How to Remove the Smoke Smell from Your House

Trying to figure out how to remove the smoke smell from your house? Get rid of it once and for all with these easy household remedies.

No one likes the smell of smoke in their house. If, for example, you’ve been grilling in your backyard with the windows open, small smoke particles in the air stick to the walls, furniture, and clothes in your home and produce that typical stale smoke smell.

Many products promise to instantly remove the smoke smell, but very often, they don’t deliver. Instead of buying toxic and expensive chemical products, we’ll show you how to get rid of the smoke smell in your house using common household products. 

Why Not Use Chemicals?

There are many “odor eliminating” products on the market, like sprays, candles, and air fresheners, but many of these don’t really remove the smoke smell. Instead, they simply mask the unpleasant odor with a stronger fragrance.

Not only is this not a real solution, but air fresheners can also trigger allergic reactions in people and in animals, and have negative effects on the environment. The perfumed chemicals that these products disperse in your home are often referred to as VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) and include chemicals like acetone and formaldehyde. And since less than 10 percent of air freshener ingredients are disclosed to the public, it’s difficult to know the full extent of the damage that they do.

Removing the Smoke Smell from Your Home with Lemon

Lemons are exceptionally useful little fruits. Their acidity and powerful scent makes them a perfect remedy for removing the smoke smell from your house. Here’s what to do:

1. Slice a lemon in half and cut each half into four to six pieces.
2. Place the lemon pieces in a small pot and pour over with boiling water.
3. Place the steaming pot in the room where you’re trying to get rid of the smoke smell. Depending on how big the room is, you may want to use more than one pot, and you may need to repeat this process a few times before the smell is completely eliminated. 

How to Get Rid of the Smoke Smell in Your House: Vinegar

Vinegar is one of the most well-known household items that doubles as a cleaning agent. Vinegar’s intensely sour smell makes it reliably effective against the stench of smoke. And don’t worry: as long as you allow the room to air out afterwards, the smell of vinegar will disappear quickly. Here’s how to get rid of the smoke smell in your house using vinegar:

1. Mix five to eight drops of vinegar with about one cup of water.
2. Pour the mixture into a pot and bring to a boil.
3. Pour the liquid into a heat-safe bowl and place immediately in the affected room. 

How to Remove Smoke Smell from Your House: Coffee and Rosewater

It is also possible to remove the smoke smell from your house with coffee. 

1. Add three to four tablespoons of ground coffee to a bowl.
2. Pour boiling water over the coffee grinds. 
3. Place the bowl in the room where the smell of smoke is. Use more bowls depending on the size of the room. 

If you want the room to have a more pleasant smell afterwards, try adding rosewater to the bowl. Alternatively, when the smoke smell is almost completely gone, you can use rosewater on its own to get rid of the last traces. Just add a few drops to a bowl of boiling water and place it in the middle of the room. 

Rosewater is particularly useful when trying to remove the smoke smell from upholstery. Use a cloth rag with a bit of rosewater to thoroughly clean the affected furniture. 

Preventing the Stench: Tips 

• If someone is smoking inside, be sure to empty and clean all ashtrays as soon as possible.
• If you are grilling or smoking outside, keep your windows closed so that the smoke can’t get inside. 
• Store your ashtray outside when you aren’t using it. 
• Keep your windows open if you are smoking inside, and try to stay in a ventilated area. 

If you regularly smoke in your apartment, try to limit it to one room with as many windows as possible. This way, you will not have to remove the smoke smell from other rooms in your house. Air out your smoking space at least three times a day: open all the windows as wide as possible and let the fresh air in for about thirty minutes.

This article has been translated from German to English by Christie Sacco. You can read the original version here: Rauchgeruch entfernen: So riecht die Wohnung wieder frisch

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Tags: DIY Household Practical Tips Remedy