Cleaning a house that belonged to an habitual smoker

mothernerd

When I did my dad's house (20 years ago) it took me between 18 months and 2 years to clear the smell of smoke that had impregnated the walls and fabric of the house. I did this by leaving all the windows open when I was there (doors too when possible) using neutradol and plug ins that were to combat cigarette damage.

Any tips on speeding up this process.

thriftwizard

Nearly 30 years ago (!) we moved into a house with the walls yellowed with nicotine smoke. The first thing I did - despite being vastly pregnant with twins - was wash all the painted walls down withal strong solution of sugar soap, which took the worst of it off. Just about all the (velvet) curtains went to the Tip & I had the carpets cleaned; sadly most of those disintegrated shortly afterwards! We cleaned all the windows, scrubbing hard. A couple of walls were wood-chipped (it's an older house with almost no straight lines) which were sugar-soaped & painted over. Lightbulbs all had to be changed as every time they heated up, the pong came back, and all the lampshades dumped & replaced. Flexes were changed as & when, but they too smelt horrible.

Despite all this, and windows wide open whenever we were home, it was a good year before the smell dwindled down to the point where it was no longer noticeable on returning to the house after a few days away. But as it was the only house big enough that we could afford, we just had to stick it out anyway! I do hope someone has come up with a quicker way since...

maisie_cat

When we moved into our old house we removed all curtains & carpets immediately, and actually removed the vinyl layer of the flock wallpaper in the rooms that were bad.
It still took a while, and lots of sugar soap on doors and woodwork, luckily it was the hot summer of 2006 so all the doors & windows were open for weeks.

cornishchick

when I gave up smoking after my husband passed away in 2014.{ we were both heavy smokers) I did the cleaning down of every surface. I also purchased an air purifier for about £50, with an additional option of a fragrance. with this running when windows were closed.. it appeared to clear the smell relitivly quickly. I also steam cleaned carpets and furnishings.  hope that helps . 

pollyanna_26

I'm a great fan of sugar soap too. I don't like chemical cleaners but sugar soap is as old as the hills and is still around because it's simple cheap and effective.

A few years ago one of my dds had to finfd a temporary rented flat near work while her home was having work carried out. Only thing available was the grottiest flat I've ever seen. I nearly walked out there and then but we got stuck in.

Something that entered my life years ago was the triple packs of Wilko All Purpose Silver Scourers for £1. They have been a muxt have for years and are referred to by all as the Scrubby Things. I was stocling up on those before the first lockdown for family and myself.

Never use them dry or they'll damage surfaces . I only once ordered them online and they were dire not the same at all. I know you shop in Wilko so you should be able to pick them up in store.

Another lifesaver is a good big steam cleaner so if you own, can borrow or hire one that will make a big difference cleaning and sanitising all sorts .

Mine is getting on a bit now it;s a Polti Eco Vaporetto. Handles big carpets etc but has an assortment of tools for smaller tasks.

It's saved many a carpet here when the girls were growing up spiling make up etc and one day a dish of pastsa with tomato sauce.

A little hand held steam is cheap and can work wonders  in kitchens and bathrooms.

There were times I used to feel like Kim and Aggie. Now I watch Jon and Brennans Filthy Homes SOS for old times sake! Our house was never like the ones they face but they use old style cleaning solutions which appeals to me.

When planning to put a home on the market it is well worth a lot of effort to show a house or in your case mums bungalow at it's best to get the best offers possible. Good luck MN . Pace yourself and accept all the help you can it's too much for one person with health problems so take care.

pollyx

ETA Sorry for the typos . Typical Northern weather here today and the hands aren't good. I may not be in Manchester but may sing the Manchester song to cheer myself up.

I hadn't realised mum was a smoker. As she was ECV and had to stey indoors your breathing problems should lessen. So sad to lose her so suddenly so look after youself and wear a decent mask when cleaning.

pollyanna_26

A couple of other thoughts. If there isn't a radiator mop worth picking up one of those too. Cheap in Ws. Radiators hold the nicotine in dust and it doesn;t take long to get the dust out. i do it reguarly.

First dry, windy day I'd start hanging the curtains out for a good blow to get rid of the dust before washing or cleaning them.

Nicotine smells and staining is something that puts off viewers. Some people who smoke don't notice the smell but everyones notices staining and discolouration.

I hope you can rally the troops. Slow and steady and don't overdo things. Listen to your body and pace.

pollyx

mothernerd

No, it's not mum's house - I couldn't live in a house with a smoker. It's the little terraced house next to my own. The tenant has died (I asked because I hadn't heard his dog barking) he was a heavy smoker (the nets are brown) and hasn't done much for several years.

It's in a state and don't think the landlord knows what to do with it (no-one's been near it for at least 3 months). I'm half daydreaming but if the boys would help with the initial clean, I'd have a blank canvas and could do it up as I want it. I'd still have DS3 and Beloved next door if I needed help (and I could keep an eye on them) but we'd each have our own space (and they can take on the bills at mine).

For now, I've nearly finished at mum's. My niece and her bf have been here Wednesday, Thursday and Friday and they did the heavy lifting and carting bags to the charity shops and then took a bag load each back with them to niece's house in the evening. I need to organise a cs collection of some of the furniture and a man and van to deliver stuff to mine and my niece's. My clothes and things are half packed -set up lots of bags on the little bed and keep adding handfuls of stuff -few photos, a pair of garden gloves and some bits to the CPAP machine into the appropriate bags.

Taken 3 bags back to mine this afternoon and cleared some space (given DS3 a list of what he needs to do including taking stuff up to my room). Will do one taxi hop a day if I can. Niece's bf is only available on Thursday this week but knows someone with a mega dolly truck so he's going to be trundling large pots across to mine. Niece's mum has also volunteered. She has an ancient scruffy car so niece is hoping to persuade her to ferry pots across (will need someone to load and unload). Lots of post at my house and my pinsentry machine has arrived so lots of paperwork to get through. I managed to kill my phone and couldn't pay anything because the bank wanted to send a code to the phone or use pinsentry to prove I was me.

bouicca21

There have been various threads on this - i think on the house buying and selling board - so try the search function.  The first thing is to get rid of all the soft furnishings including carpets and rugs as they retain the smell.  Then it’s clean, clean, clean. Sugar soap is your friend.

CapricornLass

Have the ceilings replaced.  Drastic, but it virtually eliminated the smell left behind by two chain smokers when we bought this house!

mrsjaw

My husband recently bought a pair of unworn shoes on FB marketplace - they are gorgeous shoes but oh my word they don't half stink of cigs!  We have tried sprays, wipes and putting them out on the window ledge but nothing is getting rid of the smell.

They are tied up in a bin liner at the moment while we search other options - I've told him they're going in the bin at the weekend if a remedy isn't found 

pollyanna_26

Thought it was odd you were with a smoker and needing the CPAP machine. Your mum never sounded as though she was heavy smoker but I thought you were talking about the Bungalow.

House next to yours sounds hard work but ideal to be next door to your son and beloved but with your own private spaces

You'll be able to make sure they don't wreck your house again and them taking over the bills is a lot less pressure on you.

If you are able to buy the house next door get everything out . Could be worth paying the Waste Wizard again to take everything away.

Wallpaper steamers don't cost much so hopefully the boys could get any paper off and out.

You just need that blank canvas then you can have fun making your home bit by bit.

As long as there aren't any structural faults it should be OK. Check the drains though after the problems at your house next door.

If all seems fine the Landlord should be glad of a fair offer, Not good to have a property sitting empty and no rent.

With cuts and increases it could be a good buy for you and budget friendly once you've got it sorted.

pollyx