If you or a family member smokes, chances are that your furniture and whole house smell of cigarettes. While there is nothing that we can recommend for the home except to open the windows or use an air freshener, the furniture is a whole other story. There are a lot of things that you can do to remove the cigarette smell, and today’s blog post is all about this topic. After reading this article, we can guarantee that you would no longer need to Google ‘how to remove smoke smell from furniture’ or ‘how to clean smoke off wood furniture’.
How to Avoid Smoke Smell?
The best thing to do is avoid the cigarette smell altogether. How?
Quit Smoking
We recommend quitting smoking altogether. It is not at all healthy for you or others around you, especially children and people with frail health. Smoking is the primary cause of lung cancer and other debilitating diseases. Therefore, quitting smoking is in your best interests. Remember, when you smoke around others, you are exposing them to lung cancer and other diseases. So, even if you do not care about yourself, think about your family and friends.
If you cannot quit smoking, try to limit the number of cigarettes per day. Once you start smoking less, you can work on quitting altogether. A few cigarettes per day means that there are fewer chances of your furniture smelling like smoke or nicotine. If you cannot limit the smoke, try smoking outside. If you smoke outside, you can at least save the furniture and inside of the house smelling like cigarettes.
How to Get Smoke Smell Out of Furniture
There are several things that you can do to remove the smoke smell from the furniture. Please note that these methods are only for non-wooden furniture. We will focus on wood furniture later.
1. Use Baking Soda
If you have baking soda, great. If not, buy it right away and put it in a medium-sized jar. Now, place the jar on the smelly sofa. The baking soda will absorb the smell. If you cannot find a pot or any other container, sprinkle the soda onto the couch or any other furniture. Leave it there for a few hours and use a vacuum to clean the baking soda.
2. Coffee Grinds
If you are uncomfortable using baking soda, you may opt for coffee grinds. We recommend placing them in a container to avoid coffee stains. Place the container on the furniture, and the coffee grinds will do the rest. Most people do not know that baking soda and coffee grinds are effective smell absorbers.
3. Natural Sun and Air
It is the easiest way of removing smoke smell from your furniture. All you need to do is wait for a bright, sunny day and place the furniture outside. The sun and air will do their magic. After a few hours in the open sun, your furniture will smell fresh. On top of it all, the sunlight will help kill germs.
4. Spray Vodka
Mix vodka with water in a spray bottle. Sprinkle the solution onto the sofa and let it sit for a while. You can use a vacuum to dry it off.
5. Professional Help
If you have fabric or upholstered furniture, you can opt for a professional sofa cleaning service. In our opinion, it is the best answer to how to remove smoke smell from furniture.
You may also like to Read: How to Disinfect Wood Furniture
Now, let us focus on the second part of this post.
How to Get Smoke Smell Out of Wood Furniture
Depending on the quality, wood furniture is durable and visually appealing than others. You might not know it, but wood furniture may last several centuries with the right maintenance and care. Therefore, if budgeting is not an issue, we recommend buying top-quality wooden furniture. When it comes to wood, many manufacturers let their customers come up with a design. If you are a smoker, you need to be careful around wood furniture. The reasons are apparent – wood can catch fire easily. Before you know it, the whole house might be engulfed in flames. So, try avoiding smoking indoors when you have wood furniture lying around.
Now, let us address how to clean smoke off wood furniture.
1. Soapy Solution Wood Cleanse
Nicotine and tar (chemicals in cigarettes) result in a sticky substance build-up on wood. In other words, your wood furniture is by now full of residue that would disgust even the people with the strongest stomachs. If you plan to remove the smoke smell, you need to clean the residue. You can clean it using a microfibre cloth, water, and a soapy solution. 9 times out of 10, it is enough to give your wood furniture a clean, fresh, and stink-free appearance.
2. Vinegar Absorption
Fill a bowl with vinegar and place it on the wood furniture. People do not realise that vinegar is a potent odor absorber or remover. You need to place the vinegar for at least 3 days for the best results. Therefore, we recommend keeping your children away as they might spill vinegar onto the furniture.
3. Vinegar-Water Wipe-Down
Mix equal amounts of water and vinegar in a container. Dip a microfiber cloth in the container and start wiping the furniture. You need to ensure that no part is skipped during the wipe-down process. Once done, use a clean microfiber cloth to dry the furniture. We are confident that it is your solution to how to get smoke smell out of wood furniture.
4. Newspaper and Coffee Grain Method
When we practiced this method, the results were surprising. We did not expect this method to work as we considered it a myth. It involves taking old newspapers and spreading them over the furniture. Next, you need to place coffee grains on the old newspapers. Let them stay there for at least a couple of days.
5. Baking Soda Spray Technique
If nothing works, spray baking soda onto the furniture. There is ample research to show that baking soda eliminates all types of smell.
6. Sunny Day Air-Out
Sunlight can do wonders for your smelly wood furniture. All you need to do is wait for a bright, sunny day. Then, place the furniture outside. The natural air and bright sunlight will kill the germs and help you get rid of the cigarette smell.
7. Commercial Odor Remover
If there is a need, know that someone out there is already offering a product/service to fulfill it. The same applies to how to clean smoke off wood furniture. There are many products available in the market that claim to remove odor from the furniture. All of them do a good job. You can check their reviews first to make sure that you are buying the best one as not all products deserve your hard-earned money.
You may also like to Read: How to Clean Cushions that cannot be Removed
Preventive Measures for Cigarette Smell
Stop Odor Before It Starts
To prevent future occurrences, consider implementing no-smoking policies indoors, using furniture covers, and regularly airing out your furniture. These simple steps can significantly reduce the likelihood of odor absorption.
Maintaining Freshness in Your Furniture
To stop bad smells from building up in your furniture, it’s a good idea to vacuum and clean it regularly. Also, using sprays that make fabrics smell nice or putting small bags of dried lavender or other natural scents around can keep your furniture smelling good.
Wrap Up
Smoke smell in furniture can be annoying, but it’s not a permanent issue. With the right combination of cleaning techniques – ranging from natural remedies to professional services – you can effectively remove these stubborn odors. Patience and persistence are key. By following these strategies, your furniture can once again be a source of comfort and cleanliness in your home. Lastly, we would again like to request our readers to quit smoking altogether.
FAQs
How can I get cigarette smoke out of my furniture?
To remove cigarette smoke from furniture, start with natural methods like sprinkling baking soda or placing bowls of vinegar around the furniture. If these don’t work, try commercial odor removers or consider professional cleaning services.
What home remedy will remove smoke smell from my couch?
A good home remedy is to sprinkle baking soda on the couch, leave it for a few hours, and then vacuum it off. Alternatively, a mixture of water and vinegar can be sprayed lightly and wiped off to help neutralize the smell.
Can vinegar remove smoke odor from furniture?
Yes, vinegar can help remove smoke odor. Mix equal parts of vinegar and water, spray lightly on the furniture, and then wipe it off. For stronger odors, place a bowl of vinegar on or near the furniture for a few days.
Does sunlight help in removing smoke smell from furniture?
Yes, placing furniture in sunlight can help remove smoke smell. UV rays and fresh air work together to neutralize and dissipate the odor. However, be cautious with direct sunlight on certain materials to avoid damage.
Is professional cleaning necessary to remove smoke smell from furniture?
Professional cleaning may be necessary for severe cases or delicate furniture. If home remedies don’t work, professional cleaners have specialized equipment and solutions to effectively remove smoke odors.
