Items to Use to Get Cigarette Smoke Out of Furniture

Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, which include carbon monoxide, cyanide, and lead, which makes cigarette smoke toxic. According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, these chemicals are harmful to the health of not only smokers, but to non-smokers also. These may affect people with allergies, making them more sensitive. Moreover, symptoms of allergies that are triggered by smoke may become exacerbated and may lead to complications. Cigarette smoke also affects furniture, as smoke permeates into them and stays there after smoking is done. This is considered third-hand smoke, which is invisible to the eye. Assistant Professor Dr. Jonathan Winickoff of Harvard Medical School of Pediatrics says that third-hand smoke is real and dangerous. It is important to remove cigarette smoke from all furniture to avoid any health complications.

Things You'll Need:

Vacuum cleaner

Vinegar

Water

Baking soda

Detergent

Coffee grounds

Cat litter

Ozone Generator

Odor-eliminating product

Laundry detergent

Ammonia

Mineral spirits

Instructions:

Step 1:

Use a natural cleaning solution. Stir equal amounts of water and vinegar together in a small basin. Using a cloth, dampen it with the solution and wipe it on all furniture surfaces, except those that have fabric materials. The acid of the vinegar will be able to break down and remove cigarette residues (tar and resin).

Step 2:

Use a laundry detergent. Remove all furniture covers such as sofa pillow cases, table cloths or any fabric cover that is removable. Wash these because these are porous and are where smoke is absorbed the most.

Step 3:

Use baking soda. Take some baking soda and dust it over all furniture made of fabric. Try to grind it inasmuch as possible. Leave it for a day then vacuum it afterward. This process provides time for the baking soda to settle and soak up the smell of smoke.

Step 4:

Use an odor-eliminating product. Follow the instructions that come with this for proper application on furniture.

Step 5:
Use ground coffee, cat litter or baking soda for wood furniture. These absorb odors. Fill drawers with some coffee overnight. Baking soda or cat litter should be left in for a few days and then removed afterwards.

Step 6:
Use mineral spirits, ammonia and vinegar on wood furniture. Mineral spirits are also known as paint thinner, and will not affect wood finish, but it will remove dirt, grime and smoke residue. Wipe the spirits (using rags) on all surfaces. Then dilute one cap of ammonia in one quart of water, and wipe it all over as well. Let it dry overnight. The following day, dilute one cap of vinegar in one quart of water, and wipe it all over. Continue doing the ammonia and vinegar washes for several days or, when the smell is gone.

Step 7:
Use an Ozone Generator. This machine can be rented, and, it uses large amounts of ozone to eliminate smoke odors and counteract its toxic elements by oxidation.

Tips:You may choose to hire a professional to get rid of cigarette smoke. A professional may either use a wet fogger, thermo fogger or Ozone Generator.

Use air-purifiers in rooms to always have clean air and keep any odor away.

Warnings:

Using any solution on furniture may be harmful, so do a test in a small area first.

Do not mix the vinegar and ammonia washes together in a day. These should be done alternately. And make sure rags are not saturated with the solution.

Reference:
1. Facts About Cigarette Smoke
2. Cigarette Smoke
3. Even Smell of Cigarette Smoke is Toxic
4. How to Eliminate Odors from Smoking
5. Cigarette Smoke Odor Removal
6. Smoke Odor Removal from Wood Furniture
7. Stinky Stuff: Get Rid of Old Furniture Smells
8. Cigarette and Cigar Smoke Removal
9. Thirdhand Smoke' May be Bigger Health Hazard than Previously Believed
10. How to Get Rid of Cigarette Smell