Along with being unhealthy, cigarette smoke can lead to nicotine and tar stains on everything in the home, including the walls. These stains hold in the odor of cigarettes, so the best way to get rid of the smell of cigarettes is to clean the room thoroughly.
If you’re a renter or if you’ve recently bought a home where the previous tenant was a smoker, the following are the steps needed to clean and completely remove cigarette smoke damage in a house in Springfield Missouri.
Vacuum the Room
Start by vacuuming both floors and even the walls in the room. Use an upholstery brush attachment to loosen any debris on the walls and help get as much off as possible.
Start Deep Cleaning
Use hot water, dish soap, and baking soda to make a cleaning solution, and scrub the floors and the walls using a rag. Do small parts of the wall at a time and dry with a cloth immediately to prevent the drywall from getting wet.
Undiluted vinegar, lemon juice, or ammonia can be used in a spray bottle on the walls. It is crucial to have good ventilation and to follow safety measures when using ammonia to avoid health issues. Spray on the wall and scrub with a sponge, then wipe the walls with clean water and dry.
This process may need to be repeated for deep-set stains. If the stains are very deep, remove all fixtures from the walls and use a paint scraper to remove as much as possible from behind the fixtures. Once all of the stains are removed, the walls should be good to go again.
When there are tougher stains, try using a mixture of warm water and salt and scrubbing with a clean rag. If the stains are gone, but the smell remains, use a mixture of vodka and warm water and spray it on the walls right after cleaning them. Do not let people or pets in the room until it is dry. The smell may remain slightly but should dissipate with some time.
Try Sanding
Removing the stains from textured walls can be more difficult. Using a drywall sander to sand down the walls can make it easier to smooth out the walls and remove the stains, but the walls will need to be repainted.
Fresh Coat of Paint
If the smell still remains, it may be necessary to repaint the walls. Use a primer designed for neutralizing odors, as this will block the smells and create a wall that’s ready for new paint.
Preventing Future Stains
The only way to prevent future stains is to prevent anyone else from smoking in the room and prevent any smoke from entering. If a guest is smoking outdoors, close the windows and doors to the room so smoke can’t enter as easily. Also, regularly clean out ashtrays when smoking outside to prevent stains and smells.
Most stains and smells from cigarette smoke can be cleaned with a little bit of hard work and some trial and error to figure out what works best. However, if you ever need help removing cigarette smoke damage in a house in Springfield Missouri, call the professionals at PuroClean Certified Restoration. They’ll get the job done right.