getting rid of smoke smell

hazybubbles

Hi all, we have just completed today on our new house which is all very exciting, although it needs a lot of work doing.

One thing I want to get on to straight away is getting rid of the smell of cigarette smoke. We will be replacing all the carpets anyway and I know this will be harbouring a lot of the smell but does anybody have any tips on how to get rid of the smell easily?
Thanks

Swipe

All you need is ventilation and lots of it

hazybubbles

haha right i shall get ventilating then!

littleredhen

i seem to remember many moons ago when i stopped smoking the smell went away quite quickly

hazybubbles

well the house has been empty since November when it was reposessed and the smell is still quite strong. hopefully once the carpets go it will be all but gone!

mahoney

I bought a house which reeked of fags. How anyone can live in such a place I will never know. I don't think it is easy to get rid of the smell tbh. As soon as we moved in I put an air freshener in the door way but it couldn't do much. Ventilation will help a little but if it's really bad (as mine was) all that will get rid it new flooring and redecorating the walls.

I think houses which have belonged to smokers should have a good discount on them for the work you have to do to get rid of the stick.

It can be done!

Rockyboo

Congratulations on your new house!!!:T

The house we moved in to recently (like yours it needs a lot of work) was owned by smokers, and thankfully they only smoked in the kitchen, but the kitchen REALLY STANK. I started off with leaving the windows open and spraying air freshener every time I went in, but by day 3 it hadn't got any better so I got a bucket of soapy water and scrubbed the cupboard fronts and the lino like I've never scrubbed before. The water came out dark brown, not the usual grey colour you get from mopping the floor! Nicotine coloured water! It helped a lot, but then I started lighting lots of scented candles on the window sill, and I finally noticed that the smell had gone after a week.

I can really recommend scented candles, and lots of them.

loates123

a bowl of white vinegar left overnight

SailorSam

How to Eliminate Cigarette Odor | eHow.com

sooz

Febreeze on all soft furnishings & carpet
Sugar soap the walls, before painting
Sugar soap on any cupboards, panels etc (test a small area first)
Bowls of vinegar left in every room will help absorb the smell
Open all windows as much as possible

If all else fails, start smoking! Smokers never notice the smell

Kaz2904

We bought a car which stank of smoke. I read somewhere that cut onions counteract the smell. I got a bag full of onions and cut them up and put them in the car. It did actually work!
I also cleaned everything with a strong solution of washing liquid.