Introduction

You’ve made the switch to vaping and living a healthier smoke-free life, so why does everything still smell like an ashtray? Many ex-smokers are shocked to learn how pungent cigarette smoke is and how long it persists, even after they’ve quit for good. Smoke residue can pervade every aspect of your life, from your house to your car and clothing.

Even long after quitting tobacco, you may struggle to remove the lingering smell of cigarettes from your environment. As your body begins to heal itself, your sense of smell will start to improve, and the constant smell of smoke from your surroundings can become infuriating.

Quitting smoking was supposed to make you smell better, right?

So how do you remove the smell of cigarette smoke once you’ve quit? This article is going to explain everything you need to know. We’ll tell you why cigarette smoke persists for so long after quitting and provide useful cleaning tips for how to remove that acrid ashy smell from your life for good.

Let’s jump in!

What are the types of cigarette smoke that can leave an odour?

The smell of smoke can come from three different sources, first-hand, second-hand and third-hand smoke. Eliminating all of these sources is the only way to permanently remove the stale smell of cigarettes.

What is first-hand smoke?

The main cause of lingering odour comes from first hand smoke. This is the smoke you inhale and exhale whilst using a cigarette in a closed environment. It contains over 7,000 chemicals, 70 of which are known to cause cancer. These carcinogenic particles can fill a room in minutes and cling to every surface in your surroundings.

Overtime, an invisible, sticky residue will build up on walls, floors and fabrics. Regular indoor smoking will cause a yellowing of ceilings and upper walls that you may only notice once you’ve quit and begin to become aware of the smell. You’ll eliminate this source as soon as you stop smoking. However it won’t necessarily mean that you will be free of the smell.

What is second-hand smoke?

If you have quit smoking but live with someone who still smokes, then you are being exposed to second-hand smoke. Even if they smoke outside, once they come back in, a smoker is covered in smoke particles which they will also exhale onto surfaces. Second hand smoke is also dangerous and will expose you to the same harmful chemicals as first hand smoking. Asking a cohabiting smoker to smoke outside with the door closed can minimise your exposure, however, it is very likely that your house and possessions will smell.

Third-hand smoke

The residual build up of nicotine, tar and other carcinogens that is left on surfaces from smoking is called third-hand smoke. Once you’ve eliminated first and second hand smoke from your environment, you can still be affected by the residue. Contaminated surfaces from third-hand smoke can release into the air and expose you to harmful chemicals. Moreover, this build up is what ultimately causes your surroundings to continue to smell like smoke.

The only way to get rid of third-hand smoke residue is to clean all the surfaces in your home or car and wash all your fabrics.

Why do my house, car and clothes still smell of smoke after I’ve stopped smoking?

Cigarette smoke contains thousands of carcinogenic chemicals that leave a residue on your environment and personal spaces.

• Absorption - Tobacco smoke contains a mixture of gases and particles, including nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide. These particulates and gases cling to walls, furniture, car interiors and personal items. Porous materials like carpets can deeply absorb smoke particles making it difficult to remove the smell.

• Slow Release - Smoke particles can slowly release back into the air over a long period of time. This can cause the smell of smoke to linger over a period of months or even years.

• Temperature - Higher temperatures and humidity can cause smoke particles to release more rapidly. You may notice an increase in the smell of smoke during warmer months or when the heating is on.

• Difficult to clean - Smoke particles penetrate deeply into fabrics and can stubbornly stick to hard surfaces. This is why you need to clean every surface of your home or car using cleaning agents and techniques to fully remove the smell of smoke.

How to get rid of the smoke smell in your house

The three methods to remove the smell of smoke from your home are ventilation, surface cleaning and absorption. We’ll go through each step in more detail plus provide you with additional tips to get your surroundings smelling fresh again.

1. Ventilation

This is an easy one, just open your windows. This will help to circulate fresh air back into the environment. You can also use an air purification system that can be run continuously until the smell diminishes.

Opening windows may freshen up your setting temporarily, but for a more permanent solution you’re going to have to get scrubbing.

2. Surface Cleaning

Walls and ceilings can be washed down with a solution of white vinegar and water. You can also use a mild detergent, but vinegar and water might be the cheaper option. To do this, you’ll need to mix the solution in a bucket at a 1:1 ratio. Sponges and clothes can be used for easy to reach places like table tops. For out of reach areas you can use a wide flat floor mop or a telescopic wall mop. It is important to scrub thoroughly and change your solution often.

