If you’re a smoker, you know the drill: open a window, light up, take a few puffs, and then stub out your cigarette. In a few moments, no one would even know you smoked a cigarette indoors, right?
But what about the lingering smoke smell in your apartment? It’s not just unpleasant for you and your roommates, but it can also be dangerous in the long term.
If you’ve ever been in a house or apartment that smells like stale smoke, you know how unpleasant that scent can be. Moreover, you may even feel a little self-conscious about living in an environment with such a persistent odor, or perhaps you’re afraid of scaring off potential tenants if you plan to rent your property someday.
The smell may be so strong that it makes it difficult to have friends over because nobody wants to hang out in your home.
No matter the reason, the smoke smell is always undesirable for any house or apartment.
Fortunately, many ways exist to remove the odor from your apartment and neutralize its scent.
The Downsides of Second-Hand Smoke and the Smoke Smell in Your Home
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. But second-hand smoke, which means inhaling smoke from cigarettes, cigars, and even fires, can also damage your lungs and increase your risk of developing lung cancer.
Second-hand smoke, emitted from burning tobacco products and from the smokers themselves, is also hazardous. CDC estimates that second-hand smoke exposure contributes to approximately 41,000 deaths annually in the United States.
In addition to the health risks posed by smoke inhalation, cigarette smoke can also make your home smell bad. Smoke particles can cling to walls, carpets, clothing, and furniture, making it hard to eliminate the smell completely.
If you’re trying to quit smoking or simply want to reduce the amount of smoke in your home, you can do a few things to eliminate the smell.
The Importance of Getting Rid of the Smoke Smell in Your Apartment or House
The following reasons will help you understand why it is crucial to eliminate smoke smells from apartments.
The Dangers of Smoke Inhalation
If you’ve suffered a house fire recently, and there are lingering smells, it’s essential to get them out because the toxins in smoke can damage the lungs and airways, causing respiratory problems and other health problems.
The Effects of Second-Hand Smoke
Second-hand smoke is just as harmful as first-hand smoke. Inhaling even a small amount of second-hand smoke can have serious health consequences, including cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
When people smoke cigarettes, the smoke enters the air and eventually settles onto surfaces. This process is known as third-hand smoke. Third-hand smoke is the residue from cigarettes that clings to walls, clothing, furniture, carpets, and other surfaces long after the cigarette has been extinguished.
There are several dangers associated with exposure to third-hand smoke. One of the most serious is the risk of inhaling the chemicals left behind in the residue. These chemicals can be very harmful and have been linked to several health problems.
The Importance of Fresh Air in the Home
Fresh air is essential for good health, especially for young children and asthmatics who are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of smoke.
The fresh air we breathe in our homes helps to improve our mood, reduces stress levels, and gives us more energy. Additionally, fresh air helps to clear out harmful toxins and pollutants from our bodies.
An apartment that smells of smoke usually lacks fresh air, which can cause headaches, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.
DIY Ways to Get Rid of Smoke Smell in an Apartment
It’s possible to neutralize the scent using these DIY methods, which can be done quickly and easily. However, using an air purifier is the best method in the long run.
Use Dry Baking Soda to Soak up Excess Smoke Odor
One of the best ways to reduce the smell of smoke in your apartment is to use a dry powder like baking soda to soak it up. This is especially useful if you’ve recently smoked indoors and need to eliminate the smell quickly.
Simply sprinkle baking soda on the carpets and furniture, then vacuum the room. This will help neutralize the smell of the smoke and absorb excess odors. If you’ve ever burnt a meal and need to get rid of the smell quickly, you can also use baking soda to soak it up.
Light-Scented Candles to Help Neutralize the Smell
Using scented candles is one of the easiest ways to reduce the smell of smoke in your apartment. However, the scent will linger for a few hours after you smoke in your apartment unless you use scented candles to help neutralize the odor quickly.
Place a scented candle near the places where the smoke smell is most potent, and leave it to burn for a few minutes to help it take effect. If you want to use candles but can’t have an open flame in your apartment (for example, if you live in a city apartment with strict fire codes or have a pet), try using a scented candle warmer.
This will allow you to enjoy the scent of a candle without the risk of an open flame.
Spray Fragrant Essential Oils Throughout Your Home
Another way to quickly eliminate the smell of smoke in your apartment is to spray a fragrant essential oil throughout your home. While scented candles offer a quick solution, essential oils like rosemary, peppermint, and orange are excellent at neutralizing the smell of smoke.
