6 Tips for Removing Smoke Odor from Your Home

Recently, one of the vacation rentals my husband manages was rented to a smoker. The guest had stayed about 2 weeks and had blatantly ignored the “No Smoking” sign that sits prominently in the living room.

But as frustrated as we were by the lack of respect for the home and our rules, we knew that—more importantly—we had to get the smoke smell out of the home before the next guests arrived.

Using some ideas I had and some that I researched, I put together a plan of attack. Then my husband and I worked together using the 6 steps I’m going to share with you, and within about 48 hours, the smoke smell was completely gone from the house.

So whether you had a visitor who disregarded your home’s no smoking rule, or are moving into a new space that previously housed a smoker, following these steps will help you remove the noxious smell for good.

RELATED: 6 Easy Air Fresheners You Can Make at Home Right Now 

Getting Started

The first 4 steps I detail below are inexpensive and should remove the residue from a short-time smoker. The last 2 are more costly, but should do the trick for removing the scent from even long-time smoke exposure.

First things first: open up all the windows in your home and turn on as many fans as you can. This will help to start airing out the home while you do the rest of the cleaning.

Next, gather your supplies. You'll need:

• Vinegar. At least a gallon.
• Baking soda. 
• Clean rags/towels. You’ll go through a bunch, so stock up, You can pick up some in the automotive section of your local supermarket or go for microfiber. 
• Bucket
• Colander or strainer
• Ozone Machine. This is only for extreme cases. 

Step #1: Use Vinegar on Fabrics

If you’ve ever gone to a smoky bar, you were probably reminded of your outing the morning after—when you could still smell smoke on your clothes. The same thing applies to the fabrics in your home, which will hold onto any lingering smoke from your rule-breaking guests.

While it might not necessarily be practical, or possible, to remove all the fabric from your home (a couch can be a beast to move to the patio!), do remove all the fabric items...

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