7 Easy Ways to Freshen the Home if You Are a Smoker
Being a smoker can come along with some stark looks from people who don't like the smell. If you live with a partner who doesn't smoke, the lingering stench can be a constant topic. Whether you're here to discover how to get rid of the smoke odor to make your partner happy, or you're simply trying to keep the smell to a minimum when you have people over, there are many things that you can do.
Use Natural Airflow When Possible
One of the quickest ways to banish lingering smoke odor from a home is to simply air it out. If the weather allows, open the windows up and let the breeze come through. If the wind isn't working in your favor, consider using a box fan in the window to get the air flowing. When it comes to loose items like blankets or bed sheets, hang them on the clothesline and let the natural airing out process go to work.
Use Air Purifiers
Air Purifiers For Smokers are one of the easiest and most efficient ways for removing smoke odors from a home. Many air purifier manufacturers produce specific filters that are for smokers. These tend to have charcoal and other similar molecules that work great to trap the smoke odor. HEPA air filters also work well to eliminate smoke particles that cause that unpleasant and distinctive odor inside of a home. For quality air purifiers, visit This Electric Home's guide so you'll get the best buy.
Sprinkle Some Baking Soda
Baking soda, known scientifically as sodium bicarbonate, is a really effective deodorizer. It's one of the main reasons it's suggested for all types of odor removal. This simple deodorizer will absorb the smoke particle instead of trying to mask them. This is what makes this method so effective for long-term odor removal.
How you apply the baking soda is going to highly depend on the item that you're trying to remove the smoke odor from. If you want to keep it super simple, you can pour some baking soda into small bowls and strategically place them around your home. Just be sure to refill them every few days.
For items that really soaked up the smoke odor, consider sprinkling them with baking soda. This works great for carpets, rugs, couches, and chairs. Let the baking soda sit for at least a couple of hours before vacuuming up. For smaller items that you don't want to sprinkle baking soda on, you can simply insert them into a plastic bag with a half-cup of baking soda. Let them sit in the plastic bag for about eight hours and remove them.
Steam The Smoke Away
Steam cleaners are available for rent at local hardware stores and to buy at various online retailers. These are great to use on smoke-covered surfaces like floors, upholstery, and walls. The hardened oils and tar from the cigarette or cigar smoke will start to melt under the heat of the steam cleaner. This will allow you to use a simple microfiber cloth to wipe up the smoke odor.
Use Odor-Eater Packets Regularly
You're going to need to hit up your local hardware store to find these. You'll want to purchase industrial odor-eater packets. These come in small five-by-five inch packets, usually made with charcoal and burlap. You open up the air-tight seal and place the odor-eater packet in a room.
It's best to consider placing these in all rooms of your home that regularly receive smoke odors. Depending on the product that you purchase, many brands will offer products that last from up to a couple of months to a few years. However, it's important to note that you'll likely need to change out your odor-eater packets more often if you're actively smoking in your house.
Use Air Fresheners
The classic way to freshen up a home after smoking is to use an air freshener. These come in many different forms. Most people picture a metal can that sprays a mist of scent over the area. There are countless different scents that you can choose from. You can even opt for automatic systems that release a fresh scent mist every few minutes.
It's important to realize that air fresheners tend to only mask the smoke odor. They don't do anything to eliminate it. These are great in a pinch and when you want a quick freshening up of any room. However, you'll want to look into a more long-term solution to get rid of the smoke odor.
Use Vinegar On Hard Surfaces
Vinegar is always a go-to cleaner for some of the worst lingering odors. You should stick to using it on hard surfaces like your counters and walls. However, always test it out on an area that is not in plain sight to ensure that it doesn't damage the surface before proceeding. You'll want to use a mixture of two-thirds vinegar to one-third water.
Vinegar is great for breaking through that tough greasy residue that smoke leaves behind. It's naturally low pH level works to attack the high pH smoke molecules. This works to reduce their smell quickly. When wiping down walls, be sure to remember the ceiling. If you're worried about applying the vinegar mixture to any surface, you can follow the baking soda bowl method above. You'll simply put some vinegar in a few small bowls and place them throughout the rooms that you smoke in. Dump out and refresh the vinegar once a week.