You’ve just purchased or rented out a beautiful place to live and in the middle of your daydream about how to decorate your new place the stench of cigarette smoke fills your nose. The daydream stops instantly and you quickly realize something must be done. There are several steps you can take to rid the smoky air from circulating in your new place:

Air it Out

This might be an obvious first thing to do, but you’ve got to start somewhere. Open up the windows and the doors (if you have screens) to let some fresh air in.

Remove and Clean

The smell is lingering because it is absorbed into the carpet and other fabrics the previous owners might have left in the home. If tearing out and replacing the carpet is an option, that is your best bet.

However, if that’s not an option you can hire a professional carpet cleaner to clean the carpets with a special cleaner. The same needs to be done for all other fabrics or materials that can hold onto the smell for a long time.

Clean Some More

It doesn’t end with the fabric, professionals recommend cleaning EVERYTHING. This is best done with mixtures of bleach and water or vinegar and water. When we say everything, we mean it. Wipe down the walls, floors, light fixtures, appliances, showers, ceilings, and anything else you can get your hands on.

Paint

If painting is an option, this is the next best step to take after the walls have been cleaned and have dried out. The paint will trap any smells coming off the wall and allow some fresh air to begin circulating again.

Replace Filters and Clean Ducts

The circulating smoke-filled air won’t stop with some cleaning, it’s got to start with your air. Clean or replace your hvac filters, and then call in a professional to clean the air ducts.

The smell isn’t guaranteed to go away after completing all these steps and it will likely take time and some repeating, but these are some good first steps to take to help you gain that fresh, clean are you’ve been hoping for.

 

Furthermore, give the indoor air quality experts at Rusk Heating & Cooling a call! We’ll come up with a unique plan in order to keep your indoor air clean and comfortable all year ‘round.