Simply open each window in your apartment and then spray the essential oil in each room. This will help eliminate the smell of smoke and transform your home into a more pleasant environment.
Remember that essential oils will evaporate over time, so you’ll need to re-spray them occasionally to keep the smoke smell away.
Use a DIY Vinegar Spray
White vinegar is another household product that eliminates unwanted smells in your home. It’s also helpful if you have pets in your house and need to eliminate pet odors.
Just pour a cup of vinegar into a spray bottle and spritz the area where you’re trying to get rid of the smell. Let the vinegar air dry, and the smell will be gone. So if you’re looking for a natural way to get rid of cigarette smells, there’s nothing better than vinegar.
White vinegar is an all-natural product that leaves no harmful residues as some sprays or cleaning products would.
The Best Ways to Get Rid of the Smoke Smell in the Apartment
After discussing DIY methods, we can discuss air purifiers, ozone generators, and odor-neutralizing products.
Air purifiers are explicitly designed to remove contaminants from the air. This means that they can effectively eliminate smoke particles from the air. Find out more in the details below.
Use an Air Purifier
Air purifiers are one of the most effective ways to remove smoke and other airborne contaminants from indoor air. Not only do they remove smoke particles, but they also filter out other pollutants like dust, pollen, and pet dander.
However, there are many different types of air purifiers on the market, so choosing one that’s right for your specific needs is important. Make sure you research the best air purifiers specifically for smoke smell.
HEPA Air Purifiers
HEPA air purifiers are among the most effective devices for removing smoke and other airborne particles from indoor air. They draw in contaminated air and pass it through filters that trap pollutants.
HEPA air purifiers are available in various sizes and styles to suit any space, and many can be used in conjunction with an HVAC system.
Activated Carbon Air Purifiers
Activated carbon air purifiers are another type of air purifier that effectively removes smoke from indoor air. These units pass contaminated air through a bed of activated carbon, which absorbs smoke particles and other pollutants.
It’s possible to find an activated carbon air purifier that suits your space, and many models can be used in conjunction with an HVAC system.
Ozone Generators
Finally, you also have ozone generators. These devices produce ozone, a gas that breaks down smoke particles and other contaminants into harmless by-products like oxygen and carbon dioxide.
The size and style of ozone generators vary according to space, and many can be used with HVAC systems.
Use a Ventilation System
Another way to eliminate the smoke smell in the apartment is by ventilating the space properly. This can be done by opening windows and doors to let fresh air in or using fans to circulate the air inside the apartment.
Additionally, using an exhaust fan in the kitchen or bathroom can help to remove smoke particles from the air before they have a chance to spread throughout the apartment.
Proper ventilation is vital to keeping indoor air quality high and preventing the build-up of smoke and other pollutants inside the home. Air circulation moves harmful particles through the air and eventually out of the apartment. Keeping them in the air and directing them outside prevents molecules from falling and sticking to furniture pieces.
Odor-Neutralising Products
Several commercial products are available that claim to neutralize odors caused by smoke. These products typically contain chemicals that react with smoke molecules, breaking them into odorless compounds.
Some examples of these products include sprays, gels, or pellets that can be placed around the home.
It’s important to read product labels carefully before use, as some products may contain harmful chemicals. Also, read reviews from people who’ve used them before to find a product that works and doesn’t just mask the smell.
Tips for Preventing Smoke Smell in the Apartment
The best way to prevent the smoke smell from permeating your entire apartment is to confine your smoking to specific areas. This could mean smoking only on your balcony or in the designated smoking room in your building.
By keeping the smoke contained, you’ll minimize the chances of it seeping into other parts of your home and affecting your non-smoking roommates or guests.
Another key step in preventing the smoke smell from taking over your apartment is ensuring proper ventilation whenever you smoke indoors.
Conclusion
Smoke smell is an unwanted and unpleasant smell that can linger in your home, furniture, and clothes. Fortunately, you can try many different things to eliminate the smoke smell in your apartment.
The best way to get rid of the smoke smell is by using an air purifier, opening up the windows for ventilation, and using odor-neutralizing products.
With these helpful tips on how to get rid of the smoke smell in your apartment, you can make your home smell fresh again, regardless of how nasty the smell is currently.
So what are you waiting for? Pick one of these products and eliminate the cigarette smells in your home today.
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