The Natural Way To Eliminate Nasty Smoke Smells From A Home For Good

For non-smokers, the only thing worse than a face full of second-hand cigarette smoke is the terrible odor it can leave behind. Smoke is one of the most stubborn smells to linger in your home, and because of the potential health risks it poses, it's definitely not one that you want hanging around. You'll find plenty of tips for getting rid of smoke smells, but one of the easiest ways to get rid of it involves an item you probably already have in the pantry — vinegar.

Smoke is such a difficult odor to remove because it is made up of microscopic particles. These tiny particles easily penetrate porous surfaces around the house, working themselves inside the materials. It can also leave behind a sticky residue made of tars, volatile organic compounds, and resins, which is very difficult to remove. In addition to clothing, smoke can cling to upholstery and carpeting, as well hard surfaces like furniture, drywall, ceilings, and floors. Airing out your home by opening the windows is usually the first line of defense, but if you want to get rid of smoke odors quickly, putting white vinegar in bowls is a natural way to tackle the problem.

The main component of vinegar is acetic acid, so most vinegars contain between 4 to 8% acetic acid. Its acidic nature is one of the reasons why vinegar is such a versatile cleaning tool, allowing it to break down grime like soap buildup and oil. But the acetic acid in vinegar is also what makes it such an effective odor remover. It doesn't just cover up the foul smell of smoke, though. The acetic acid actually alters the chemical composition of volatile organic compounds in smoke that give it its nasty odor, so the smell is effectively neutralized.

Fortunately, you don't have to worry about vinegar leaving its own pungent scent behind. Its odor typically dissipates when you wipe the vinegar away or when it dries completely. You can also mix it with lemon juice or lavender essential oil to help soften the sharp scent of the vinegar.

It's important to note that vinegar works best to eliminate recent smoke odors. It may not be as effective for smoke smells that have built up over the years and become embedded in the walls, carpet, and more. In those cases, you may need to pair the vinegar with other odor-neutralizing methods.

You can use vinegar to neutralize smoke odors in your home in several ways. Pour vinegar into several small bowls or plates, and place them throughout the area where you want to remove the smoke smell. Close the door, and allow the vinegar to sit for 24 hours. If the room still smells after a day, check that each bowl still has some vinegar, and let them sit for another day. You can also simmer a pot of vinegar on the stove for a couple of hours to improve its deodorizing properties. The vinegar will evaporate and circulate throughout the house to eliminate the odor more quickly.

If the walls, floors, or other hard surfaces in your home have a sticky residue from the tars and resin in smoke, you can use a diluted vinegar solution to clean them. Mix one part white vinegar with one part water in a spray bottle, and mist it over the surfaces you want to clean. Allow it to sit for a couple of minutes before wiping it away with a clean cloth.

You can also use a vinegar mixture for smoke odors the same way you would use a commercial air freshener to control gross smells in your home. Mix the vinegar with lemon juice or an essential oil, as mentioned previously. Mist it into the air of the room that smells of smoke to reduce the odor and freshen the air.