Cleaning high areas is quite an intensive exercise, so you may want to spread your clean down over a few days and go room by room to give yourself a rest.

Remember to wipe down all surfaces, including windows, doors, handles and bannisters.

Floors and carpets need to be vacuumed thoroughly, but this won’t be enough. As mentioned earlier, smoke particles can absorb deeply into fabrics. We recommend sprinkling baking soda onto all fabric surfaces first and letting it sit for an hour. Baking soda is great at absorbing smells (see more below) and can save you from having to shell out on expensive carpet and upholstery cleaning products.

If you can still smell smoke after using these methods then you may want to consider a professional carpet cleaning service to remove embedded odours.

Furniture can also be cleaned using baking soda and a vacuum cleaner. Use fabric safe cleaners to wipe down your upholstery and then sprinkle with baking soda and vacuum. Wooden furniture can be cleaned with the same 1:1 solution of white vinegar and water.

Curtains and linens need to be stripped down and washed in a washing machine with a cup of vinegar.

What absorbs cigarette smoke smell?

We’ve mentioned baking soda and vinegar are cost effective superheroes of cleaning and absorbing smoke smells. You may be wondering why and how they work.

Why is baking soda effective at eliminating odour?

Most smoke smells are acidic in nature which makes baking soda, which is alkaline, so effective at neutralising burnt tobacco compounds. Baking soda is non toxic, making it great for cleaning fabrics. It can be used in various applications:

• Sprinkle baking soda onto fabrics to absorb smells.

• Mix it into a paste to clean tiles and metal surfaces.

• Place bowls of baking soda around your house to absorb odours.

• Use baking soda with detergent in washing machines and dishwashers for a fresher clean.

How vinegar works to get rid of smells

Although vinegar is acidic, it can react with the odour causing compounds of cigarette smoke and disrupt and help neutralise them. A lot of other odours are alkaline in nature and the acetic acid in vinegar is capable of neutralising alkaline molecules and reducing the smell. The acid in vinegar is also antibacterial and great at killing odour causing bacteria like E.coli and Staphylococcus aureus. So not only will you be ridding yourself of nasty smells, but you’ll also be making your home cleaner and safer too.

Because vinegar is an acid, it is important to dilute it with water. Use one part vinegar to one part water to ensure that you don’t accidentally strip the paint off your walls!

• Use it to wipe down hard surfaces to remove stains and odours

• Place bowls of vinegar in your home to absorb alkaline odours

• Mix with water and spray fabrics such as sofas and carpets

• A cup of vinegar will also freshen up your washing appliances

Using coffee grounds to absorb bad smells

Believe it or not, coffee grounds are fantastic at eliminating odour. Nitrogen is brilliant at neutralising sulphur odours (e.g. eggs) and coffee is packed with nitrogen. It is also porous in nature allowing it to absorb and trap molecules.

And of course, coffee smells really good. Try placing a bowl or sachet of coffee grounds in a room or cupboard to absorb smells and leave a pleasant aroma. You don’t even have to use fresh coffee. Used coffee grounds can be used as a cost effective way to absorb smoke smells - just make sure you've dried them out first!

Additional Tips

Here are three more methods that can help you to eliminate the smell of smoke from your home. These shouldn’t be solely relied upon, but combined with a thorough clean, they can help maintain a fresh smelling environment.

1. Essential oils diluted and sprayed onto fabrics can be used to mask or neutralise odours. Eucalyptus, lavender and tea tree oils are highly effective.

2. Activated charcoal is another fantastic method of absorbing bad smells. Place bowls of activated charcoal round your home and replace them every few days.

3. House plants such as Spider Plants, Aloe Vera, Peace Lily and ferns are effective at not only absorbing odours, but also purifying the air.

4. Citrus peels will leave a lovely fragrance and their acidic nature will eliminate alkaline odours.

How to remove the smoke smell from a car

Vinegar and baking soda can also be used in your car. Wipe down hard surfaces with a diluted solution of one part vinegar, one part water. Leave for an hour and then wipe down again with a clean cloth.

