Residents of Monticello - Rely on SERVPRO for Removal of Tough Tobacco Odor

6/30/2016 (Permalink)

Count on SERVPRO of Orange, Sullivan & S.Ulster Counties for removal of tobacco odor in your home.

One of the most offensive odors to people looking for a new home is cigarette smoke.  Most buyers will not even continue to look at or consider buying a home where the stench of cigarette smoke permeates throughout.  This odor has the potential to penetrate most materials in a home; such as carpets, furniture, window treatments, clothing, drywall, cabinets and doors.  

Because cigarette smoke is a gluey substance, it is difficult and time consuming to remove.  In order to completely eliminate the cigarette smoke odor, you must thoroughly clean the tobacco smoke residue from every surface and every nook and cranny in the home.

To start, allow fresh air to enter your home and then start systematically cleaning everything in the home.  

Try using baking soda to absorb smells from the carpets and upholstery and place bowls of white vinegar, coffee or activated charcoal around the house.  Keep in mind this is a temporary solution.  

Below are some tips on how to completely clean your home to get rid of the unpleasant tobacco odor:

• Keep fresh air flowing through your house as often as possible by opening all windows and doors.

• Clean or replace air, furnace and air conditioning filters.

• Use ammonia and glycol products to clean walls and ceilings.  Both of these ingredients will neutralize the tobacco order.  After applying, let the walls dry and check if the odor persists.  

• If you can still sense cigarette odor after cleaning, use a sealant designed to lock in odors and repaint the walls and ceilings.  Make sure you use latex paint.

• Try cleaning everything in the home: floors, windows, carpets, furniture, upholstery, draperies, blinds and other household surfaces, fixtures and items.  If the smoke is too difficult to remove, call SERVPRO of Orange, Sullivan & S. Ulster Counties to help you remove the odor.

If you do not have the time to dedicate to removing the tobacco odor currently, below are some shorter term, inexpensive solutions:

• Use an air purifier.

• To absorb bad smells, sprinkle baking soda on the carpets, leave it overnight and vacuum it up the next day.

• Place saucers of white vinegar around the home and leave them overnight to neutralize the smell.

• Get indoor plants.  Indoor plants can absorb up to 87% of indoor pollutants such as tobacco smoke.

• Place small bowls of coffee or orange peels throughout the house.

• Use scented or unscented candles.

• Place pineapple slices around the room with all doors and windows closed for 24 hours.

• Place bowls of activated charcoal around the home.

Removing cigarette smoke odor from a home can be extremely time consuming and difficult.  If the situation is severe, call SERVPRO of Orange, Sullivan and South Ulster counties to remove the odor.  You can visit us at http://www.SERVPROsullivanandsouthulstercounties or call us at 845-342-3333