Just one whiff of an apartment you're touring will tell you whether the former tenants were smokers. That's because lit cigarettes release smoke molecules covered in small amounts of tar and oil. As cigarettes burn, these tiny particles stick to the surfaces they land on like carpets, curtains, windows and furniture. The result? Yellow or brown stained walls and ceilings and smelly residue that's difficult and sometimes expensive to get rid of.
Whether you’re moving into an apartment in Minneapolis or a house in Pittsburgh, here are ten tips for how to get rid of the smoke smell in your apartment before you move in.
Stale tobacco smells can work their way into many nooks and crannies in your apartment. Begin by opening all the windows. If you have portable fans, place them in front of the windows to help circulate the fresh air throughout the space.
Then, it's time to clean: Spray floors, walls, windows and ceilings with a mixture of half hot water and half vinegar. For really bad cigarette odors, you can use a solution made of a quarter-cup of vinegar, a half-cup of baking soda, a half-cup of ammonia and a gallon of hot water. Wash all hard surfaces thoroughly, including kitchen and bathroom cabinets plus countertops.
Toss all laundry-safe fabrics, such as curtains, bedding and sofa covers — if you're renting a furnished apartment — into the washing machine and add a half-cup of vinegar. Because the sun's UV rays may neutralize cigarette smoke odors, hang everything outside to dry if possible. For other soft furnishings like lampshades or rugs you can't machine-wash, a thick layer of baking soda can help soak up odors overnight. You can vacuum up the baking soda the next day. Be sure to get rid of the vacuum bag afterward.
For tiled surfaces in the bathroom and kitchen, mix up nine parts of water to one part of bleach. Wash everything, then rinse with water.
Strategically place bowls filled with these pantry staples in key areas where the smoke smell lingers most, such as near ashtrays, in corners of smoky rooms, or on top of furniture that absorbs odors easily like couches and upholstered chairs. Leave them there for at least 24 hours to help absorb the smoke residue. Or, fill a big pot with vinegar and bring it to a boil on your stove. Turn the heat to low and allow the steam to lift odors in the space.
If you're moving into a larger apartment, it might make sense to clean smoke-damaged surfaces with a steam cleaner, so you can cover more space quickly. Use the machine on all hard surfaces, and then wipe up any leftover water with a dry mop or clean rags.
For furnished apartments, a steam cleaner can also be used to clean sofas, armchairs, mattresses and carpets. If these items still smell once you've tried to wash them, ask the landlord if they will replace them.
Believe it or not, the lightbulbs in your apartment have probably also absorbed cigarette odors. That means whenever you flick the switch to turn on the lights, nicotine residue will float through the room — the same way scents or essential oil diffusers do.
Check your lease or speak to your landlord about getting a fresh coat of paint for your apartment once it's been cleaned. Some landlords will pay for the paint and supplies if you offer to do it yourself, while others might agree to hire professionals and split the cost with you — especially if you make it part of the agreement when you first agree to rent the apartment.
Even if the landlord won't kick in any cash, painting the walls after they've been washed will help get rid of any lingering cigarette smoke odors. Plus, it will also cover up any remaining yellow or brown stains. You can buy an odor-blocking primer to further reduce whatever smells remain. Roll it on before you paint.
Never paint over walls that have not first been cleaned. Smoke stains and odors will just start coming through the paint a few weeks later.
If your apartment has central air or heating, the filters in your HVAC system can trap smoke particles and continue to circulate the smell. Clean or replace your HVAC filters to ensure they’re not blowing smoky air around your space. In window air conditioning units, replace the filters or clean them thoroughly with soap and water to remove any buildup.
Investing in an air purifier with a HEPA filter is a great way to improve the air quality in your apartment. HEPA filters are designed to remove tiny particles, including those from smoke. Running an air purifier continuously can help capture remaining smoke particles, leaving your air cleaner and fresher.
Smoke particles cling to glass and window treatments. Wash your windows and window frames with a vinegar-water solution or an ammonia-based cleaner. If your apartment has blinds, clean each slat with a damp cloth or remove them and soak them in the bathtub with soap and water. This will help eliminate any smoke residue lingering in the windows and blinds.
Activated charcoal is another excellent odor absorber that can help pull smoke smells out of the air. You can find it at most home improvement or pet stores. Place the charcoal in shallow bowls and set them in various areas of your apartment. They work best in enclosed spaces like closets or small rooms where the smoke smell might be strongest.
If any of your fabrics—such as curtains, rugs, or upholstery—still smell like smoke, wash them with a heavy-duty detergent. If washing doesn’t eliminate the smell, you might need to consider replacing them. Fabrics can absorb smoke deeply, and sometimes the only solution is to replace the items altogether.
For apartments where smokers have lived for years, DIY cleaning isn't enough. Lingering third-hand smoke smells aren't just unpleasant, they're also unhealthy, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. So, you might need to ask your landlord to hire professionals to remove cigarette smoke odors and stains with stronger chemicals that aren't available at home improvement stores.
While professional smoke removal experts are expensive because of the time-consuming steps involved — deodorizing, ozone treatments or duct cleaning, for example — it's a worthwhile investment if your landlord wants you to renew your lease and stay in the apartment long-term.
The time it takes to remove the smoke smell depends on the severity of the odor and the methods used. Minor smoke smells can dissipate within a few days of cleaning, while more embedded odors may take weeks to fully eliminate.
Scented candles and air fresheners may temporarily mask the odor, but they won’t get rid of the underlying smell. It's best to focus on removing the smoke particles rather than covering them up.
Air purifiers with HEPA filters and activated carbon filters are the most effective for removing smoke odors. Look for models specifically designed for smoke or VOC (volatile organic compound) removal.
If the smoke smell persists after cleaning the walls, repainting with an odor-blocking primer may be necessary. Even if the walls look clean, smoke particles can penetrate the paint layers and continue to emit odors.
If you’ve tried all methods and the smoke smell persists, it might be deeply embedded in the apartment’s structure. In this case, it’s worth consulting a professional odor removal service or seeking advice from your landlord.