Smoke Odor Removal Tips
Smoke odor has a way of hanging around. It is unpleasant, to put in mildly, and persistent in its presence. The important thing to remember about smoke odor is that it isn't just a scent. Smoking indoors releases chemicals and tars into the air (in much the same way that inhaling cigarette smoke distributes these chemicals and tars in your lungs). All of the byproducts of smoke are released into the air in your home. Once they are in the air, they find a place to set up shop and settle in for the long haul. Getting rid of pesky smoke odor requires more than merely masking the smell. You have to rid your home of the smoke byproducts that are lingering around. Attack the problem at it's root. Here are a few effective solutions for smoke odor removal:
- The most obvious and also maybe one of the most overlooked solutions is to open up your home to fresh air. Open your windows and let a breeze circulate through. This will help remove stale air and smoke odor and allow new and fresh air in. You should ventilate your home with fresh air multiple times a day for as long as possible. This isn't necessarily a solution in and of itself, but it will aid tremendously with the effectiveness of additional smoke odor removal solutions that are used in tandem with fresh air ventilation.
- Baking soda: Baking soda has proven effective at removing your toughest odors including smoke. Baking soda will absorb odors and moisture from the home leaving it smelling fresher. In order for this process to work, you need to sprinkle a layer of baking soda over your carpet, furniture and other surface areas that have been contaminated with smoke odor. You need to leave this layer alone for at least a day so that the baking soda has ample time to absorb the smoke odor. Scented baking soda is available to make this process more pleasant. After a sufficient amount of time has elapsed, vacuum up the baking soda. You may need to repeat this process several times for optimal smoke odor removal.
- Vinegar: Vinegar is a great cleaning solution that will cut through smoke odor. Vinegar is an acid so when you use it to clean your home and rid it of smoke smell, it can break down and remove the chemicals and tar that have slowly been accumulating over time in the home. Don't use vinegar as a cleaning agent on materials that are made of fabric. Of course, the smell of vinegar is sort of like trading one offensive scent for another, but vinegar smell will dissipate over time. Smoke odor, on the other hand, is there to stay.
- Clean surfaces that have collected tar and smoke resin over time: Sometimes people neglect to clean surfaces that have been exposed to smoke and therefore accumulated a buildup of residual chemicals and tars. If you clean your floors, don't forget to clean your curtains. Hanging light fixtures, framed artwork, and other fixed objects mounted in the home should also be wiped down. To ensure that the smoke odor is gone for good, you might also want to think about wiping down your walls and ceilings. You can clean all of these surfaces with a mixture of water and ammonia, soap or vinegar (or any combination of the three to ensure smoke odor removal) and wipe your surfaces down with your mixture. Measurements vary depending on the size of the area needing cleaning and how thick the smoke odor is so we suggest using your best judgment. Try using approximately a half to a full cup of cleaning agent (ammonia, soap, vinegar) per gallon of water used. If you are mixing, take that into consideration and don't mix over a full cup of cleaning agents per gallon. You don't want to damage any surfaces. Test it out on a small and discreet surface before you begin wiping everything down with your mixture. Also, there are natural cleaning agents available at your local grocery store. These are environmentally safe cleaning solutions that will rid your home of the undesired odor while protecting the environment from harmful pollutants.
- Shampoo your carpets: Smoke odor is stubborn. You will need to shampoo your carpets if you really want to make sure that it is gone for good. Tar and chemical residue can easily be ground into your carpet fibers. Shampooing is the best way to attack that embedded residue.
- Invest in a HEPA air purifier with activated carbon that works specifically to remove household odors. Air purifiers with activated carbon target environmental tobacco smoke and smoke removal. These smoke air purifier systems will remove the smoke from the air that is causing smoke odor as well as residual chemicals and tars in the air. This is the easiest way to improve the smell as well as the air quality in your home because all it requires you to do is plug it in and let it go to work. Of the air purifiers out on the market, there are two that come highly recommended for smoke odor removal: the Austin Air HealthMate Plus and the IQAir GC MultiGas.
- The IQAir GC MultiGas HEPA Air Purifier is the ultimate in air purification technology. This air purifier will efficiently and effectively remove particulates, tobacco smoke, odors and chemical fumes. It covers an area measuring up to 900 sq. ft. This purifier also features a HEPA air filter. HEPA air purifiers are the best natural solution to air purification issues. HEPA filters are used in hospitals, laboratories and other areas where air purity is of the utmost import. This HEPA filter removes 99% of the particulates in the air down to 0.3 microns in diameter. Additionally, this filter comes with 17 lbs. of activated carbon and potassium permanganate. This element of the filter adsorbs chemicals and odors from the air in your home leaving your air clean, safe and fresh. Smoke odor doesn't stand a chance with the IQAir GC MultiGas on duty.
- The Austin Air HealthMate Plus specializes in removing particulates, chemical vapors, odors and smoke from the air in your home. It purifies the air in rooms measuring up to 1500 sq. ft. This smoke air purifier is comprised of several elements. The first and one of the most important is the true medical grade HEPA filter. This filter removes 99.97% of particulates in the air down to 0.3 microns is size. The HealthMate Plus also features 15 lbs. of activated carbon and zeolite impregnated with potassium iodide. The activated carbon filter acts as a sponge sucking all of the unwanted gases, vapors and smoke odor out of the air. The range of things that this filter combination can tackle is all encompassing. The HealthMate will remove pet dander, pollen, dust, mold spores, tobacco smoke, toxic chemical vapors (like formaldehyde), volatile organic compounds, odors (from smoke, cooking, pets, paint) and even microorganisms! This air purifier takes the work out of smoke odor removal. It is a safe, all natural solution to the problem of smoke odor.
It is a good idea to adopt a combination of these steps (or all of them) into your smoke removal routine. One step alone will not adequately address the problem. Be sure that if you are dedicated to smoke odor removal in your home, you repeat these steps frequently, except in the case of the air purifier as it will take care of itself. Particularly in the case of smokers, smoke odor is an ongoing problem so it will need to be addressed multiple times. If you utilize the steps listed above and repeat them as needed, you too can enjoy a smoke odor free lifestyle.