How to get rid of the smell of tobacco in simple steps

Don’t know how to remove the smell of tobacco? Many people find this smell unpleasant and it can become ingrained in a plethora of places. Learn how to get rid of it.

How to remove the smell of tobacco from clothing

To remove the smell of tobacco from clothing, without needing to use the washing machine, you just need to follow the tips below:

• Hang clothing outside to air. The more of a breeze there is, the better. But bear in mind that it can take several hours to take effect.
• Bicarbonate of soda: which, like vinegar, can be used for many things. One of them is to remove the unpleasant smell of tobacco from clothing and bad odours in general. All you need to do is spread the garment onto a flat surface and place an open jar of bicarbonate at the side of it, which will absorb the smell of nicotine. There is no need to sprinkle it onto the item of clothing.
• White vinegar: as we said earlier, vinegar is a classic for domestic use, a ‘natural’ and cheap multipurpose cleaner. To remove the smell of tobacco, you need to fill the bath with hot water, add a few cups of white vinegar and place the clothing near to this mixture so the steam generated takes effect. You will need to wait for a few hours though.
• Vodka: You’ve probably never even thought about it, right? Because it’s capable of getting rid of the bacteria that causes the unpleasant smells from the tobacco. Mix one part vodka with three parts water in a spray bottle. Then spray the clothing gradually until the odour disappears. But be careful, don’t overdo it because you might get rid of the smell of tobacco and replace it with the smell of alcohol.
• Tea tree oil: is an excellent odour neutraliser, so we can pour a small amount into a spray bottle, spray it onto the clothing and leave it to activate outdoors for at least one hour.
• In the freezer: insert the item of clothing into a bag in the freezer, wait for 45 minutes and take it out again. The extreme cold is able to remove the bacteria that causes the bad odour.

How to remove the smell of tobacco from the home

The smell that tobacco gives off is very strong and unique, so it sticks easily to walls, curtains, upholstery, furniture, etc. in the home. For this reason, we give you 5 household tricks that are effective in removing the smell of tobacco from the house. Neutralising the smell of tobacco permanently can take several days, even weeks. But don’t despair, because it isn’t impossible.

• With coffee beans: you just need to fill a small bowl with water and add a few handfuls of coffee beans. Place the bowl in the rooms where it is needed and change it once a week.
• With vinegar: use a small bowl with half a cup of hot water and 1/4 of a cup of white vinegar and place it in the rooms that smell a lot of tobacco. Vinegar is extremely effective at deodorising objects, textiles and atmospheres. Change the bowl every 3 days. You can also place two cups of water and a cup of white vinegar in a vase with a few drops of your favourite essential oil (lavender, rose, vanilla, coconut, etc.).
• With incense: incense burners are really effective at neutralising and getting rid of the smell of tobacco. The most effective are eucalyptus and thyme incense sticks. But if you aren’t a fan, you can also opt for odour neutralising perfumed candles.
• Sand in ashtrays: helps to ensure the smoke from cigarette butts doesn’t disperse around the room. If you have cats, you can use a little of their cat litter in the ashtrays.
• Air purifier, which traps the air particles from the atmosphere, passes them through a HEPA filter and returns them clean. There are different sizes available and some include the use of essential oils to perfume the house.

How to get rid of the smell of tobacco quickly

• Open the windows and switch on the fan so the air circulates quickly.

• Use air purifiers and absorb smells.

• Wash all interior walls and hard surfaces.

• Steam clean the upholstery.

• Place small bowls of vinegar around the house to absorb the bad odour.

• Air fresheners can also help.

• Lighting candles counteracts the smell of tobacco in small rooms.

What happens if I don’t get rid of the smell of tobacco from the house

Toxic residues from the tobacco smoke, known as third-hand smoke, build up over time if we don’t clean each day and becomes encrusted on objects like rugs, furniture, walls, clothing, skin or hair.

In addition, according to research by the FDA (American Food and Drug Administration), if ashtrays aren’t emptied of cigarette butts each day, for the 24 hours after the cigarette has been put out, it continues to emit up to 14% of its nicotine. All of this is a problem anywhere, particularly in enclosed space, such as small rooms or the car.

Tips to prevent the smell of tobacco becoming ingrained at home

To ensure you don’t need to remove the smell of tobacco from the house, you can follow these simple tips:

• Ventilate the house each day by opening the windows and balconies of the house. If you ventilate your house every day, you will prevent the smoke from cigarettes from settling and becoming ingrained in the furniture or walls of the room.

• Empty ashtrays each day and wash them with soap and water: if the smell persists in the ashtray, wash it with water and vinegar or with water and lemon.

• Clean furniture regularly: rather than just using a duster to remove the dust, use a cloth with white vinegar and wipe the furniture and windows. White vinegar neutralises and removes the bad odour of the tobacco.