How To Get Rid Of Cigarette Smell In House

Getting rid of cigarette smell can feel like a battle against an invisible opponent. The smell sticks around well after the last cigarette has been put out, making your home feel less than fresh. At North West Clean Team, we've helped hundreds of homes across the UK remove stubborn odours, including cigarette smoke. We'll show you exactly how to tackle this problem with methods that work.

Why Cigarette Smell Lingers So Stubbornly

Ever notice how cigarette smell seems to stay forever? There's a scientific reason for that. Tobacco smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals, many of which cling to your walls, ceilings, fabrics and ductwork. These chemicals include formaldehyde, benzene and arsenic – substances you definitely don't want hanging around your home.

The real problem lies in the size of smoke particles. They measure between 0.01-1 microns, which is tiny enough to embed deep into porous surfaces like drywall, carpets, and furniture. This makes getting rid of them through normal cleaning quite difficult.

What's worse, this isn't just regular smoke – we're dealing with thirdhand smoke. This refers to the toxic residues left behind on surfaces long after cigarettes have been put out. Studies show children and pets are especially vulnerable to thirdhand smoke exposure through skin contact, breathing, and even ingestion when crawling or playing on contaminated floors.

The Deep Clean Approach

Before trying specialty products, start with a thorough deep cleaning:

1. Wash All Fabrics: Curtains, cushion covers, bedding, and clothes can hold a smoke smell. Wash them with regular detergent and a cup of white vinegar to neutralize odours. Some fabrics might need multiple washes.
2. Clean Walls and Ceilings: Mix warm water with white vinegar (equal parts) and wash your walls. For stubborn areas, add a small amount of baking soda to create a paste. The nicotine from cigarettes creates a yellowish residue on walls that needs to be removed.
3. Tackle Soft Furnishings: Upholstered furniture can be a major smoke smell culprit. Sprinkle dry baking soda liberally over soft surfaces, let it sit overnight, then vacuum thoroughly. The baking soda absorbs much of the odour.
4. Don't Forget Hard Surfaces: Smoke residue sticks to tables, shelves, and other hard surfaces. Clean these with a vinegar solution to remove the sticky film that holds the smell.

The Power of Baking Soda

Baking soda is one of your strongest allies against cigarette smell. This common household item works by neutralizing acidic compounds that cause the smell rather than just masking them.

To use baking soda effectively:

• Sprinkle it liberally on carpets and soft furnishings
• Let it sit for at least 24 hours if possible
• Vacuum thoroughly afterwards

You can also place bowls of baking soda around your home to absorb lingering odours from the air. This method works particularly well in smaller spaces like closets where smoke smell might be concentrated.

Regular cleaning removes less than 50% of embedded smoke residue, which explains why the smell often returns. That's why you need to be persistent and repeat these treatments.

Freshen the Air

While cleaning removes the source of the smell, you'll also want to freshen the air:

1. Improve Ventilation: Open all windows and doors to create cross-ventilation. Fresh air is your friend in this battle. If possible, keep windows open for several days.
2. Use an Air Purifier: Look for air purifiers with HEPA filters specifically designed to remove smoke particles. These can capture particles as small as 0.3 microns. Air purifiers with activated carbon filters are particularly effective against cigarette smell.
3. Clean Air Filters: Check and clean the air filters in your heating and cooling systems. If they're old, replace them completely. Smoke particles get trapped in these filters and can recirculate throughout your home.
4. Check Air Ducts: If cigarette smoke has been present for a long time, your air ducts might need professional cleaning. If not cleaned, ductwork can redistribute smoke smell even after surface cleaning, prolonging the issue for months.

Natural Deodorizers That Actually Work

Beyond baking soda, several natural options can help:

1. White Vinegar: Place bowls of white vinegar around your home. The acidic nature of vinegar helps neutralize the alkaline compounds in cigarette smoke.
2. Coffee Grounds: Dry coffee grounds placed in bowls throughout your home can absorb odours and replace them with a coffee scent. This works especially well in smaller spaces.
3. Essential Oils: After cleaning, add a few drops of essential oils like lavender, lemon, or eucalyptus to a spray bottle with water. This won't remove the smell but can help mask any remaining odour while your other treatments work.
4. Activated Charcoal: Like baking soda, activated charcoal is excellent at absorbing odours. Place it in porous bags around your home.

