About this Recipe

Smoke, especially cigarette smoke has a way of permeating everything and creating very unpleasant lasting odor. Getting cigarette smoke odors out of items, especially fabrics and carpets can be tricky because the odors really have something to cling onto. You might encounter a strong cigarette odor if you buy items second hand, or you move into a house or apartment where the previous renters or owners were smokers. Even a used vehicle that has been smoked in for a long time can reak like smoke.

The odor is bothersome, especially to non-smokers, but if you just can't pass up the home or item that smells like smoke, you'll have some work cut out for you to get it smelling fresh once again. Luckily there are plenty of ways to completely get rid of cigarette smoke or any smoke for that matter whether it's from cigars, BBQs, fireplaces or even burnt food. The great thing is, you can do it all with natural cleaners using some simple cleaning tips. Most of these natural remedies can be found in your kitchen, and if you already use natural cleaners to clean your home, then you'll probably have some of these cleaners available already.

The top two natural remedies for odor removal include white distilled vinegar and baking soda. Both of these natural cleaners have odor removal benefits since they naturally neutralize the chemicals that create odours. They also disinfect and clean items to rid them of bacteria which gets rid of other odors and mold as well. One of the natural cleaning tips you can try when working on eliminating smoke odors is to boil some vinegar on your stove in some boiling water to allow it to diffuse throughout your home. Start by adding about a cup of white vinegar to a pot on your stove and bring it to a gentle simmer.

Try diffusing the vinegar for about an hour to start and see if that takes care of the smoke odors. The diffused vinegar and steam releases the acids from the vinegar into the air which alters the molecules in the air causing the smokey odor. It will probably smell really acidic at first, but this smell will go away soon after you stop diffusing it. When you're finished diffusing the vinegar you can also just pour it down your sink and for a bonus it will also clean your sink drain and deodorize it as well.

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If you have a piece of furniture or a home that smells of smoke you will probably have to do some serious scrubbing to get rid of the smoke smell for good. Just pour a gallon of warm water into a bucket and then add at least 2 cups of vinegar. Then use a cloth to wash down all of the surfaces really well. Remember to rinse the cloth out regularly and also to replace the water when it becomes too dirty.

For smoke or tobacco stained walls and ceilings use a straight edge mop with the sponge end to scrub the walls and ceilings really well with the vinegar water. If it's an article of clothing or any other fabric, use plain vinegar to wash your clothes instead of regular detergent. Baking soda is great for carpets and upholstery that smells like smoke.

For carpets, beds and furniture, take some baking soda and sprinkle it all over the carpet or item. Then leave the baking soda on the area for at least 24 hours while the baking soda absorbs all of the odor. When you're ready, just vacuum up the baking soda and repeat until the odor is gone.

You can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil or an essential oil blend to the vinegar or baking soda to bring some other nice scents into your space. Using an air purifier with a carbon filter will also remove the traces of smoke and other odors too.