Homespring's Pressure Washing 

After years of smoking in a home, walls and contents become blemished and develop foul odors, and professional cigarette smoke odor removal is often necessary. Learn more about cleaning homes affected by tobacco residue and odors below.

 

What is cigarette smoke?

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Cigarette smoke residue is a yellowish-brown, gluey substance that sticks to every surface in a home, making it difficult and time-consuming to remove.

When cigarettes, pipes, or cigars are burned, the environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) that results, also known as “secondhand smoke,” is a complex mixture of over 7,000 compounds, more than 40 of which are associated with cancer, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Exposure to ETS often referred to as “passive smoking,” affects both smokers and non-smokers.

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How does cigarette smoke affect your home?

 

Smoking affects the people exposed to smoke and produces odorous substances that stick to every surface of the area where smoking has taken place. The yellowish-brown substance is eliminated through smoking bonds to walls, furniture, and plastics and can permanently change their appearance. Cigarette smoke also penetrates more odor-absorbing objects, such as carpets, upholstery, bedding, walls, clothes, electronics, and more.

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Additionally, the HVAC system of a building carries the smoke odor and chemicals throughout the structure. The affected surfaces will become unpleasant to look at, and the odors may disturb many people. The result of long-term smoking in enclosed areas is similar to that of a fire. However, tobacco smoke chemicals are much more challenging to eliminate than those of an actual fire. Ultimately, tobacco residue is tough to remove and requires professional equipment and services. But, if you want to DIY, here are a few cigarette smoke odor removal tips.

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Short-term cigarette odor removal solutions

 

If you want inexpensive short-term solutions, try these tips:

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• Use an air purifier in your home.

• Sprinkle baking soda on the carpets, leave it overnight to absorb bad smells, and vacuum it the next day.

• Place saucers of white vinegar around the house and leave them overnight to neutralize the smell.

• Get indoor plants that can absorb up to 87% of indoor pollutants.

• Place small bowls of coffee throughout the home.

• Use scented or non-scented candles.

• Leave orange peels around the home.

• Place pineapple slices around the room with all doors and windows closed for 24 hours.

• Place bowls of activated charcoal around the home.

 

All described above is only a temporary solution, that's if it even works at all. This would only be covering up the odor, it will definitely come back. To completely remove the cigarette smoke or mold and mildew odors from the home, which is a complicated situation. Call a professional smoke remediation specialist, Homesprings is here to remove these scents if your situation is complex.

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