Studies show that using these natural methods can significantly reduce smoke smell, though complete elimination often requires persistence or professional help.

Dealing with Cigarette Smell in Specific Areas

Removing Cigarette Smell from Walls

Walls are major smoke collectors. The smoke particles stick to the paint and penetrate the surface. To clean them:

1. Mix one cup of white vinegar with two cups of warm water
2. Add a tablespoon of baking soda
3. Scrub the walls with a sponge
4. Rinse with clean water

For severe cases, you might need to repaint with an odour-blocking primer first, then apply a fresh coat of paint. This seals in any remaining smoke odour that cleaning couldn't remove.

Eliminating Smoke Smell from Carpets

Carpets are perhaps the biggest odour holders in your home. Their fibrous nature traps smoke particles deep within.

1. Sprinkle baking soda generously across the entire carpet
2. Work it into the fibres with a broom
3. Let it sit overnight or longer if possible
4. Vacuum thoroughly, going over each area multiple times

For severe smoke odour, you might need to rent a carpet cleaner with an upholstery attachment. Use it on both carpets and furniture. The deep cleaning action can remove more embedded particles than vacuuming alone.

Getting Smoke Out of Furniture

Upholstered furniture can be particularly challenging:

1. Remove all cushion covers and wash them if possible
2. Sprinkle dry baking soda over all surfaces
3. Let it sit for 24-48 hours
4. Vacuum thoroughly with an upholstery attachment

For wood furniture, wipe down with a vinegar solution to remove the residue layer that holds smoke odour.

When to Call the Professionals

Sometimes DIY methods aren't enough, especially for homes with years of smoking exposure. Professional odour removal services use specialized equipment that most homeowners don't have access to:

• Ozone Generators: These produce ozone molecules that penetrate deep into materials and oxidize the smoke particles, neutralizing the smell on a molecular level
• Thermal Fogging: This technique uses a heated deodorizer that penetrates deep into materials similar to how the smoke did
• Industrial Air Scrubbers: These powerful machines filter large volumes of air quickly

Professional smoke odour removal typically costs between £200 and £1,500, depending on your home's size and how severe the smoke damage is. A full remediation job may take 1-3 days, including air scrubbing, deep cleaning, HVAC system purification, and deodorising.

Preventing Future Smoke Odour

Once you've gone through the effort of removing cigarette smell, you'll want to keep your home fresh:

1. Designate Outdoor Smoking Areas: The best way to prevent indoor smoke smell is to avoid smoking indoors altogether
2. Use Air Purifiers Regularly: These can catch smoke particles before they settle
3. Empty Ashtrays Immediately: Don't let cigarette butts sit inside
4. Clean Regularly: Frequent cleaning prevents build-up of residue

The Hidden Costs of Cigarette Smell

Beyond the obvious unpleasantness, cigarette smell comes with hidden costs you might not have considered. Studies show that lingering smoke odours can reduce property value by 20-30% and turn off potential buyers even if the home is otherwise clean and well maintained.

In fact, over 85% of real estate agents report that smoke smell is one of the hardest odours to eliminate and a major deal-breaker for buyers. If you're planning to sell your home, removing cigarette smell isn't just about comfort—it's about protecting your investment.

Get Expert Help from North West Clean Team

While many DIY methods can help reduce cigarette smoke smell, sometimes you need professional assistance, especially for severe or long-term smoke exposure. Our specialist equipment and experienced technicians at North West Clean Team can completely remove even the most stubborn smoke odours.

We use industrial-grade ozone treatment and specialist cleaning solutions that penetrate deep into affected materials. Our comprehensive approach addresses not just the obvious areas but also often-forgotten spaces like air ducts where smoke particles hide.

Don't let cigarette smell reduce your quality of life or property value. Contact North West Clean Team today for a free quote on our professional odour removal services. Our team will assess your specific situation and recommend the most effective approach to get your home smelling fresh again.