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SusanJ
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| Posted: July 25 2008 at 10:24am | IP Logged
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Our new house in Minnesota is quite lovely--very old with lots of original hardwood details like nice molding and built-in cupboards. BUT, the place smells like cigarette smoke. It was vacant for awhile before we started renting and we didn't notice the smell when we first got here partly because the new paint smell overpowered the cigarette smell and partly because the smell is more noticeable in damp weather. The cupboards are especially bad so all our towels smell like cigarettes. Yuck.
Any ideas on how to get rid of the smell?
Susan
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Bridget
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| Posted: July 25 2008 at 12:50pm | IP Logged
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Carpet cleaners will rent an ionizer machine that runs for 24 hours or so. That eliminates most cigarette odors.
I have never been able to get it completely out of my bathroom cupboards where the towels are, but I keep a strongly scented candle in the back of it that seems to help. The only thing to do with those is replace them one day.
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SusanMc
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| Posted: July 26 2008 at 8:57am | IP Logged
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You didn't mention if there were carpets, but that worked wonders on our house when we moved in. For about a year, each time we cleaned the carpets (we try to do it about every 4 months due to DH's asthma) we pulled up a faint whiff of smoke. Also, if you haven't already, change the air filter and wipe down all the vents.
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juststartn
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| Posted: July 26 2008 at 9:59pm | IP Logged
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Maybe you need to paint the closets with KILZ? I know that it covers ALOT of stuff. Then put some charcoal/baking soda boxes in there to absorb whatever might be left.
HTH
Rachel
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Fe2h2o
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| Posted: July 28 2008 at 1:40am | IP Logged
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Charcoal and bi-carb soda.
The other one I've heard about (but not actually tried) is to put vanilla essence in a bowl and leave it for a while. It'll eventually go mucky, then it's time to discard and replace.
Lots of breezes blowing through?
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SusanJ
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| Posted: July 28 2008 at 11:07am | IP Logged
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Thanks for the suggestions. My fil suggested painting, too--especially the ceilings. Feels a little overwhelming in a rental house. I'm thinking of putting a few drops of some essential oil right onto the woodwork in the linen cupboards. There is no carpet, fortunately.
Susan
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CatholicMommy
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| Posted: July 28 2008 at 1:16pm | IP Logged
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Welcome to Minnesota! even though actually I'm technically in Indiana now (and physically in Milwaukee, but that's another story), I now think of Minnesota as our true home. :)
My personal suggestion for de-stinking areas is Zeolite. It is an all-natural material found near volcanic activity that absorbs pollutants and odors from the atmosphere. It seems a bit pricey at first, but I finally got some and it worked GREAT (our apt smelled like an old wet dog and old cooking smells). The zeolite came in the form of pebbles in a "breather bag" - it absorbs the smells and such (and works fairly quickly I think!) - when it seems to not work well anymore, you place it in the sunlight and it somehow clears all the pollutants and you can start over with it. I bought two large bags for 8.95 each - but I would prefer smaller ones to have in various closets and such as well.
:)
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SusanJ
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| Posted: July 28 2008 at 2:39pm | IP Logged
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That sounds like a good tip--thanks!
I'm starting to be not as thrilled as I once was about how MANY closets and drawers and cupboards we have in this apartment . . .
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juststartn
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You know what might work, Susan? Activated charcoal. You can get it at the pet store, for aquariums. I was watching a thing on FoodTV, last night, and they were comparing a box of baking soda in a STINKY fridge, and activated charcoal. The AC worked INCREDIBLY well.
HTH
Rachel
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Fe2h2o
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| Posted: July 29 2008 at 2:32am | IP Logged
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Ooh... I'd forgotten my dad's answer to everything, organoil (I'm assuming that the polish is what he uses:-) ). Of course, I'm not sure if you can get it locally... but it is something he uses for all sorts of purposes... and it smells _fabulous_:-)
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nissag
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We had the same problem when we bought this house. Open up those windows and let it air. Use that activated charcoal, and give the cupboards a good scrub.
You can find scented drawer papers, or make your own by dropping essential oil on the underside of shelf-paper (so it doesn't come into direct contact with the linens). Alternately, you could have some fun making sachets for all of the cupboards. Rosemary is wonderful for the kitchen and lavender for the beds and baths. Cedar blocks will help in the closets.
Thank goodness there is no carpeting. One less thing to worry about...
Blessings,
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Mary Chris
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| Posted: July 29 2008 at 11:14am | IP Logged
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I was going to suggest the vanilla extract also.
Catholic Mommy, thanks for the info on the zeolite pebbles, I might try them for some of our stinky cat issues.
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: cigarette smell in house