Fabric car seats and floor areas in a car can be sprinkled with baking soda, left for an hour and then hoovered. After that, you can place a small bowl or sachet of baking soda or used coffee grounds in your car which will also absorb more odours over time.

Certain car interiors may have delicate surfaces, such as leather. In this instance you may wish to consider using a professional valet service and asking them if they perform an odour neutralisation service. Additionally you can also purchase chemical products that are designed specifically for removing bad smells from cars.

How to remove cigarette smell from clothes?

Stubborn cigarette smells on clothing can persist even after regular washing. Turning again to our trusted baking soda and vinegar combos, here are a few pre-treament steps that can be used in combination to wipe out that musty smoke smell for good.

Step 1: Clean storage - It's no use placing your newly blitzed clothes into a dirty closet or set of drawers. Remember, smoke particles will coat every surface of your home so make sure that you have thoroughly cleaned the inside of drawers and cupboards first.

Step 2: The vinegar soak - Fill a bucket or sink with luke warm water and add one cup of white vinegar. Soak the clothes for up to an hour and then wash them with your regular laundry detergent.

Step 3: Baking soda wash - After the soak, simply add a cup of baking soda to your washing machine along with your regular washing detergent and wash your clothes at the warmest temperature they can handle.

Step 4: Absorb - Place a small bowl of baking soda in and around your clothes to continue to absorb any lingering odours.

As mentioned before, vinegar and baking soda can be used to freshen up your washing machine by neutralising bad odours. Think of how long you’ve used your washing machine to clean your smelly smokey clothes. With that in mind, it may be worth cleaning your washing machine first before tackling your clothes.

How long does vape smell last?

So you’ve made the successful transition from smoking to vaping and you’ve scrubbed and cleaned the last remnants of your old life away. Whilst sitting on your freshly spruced up sofa surrounded by your new house plants and tastefully tucked away coffee grounds, you take a well earned puff on your trusty vape and think… do vapes smell?

After all your hard work, this is a thought worthy of a 2am brain torment - and it's a fair question. Vapes do smell, even if the smell is a pleasant one, there is a justified concern that continuous use indoors could result in a house that smells like Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory - which may not be ideal for some.

The good news is that most vapour dissipates rapidly and doesn’t leave an odour, certainly nowhere near the level of burnt tobacco. However, there are a few factors that can affect the duration of vape smell in your house.

You’re vaping style and e-liquid type

If you are a sub-ohm vaper that enjoys billowing out thick plumes of sweet mist then you may experience sweet odour that persists after vaping. Using the direct to lung (DTL) style involves inhaling lungfuls of thick vapour. This means that you are exhaling vast amounts of sweet particles that will cling to surfaces for longer periods of time. Additionally, vaping pungent tobacco, dessert or coffee flavours can increase the likelihood of your living room or car smelling like a fun fair.

This is less of a problem if you are using a mouth to lung (MTL) pod kit. These low powered devices are more commonly used as a replacement for smoking. They emit a very slight amount of vapour that quickly dissipates and it is unlikely that you will end up with a long lasting odour problem.

You’ve probably already noticed that vaping doesn’t make you smell. Unlike cigarette smoke, vapour does not contain any tar or acidic gases and nicotine is odourless. Your clothing and hands won’t smell after you vape - your only risk is vaping continuously in an unventilated room. With a little fresh air, any lingering smells from vaping should quickly vanish.

If you have followed our cleaning and absorption methods for removing smoke smells, then you likely have a few bowls of well placed baking soda or used coffee grounds and these will be more than enough for removing any remaining vape smells.

Conclusion

You’ve worked hard to transition to a healthier, smoke-free life. With thorough cleaning and smart absorption techniques, you can eliminate every last trace of that persistent cigarette smell from your home, car and clothes. With a little effort you can settle into a fresh and revitalised space.

When it comes to vaping, whilst it doesn’t carry the same long-lasting odours as smoking, being mindful of your vaping habits and ensuring proper ventilation will keep your place smelling clean. The combination of fresh air, houseplants and natural odour absorbers like baking soda and coffee grounds can keep any potential smells at bay.

Ready to continue your journey with the best vaping products? Visit Vape Superstore for a wide selection of high quality vapes, e-liquids and tobacco free alternatives. We’re here to support your smoke-free lifestyle with everything you need. Shop now and save with the UK’s best multi-buy vaping deals!

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