How to remove cigarette smoke odour from a flat: walls, textiles, windows and air

You can remove cigarette smoke odour from a flat by removing the residue that holds it: wash ceilings, walls, windows, frames and furniture with a soap solution, launder curtains, bedding and other launderable textiles, clean floors and carpets, change filters and ventilate the flat intensively for several days. If the odour from walls or carpets won't disappear, primer and repainting are needed, and possibly carpet replacement.

Why cigarette smoke odour lingers in a flat

Smoke doesn't just settle in the air. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that substances from smoking can remain in interiors for a long time, settle on hard surfaces such as walls, tables and floors, and penetrate clothing, upholstery, curtains, bedding and carpets. From there they can be released back into the air.

This phenomenon is called thirdhand smoking. That's why a flat after a smoker smells for weeks after the last cigarette is lit, and why ventilation alone or air fresheners aren't enough. Odour can only be removed by actually washing residue from surfaces, or by covering it where that's not possible, or replacing the material.

What you will need

• Two buckets (one for the cleaning solution, one for rinsing water).
• Soap solution or a general-purpose cleaner suitable for wipeable surfaces.
• Microfibre cloths, sponges and a mop with a telescopic pole for ceilings and high walls.
• Rubber gloves, and optionally protective glasses when cleaning the ceiling.
• A squeegee and cloths for windows.
• A vacuum cleaner, ideally with a HEPA filter, and replacement filters for the cooker hood or ventilation system if you have them in the flat.
• Sturdy steps or a ladder.

For each product, first read the label, work in gloves and with ventilation. Never mix chlorine-based products with acids or ammonia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that mixing bleach with other cleaning products can create fumes that are dangerous if inhaled. A more detailed overview can be found in the article Which cleaning products should never be mixed.

Step-by-step procedure

Work from top to bottom so dirty water doesn't drip onto surfaces you've already cleaned. Before you start, remove ashtrays, dispose of cigarette stubs and empty the bins.

1. Remove the textiles. Take down curtains, drapes, bedding, throws, pillows and covers first and wash them. This will free up your windows and furniture and you won't needlessly dust the textiles.
2. Test the cleaner on a hidden spot. Wipe a small section of wall behind a wardrobe or behind a door. You'll find out whether the paint can withstand wet cleaning and whether it flakes.
3. Wash the ceiling and walls. Smoke rises, so the ceiling and upper walls are usually dirtiest. Wash in small sections, rinse the cloth frequently and change the water as soon as it turns brown. After washing, wipe the surface with clean water.
4. Wash the windows, frames and windowsills. Glass usually has a greasy yellowish film. First dissolve it with soap solution, then finish cleaning with a squeegee or window cleaner.
5. Wipe doors, door frames, light switches, radiators and light fittings. Residue clings to these places and they're often forgotten. Make sure lights are switched off and have cooled down.
6. Clean furniture and cupboards inside and out. Odour lingers inside cupboards, especially if textiles were stored in them.
7. Clean the floors. Wash hard floors according to the flooring manufacturer's recommendations, vacuum carpets thoroughly and then deal with them as described in the next section.
8. Replace or clean filters. This applies to the cooker hood, air purifier, heat recovery system or air conditioning and the vacuum cleaner. Follow the device manufacturer's instructions.
9. Ventilate and check after several days. If the odour returns, the problem is in a material that cleaning didn't help, typically the paint, carpet or upholstery.

Walls and paint

Wipeable paint or latex coating can be washed with a damp cloth and soap solution. Classic limewash or cheap paint often can't withstand wet cleaning and begins to flake. That's why testing on a hidden spot is important. If the paint begins to flake when washed, you'll damage it and will have to repaint anyway.

Simply repainting with standard paint often won't fix the odour or yellowing, because nicotine stains can show through it. That's why manufacturers offer primers. For example, the manufacturer HET describes its primer as a special primer against nicotine and other stains, which is applied under the top coat and in two coats for pronounced stains. Always check the procedure, suitable undercoats and safety in the technical and safety sheet of the specific manufacturer.

Keep in mind that primer will seal the residue but won't remove it. The Thirdhand Smoke Resource Center at San Diego State University states that primer and top coats can seal residue on the wall but won't remove the chemicals from it. That's why you should always wash the walls first before painting.

Textiles, carpets and upholstery

Wash launderable textiles according to the symbols on the label, and if there's a strong odour, wash repeatedly. The same centre recommends washing clothing, toys and bedding in a washing machine, and if heavily soiled, washing them multiple times. After washing, hang curtains straight on clean windows so they don't absorb odour again from a dusty pole.

It's more difficult with things that can't go in the washing machine. According to the same source, carpets, upholstered furniture and mattresses that can't be fully immersed in water and washed will retain residue, and for heavily smoked spaces they recommend replacement. In practice this means:

• Carpets and runners: thorough vacuuming and wet cleaning (upholstery and carpet shampooing) will reduce odour. You'll find the procedure in the article How to clean a carpet at home. If the odour persists after drying, consider replacement.
• Sofas and armchairs: if the covers are removable, wash them according to the label; for the rest, clean according to the fabric type, see How to clean a sofa at home by fabric type.
• Mattresses and pillows: wash pillows and duvets if the label allows. A mattress that retains odour even after cleaning and airing usually needs to be replaced.

Air: ventilation, purifiers and ozone

Ventilation dilutes odour in the air but doesn't remove residue from surfaces by itself. The State Health Institute recommends short, intensive ventilation with windows wide open, ideally cross-ventilation, for 4–6 minutes in winter, 10–20 minutes in spring and autumn, and at least 30 minutes in summer. After cleaning a flat after a smoker, ventilate in this way repeatedly throughout the day.

An air purifier can help, but only as a supplement. The EPA states in its guide to air cleaners for the home that to remove gases and odours you need a filter with activated carbon or another absorbent, that all filters require regular replacement, and that filtration doesn't replace removing the source of pollution and ventilation. According to the same source, avoid devices that deliberately produce ozone because ozone irritates the lungs.

Ozone generators are commonly offered for removing cigarette smoke odour. However, the Thirdhand Smoke Resource Center states that ozone converts odorous substances in the air into odourless substances, whilst creating new chemicals, and won't remove residue from materials. The odour may therefore return over time.

When DIY cleaning isn't enough

According to the Thirdhand Smoke Resource Center, removing residue from a long-term smoked flat is difficult and in some cases may not be possible without more extensive refurbishment. Signs that cleaning isn't enough:

• walls yellow or smell again after washing and drying,
• paint flakes when washed and colour remains on the cloth,
• carpet or upholstery smells even after wet cleaning and drying,
• odour is stronger in built-in cupboards, suspended ceilings or around air vents.

In such a situation, washing, primer and repainting, carpet replacement and professional duct cleaning for the ventilation system are usually needed. The order is important: first washing, then painting, then final cleaning of the dust from the painters.

A smoker's flat before handing over or moving in

If you're moving out of a rental, smoking odour can cause a dispute over the deposit. Plan cleaning in advance so there's time for ventilation and possible repainting after washing. For more on what else to check, see the article Cleaning a flat before handing over to the landlord. Whether you can smoke in the flat and who bears the cost of removing the consequences is governed by the tenancy agreement; this is not legal advice and you should verify your specific situation in the agreement or with a professional.

If you're moving into such a flat, it's best to clean everything before bringing in furniture and textiles, which would otherwise absorb the odour. If you don't have time for this, Úklid 1-2-3 offers cleaning during a move; indicative scope and pricing can be found on the page How much does flat cleaning in Prague cost.