If you, a housemate, or a previous tenant has smoked indoors, you might be dealing with a lingering cigarette smell in your home. It’s not pleasant, and it certainly won’t go away on its own. Getting rid of that stubborn odor can be challenging, but with the right techniques, you can significantly reduce or even eliminate it from major surfaces in your home. Here’s how you can tackle the smell on carpets, walls, and upholstered furniture.

1. Air Out the Space
Before diving into specific cleaning methods, start by airing out your home. Open all windows and let fresh air flow through the rooms for a few days. This initial step helps to reduce some of the lingering odor and makes the cleaning process more effective.

For an added boost, consider investing in an air purifier. Run it at the highest setting for a few days to help filter out smoke particles and freshen the air. Additionally, you can fill a spray bottle with essential oils like citrus or lavender. Spritz it on fabrics, wood furniture, and around your home as a natural air freshener.

2. How to Remove Cigarette Smell from Carpets
Carpets tend to trap odors deep within their fibers, making them a common source of cigarette smell in your home. Here’s a straightforward way to handle it:

Step 1: Generously sprinkle baking soda over your carpets. Baking soda is a natural odor absorber, and it can help neutralize the smoke smell.
Step 2: Let the baking soda sit on the carpet for at least 10 minutes to allow it to absorb the odor.
Step 3: Vacuum the carpet thoroughly, ensuring you remove as much of the baking soda (and absorbed odor) as possible.
If your home has seen years of smoking, you may need to repeat this process a few times for noticeable results. In severe cases, consider a professional deep-cleaning service for your carpets.

3. Removing Cigarette Smell from Walls
Smoke doesn’t just affect the air; it can leave a yellowish tint and odor on your walls as well. To restore your walls to their original state, follow these steps:

Step 1: Wet a rag with an all-purpose cleaner and gently wipe down your walls. Before you begin, test the cleaner on a small, inconspicuous area to ensure it doesn’t damage the paint.
Step 2: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a bucket or spray bottle. Use a clean rag or sponge to wipe down the walls again with this vinegar solution. Vinegar is a powerful deodorizer that can help neutralize smoke odor and remove discoloration.
Step 3: If the smell persists, it might be necessary to repaint your walls using an odor-blocking primer and a fresh coat of paint.
4. Cleaning Upholstered Furniture
Upholstered furniture is one of the hardest surfaces to remove smoke odor from, as the smell tends to settle deep into the fabric. If you’re up for the challenge, here’s what to try:

Option 1: Start with a fabric-safe deodorizing spray, which can help to mask and reduce the smell temporarily. However, this alone might not be enough for furniture that has absorbed smoke for years.
Option 2: Consider renting a heavy-duty carpet and upholstery shampooer. These machines can inject cleaning solution deep into the fabric and extract the dirt and smoke residue. It’s a more thorough cleaning method that can produce better results.
Option 3: If the smell persists or the furniture has significant smoke damage, hiring a professional cleaning service may be the best option. They have specialized tools and techniques to eliminate stubborn odors from upholstery.
With these cleaning techniques, you should be able to reduce or eliminate cigarette smell from your home’s carpets, walls, and upholstered furniture. Keep in mind that patience is key, especially if the smell has been around for a long time. Consistent cleaning efforts can help you maintain a fresher and more inviting living environment.