How to get cigarette smell out?

Question

I have a 3 bedroom condo that was rented out for 2 years to a tenant. After an inspection, I noticed that there is a strong smell of cigarette smoke. Now they have moved out, but the smell lingered. How do I get that horrible smell out of the place? Is it simply a matter of cleaning the carpets and replacing the air filters? Please let me know if you have experienced this, and what you did to resolve!

Nathan Gesner · Answer

It can be done, but you have to be meticulous.

Check out my video below. This is an apartment that had two chain smokers for 16 years.

We steam washed the walls, doors, cabinets, light fixtures, etc. Everything has to be wiped down, inside and out, with a really good cleaner. Windows had to be washed three times before they looked decent again! We removed all flooring. Painted the walls and ceilings with an oil-based Kilz Primer that seals in any remaining odors. Painted it and put in new flooring. It's been almost two years and it still smelled fresh and new when I was there a few months ago.

I've done this with several rentals and it works, but you can't leave anything undone. If you have a forced air system, you have to really clean the vents, the furnace, etc.

Laticia Braxton · Answer

Try calling a local restoration company that handles fires. They use an ozone machine for fire units which do an amazing job. It may cost you a few hundred bucks, but it sounds like it will be worth it to you.

Hope this helps and best of luck to you!

Laticia

Hope this helps and best of luck to you!

Laticia

Jim S. · Answer

Have the carpets cleaned professionally and go from there.

Sharlene Mulchandani · Answer

I recommend having your carpets cleaned and scrubbing your walls and windows. If the smell is still there, then an ozone machine will help.

Tim Bellnier · Answer

You have carpet?

Scott M. · Answer

Smoke and cat pee are very difficult to get rid of.  Check out @Nathan G. video as it is very good.  This isn't a problem just with carpets, it is going to be everywhere.  Floors, walls, doors, ceilings, cupboards, vents in the systems (mechanicals)  etc...Everywhere. Doing it part way won't cut it.  Doing just OZONE wont cut it.  it might for a time, but in time it will come back until you do everything.

Sorry you are going through this, this is a tough one.

Daniel Smyth · Answer

@Gabriel Britt

TSp and water make a good cleaner.

Wash walls and ceiling before you prime and paint!

If the carpets are newer, clean them after the painting, and see if you get lucky.

That smell gets everywhere! Anything you can replace, is better replaced.

Good luck.

Tracy Minick · Answer

@Gabriel Britt

I have been very happy with ozone treatment!

Gail K. · Answer

Bought a place that had a couple of HEAVY tobacco users previously owning it.  Had to wash the walls and ceilings down (the recommendation is with TSP); nicotine was just running down the walls.  Then prime with a good sealer and repaint.  The place had no carpet (good!) I do have an ozone machine and that helped with the odor.

My partner was a heavy smoker.  And yes, he passed away from lung cancer in his mid 50's almost 3 years ago.  Used one bedroom as his office and I had to do the same; washing walls, priming and then painting.  Did not do the ceiling secondary to health issues with dizziness and to this day the formerly white ceiling looks like cheap chocolate milk.  That room does have carpet and even heavy steam cleaning does not permanently remove the odor.  Living by myself I don't enter that third bedroom very much but when I do I can still smell the smoke odor after all this time.  Eventually I will need to get the carpet replaced.  Hopefully you won't have to do the same.

Can you find out if they smoked more in one particular spot in the rental (the bathroom is a popular place).  Run a white rag down the walls and check for nicotine residue.  Even on lights (and light bulbs which is something that is easy to overlook).

Almost three years later I'm still finding places in my house that contain this residue.

Good luck..

Gail

How to get cigarette smell out?

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