getting rid of the smoke smell?

Question

I have an apartment that was completely painted and a new carpet put in a  year ago.  The tenant is moving out and was a HEAVY smoker.  I will be  washing the carpet but can I get the smell out of the apartment without  completely repainting the apartment again?  It looks great but that  smell!
	
	Jeff

Anish Patel · Answer

I have heard good things about the products from foreverozone.com.  You will need a small box fan and timer and one of the devices and is worth a try before repainting everything.  I have heard ozone generators work well for smoke as well from another article.  Let me know how it works if you try it.

Tim Hoffman · Answer

I bought an ozone machine a couple years ago and it has worked wonders.  Dog smells, grease smell, smoke, you name it the ozone machine can help neutralize it.  You need to put the ozone machine on a timer and shut the house / apt up, turn the furnace fan on (but flame OFF).  Time using the ozone machine depends on size of unit and once the machine is off you have to wait 8 hrs before you enter.

For the carpets, a good carpet cleaner can put down an odor neutralizer.  My fear would be that if they were that heavy a smoker there would be nicotine built up on the walls and ceiling.  That you will have to either wash off (time consuming) or repaint.  If it is REALLY BAD, you may have to prime with Kilz or some other primer before you paint.

Get an Ozone machine now if you plan on being in this business for a while.  Good luck

Craig Hansen · Answer

Jeff J.

I just purchased a SFH in which the lady smoked in for probably 30 years.  Used Bullseye Primer (2 coats) which got rid of the nicotine stains but, the smell was still there.  Removed all carpet and underlayment. Smell was still there.  Went to the grocery store and found this product and decided to give it a shot.  My partner was amazed that the smell was gone.

It is worth a try, cost me $2 for enough to spread throughout the house (1,200 sqft).

http://www.amazon.com/Arm-Hammer-Odor-Elminator-Carpet/dp/B0014B36HS/ref=pd_sim_indust_1

Roy N. · Answer

Rob ... that "Awesome" works well ... to the point it makes me not want to know what is really in it :)   I also use "Simple Green" frequently - it works well even if it is not quite as "Green" as the manufacturer's marketing would have you believe.

Matthew Paul · Answer

For the carpet , I add some vanilla extract to the cleaning solution and I use a old rental carpet machine I bought .

Rob K. · Answer

Usually with heavy smokers, the windows will be yellow and nasty from all the nicotine. What I've found works best to clean it is a product called Awesome from the dollar store. It is a yellow liquid in a spray bottle. Good for lots of other cleaning as well.

Steve Babiak · Answer

try reading this related thread:

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/67/topics/78889-smoker-rehab-keys-to-success-with-tobacco-smoke--before-after-pics

Ben Skove · Answer

@Roy N. - thanks for that head's up. I'm rehabbing a nicotine house currently, so I'd love any links you have to any of the literature regarding nicotine encapsulation.

I've already done the scrubbing and Zinnser route, and am hoping that the original amount of staining is small enough so that it won't end up coming back. Having just finished last week, you're supposed to be bringing me better news! :)

Roy N. · Answer

Jeff:

There is a chance you just hid those nicotine {stains} and they will be back.   There is growing literature where the environment in a home, post smoker(s) is examined and which is finding that the nicotine and other toxins, when painted over, eventually make their way to the surface again.

From personal experience, we bought a property where the previous owner had been a heavy smoker.  In the living room she sat in one particular chair and the stains radiated out from that point.   We originally, scrubbed, "Bin'ed" (Zinsser), primed, and painted.  The smell and the residue came back.  In the end, we pulled all the sheetrock from the walls and ceiling and redid the room.

Jerry W. · Answer

I agree with the afterfire product.  there are also several other products out there like it.  They are made for smoke and do a nice job.  I may look into an ozone machine, I have heard good things about them.

getting rid of the smoke smell?

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