, spray the solution on the surfaces, allow it to settle for a while, and then wipe it off with a rag. You can mop the floors using the solution and ensure to rinse the mop after use.
Ensure that the windows are thoroughly washed. You should scrub the windows with a sponge and the solution. If your window has sashes, take them out and thoroughly wipe them.
Once this is done, it will help in smoke smell removal.
3.8. Make a Cleaning Solution
To make a cleaning solution, mix a gallon of warm water with a half cup of white vinegar and three tablespoons of dishwashing soap in a bucket. Pour the solution into a spray bottle for easy application.
As you clean, you are expected to mix more batches of vinegar and dishwashing soap. This would help in the smoke odor removal process.
4. How to Use the Cleaning Products
It is important to know how to use most cleaning products to effectively get rid of smells.
4.1. Febreze
This is a well-known odor eliminator that uses a chemical compound known as cyclodextrin which helps to absorb odors. To use this, spray on areas affected by the odor.
It is important to not let pets be in the area while spraying. This could be harmful to them.
4.2. Air Filter
You can regularly replace your air filter if the existing ones harbor smoke molecules. Since air filters come in different sizes, ensure to write the size of the filter you want to replace.
Make sure to change your filter every 90 days to keep your home fresh and clean.
4.3. Ammonia
To safely use ammonia in cleaning, youโll need to dilute it in water. Mix one cup of ammonia in a gallon of water. Use the solution to scrub wood floors, walls, or other surfaces to eliminate smoke.
Donโt forget to open windows and keep the area well-ventilated during the cleaning process. It is important to note that ammonia is very toxic so ensure you put on gloves when using the product.
4.4. Air Purifier
The secret to improving the overall air quality is to get a purifier that has a HEPA filter. They have fans and filters that help to remove pollutants.
For those with asthma, ozone purifiers can be harmful to them. This could lead to effects like chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath, and throat irritation.
5. How to Remove Smoke Smell Naturally
Naturally removing the smoke smell is very easy to achieve. If you do not want to make use of harsh chemicals, there are some cleaning products that can help do the trick.
1. You can place apple cider vinegar or white vinegar in a bowl and keep it in the room.
2. Coffee grounds can also be placed in rooms. This will help absorb smoke residue.
3. Vanilla extract can be used as a smoke odor eliminator. Put on cotton balls and wipe all over surfaces in the house.
4. Essential oils and scented candles can be used
5. House plants are known to give fresh air to an environment. You can buy them and place them around the house.
6. Frequently Asked Questions
The questions asked frequently on how to get smoke smell out of house include;
6.1. Can you Get Rid of the Smoke Smell by Painting?
It can be difficult to get rid of the smoke smell completely from a wall so re-painting the wall can help. You will have to use an odor-sealant primer before painting.
6.2. What Absorbs the Smell of Smoke?
Baking soda and activated charcoal can help absorb the smell of smoke
7. Final Thoughts
The first step to removing the smoke smell from the house is by airing the house. Although air fresheners can temporarily take out the smell, cleaning products can be used to remove lingering odor. Ensure to replace air filters after cleaning.
We hope we have satisfied your curiosity about how to get smoke smell out of house. Kindly share this information and leave a comment below.
Last Updated on by Himani Rawat
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