Cigarette smoke odor removal from carpet and rugs is, let’s just be honest, very difficult. No matter how clean your home looks, cigarette smoke odor can make it feel gross. Your friends and family will probably be too polite to tell you but they would rather not spend time in your home if it smells like cigarettes. Polls suggest that cigarette smoke is one of the most offensive odors- ranking right up there with feces, skunk, and rotten milk. Yikes!
Carpet fibers absorb odors of all kinds. Professional steam cleaning is obviously a great solution. But what if you can’t afford it? Here are a couple of low-cost tips to help with cigarette smoke odor removal from your carpet:
- Stop Smoking in the House – Instead, smoke outside on a covered porch or in the garage (with the garage door open of course). This won’t necessarily remove cigarette smoke odor from your carpet, but it will keep the situation from getting any worse.
- Sprinkle Baking Soda Over Your Carpet – Baking soda is a great odor counteractant because it naturally absorbs odors. Just lightly sprinkle baking soda on your carpeting and vacuum it up the next day. (Note: Don’t go overboard with the baking soda- never dump so much on the carpet that you can’t vacuum it up. You can always do the procedure several times if it isn’t successful the first time)
- Open Windows and Screen Doors – Just getting extra air flow throughout the home can help immensely. This can be an especially helpful trick if you have company coming over. Just open a few windows to let some fresh, Pacific Northwest air in!
- Use Vinegar – Just mix a small amount (about a teaspoon or two) of vinegar to about 8 to 12 ounces of water. Apply this mixture to the carpeting in the areas most effected by the cigarette smoke. Then, use a shop van or “wet vac” to remove the moisture. You may need to repeat the process several times.
While these solutions area great for at-home cigarette smoke odor removal, nothing beats professional cleaning. If your home has severe cigarette smoke odor issues, call us for a free estimate at 1-855-937-8326.