How to get rid of cigarette smell in apartment fast
Ditch the quick fixes! They don’t work! Learn how to get rid of cigarette smell in apartment fast.
I’m a professional odor remediator, and I’m going to explain how the pros get rid of cigarette smoke smell.
Read this article as I will take you through the basics and recommend the products you need to get your condo or apartment, to smell fresh again in no time.
Table of Contents
How to get rid of cigarette smell in apartment
Cigarette smoke smell is so hard to remove because the smoke molecules are tiny and sticky. The smoky odor penetrates everything porous and the smoke residue sticks on just about every surface imaginable.
There are four steps to basic odor removal
Effective cigarette smell removal (and smoke odors in general) methods always target the source of the smell, not the bad-smelling air which is a by-product of the off-gassing from the source.
- Air out the apartment. Open windows and use portable fans to get fresh air in to replace the bad smoke smell. If you can’t open windows then use an air purifier with activated charcoal air filters.
- Remove and discard items that you cannot treat, like ceiling fans, light bulbs, fixtures, etc.
- Treat all the hard surfaces with a counteractant chemical. Use a professional-grade product that penetrates the smoke smell particles and changes them at a molecular level so they don’t off-gas the odor anymore.
No baking soda or vinegar!
Wash walls, floors, cabinets, inside drawers, light bulbs fixtures, basically everything.
Why?
Because the residual that’s causing the cigarette smoke smell is everywhere.
If the cigarette smoke smell remains then you may need to apply an airborne counteractant treatment by thermal fogging or gassing. - Seal the area with a specially formulated paint to block any smoke odor particles that you missed.
Related article: 25 Tips to remove bad smells from your house
Tips for performing an effective counteractant wash
Spray all the affected surfaces and then wipe them down. This includes walls, ceilings, hardwood floors, inside cabinets, drawers, closets, etc. Anywhere you have an exposed surface you can assume there is contamination so it needs to be treated. This is not a complicated process but it can be time-consuming.
When applying the wall wash, do not let the walls dry; leave the solution on the walls for a few minutes and then wipe it off with a microfiber. The best solution have found to do this process efficiently is to use a 2-gallon sprayer with a foamer nozzle (the foamer nozzle allows more contact time instead of having the liquid quickly run down the walls.)
You can do this with rags, but for the most efficient process get a telescoping mop with a wringer bucket. Be sure to get extra velcro microfiber mop pads (approximately one mop pad one per room). This allows you to move quickly and efficiently. If you try to save a few dollars and wipe everything by hand then you’ll just make it harder on yourself. And then you are more likely to cut corners and miss areas. Believe me I have been there!
I recommend two well-regarded counteractants, Unsmoke and Tabac Attack, be used together. These products do a fantastic job of removing cigarette smoke contamination.
When more is needed then apply an airborne counteractant
In heavily contaminated apartments then it may be necessary to follow up the counteractant wash with an airborne counteractant to remove any remaining source on the areas you treated, plus treat the nooks and crannies you couldn’t get to with wall-washing.
Here are two of the best options for applying an airborne counteractant.
Thermal fogging has been around a long time and is a mainstay of cigarette odor removal of all types. It works. And it works because thermal fogging duplicates the heat and penetration characteristics of the original smoke odor contamination. The thermal fogger puts out a solvent-based fog with particles the same size as smoke odor particles.
Here are the pros and cons of thermal fogging.
- Easy to set up; thermal fogger is easy to use
- Chemicals easy to obtain
- Can leave an oily residue if too much is applied
- Many foggers tend to drip excess solvent, so safe handling precautions to keep the solvent off areas like hardwood flooring need to be taken.
- Does a poor job of penetrating the ductwork; meaning a separate duct cleaning is necessary
- Must notify local fire department to avoid false alarms from the visible smoke-like fog
- Must turn off smoke alarms
- Must wear personal protective equipment to protect eyes, skin, and respiratory penetration.
- The most serious safety hazard, when you are fogging with petroleum-based products, is the potential for explosion. Must turn off pilot lights and combustible appliances in the area.
- Pets, plants, and people must evaluate the area during treatment. The area needs to be well-ventilated before occupancy.
I recommend the Smith thermal fogger be used with OdorX’s Thermo 55 as an unbeatable combination for quick set-up and top notch performance
Option B: Chlorine dioxide gas-off
The alternative to thermal fogging is to perform a chlorine dioxide gas treatment. Chlorine dioxide, or CLO2 as it is commonly known, has gained great favor in the past few years as a disinfectant and odor removal product. CLO2 is commonly used for drinking water purification around the world. Its powerful oxidizing ability combined with no residual leftover makes it safe to use for removing cigarette smoke smells in homes.
CLO2 is my go-to product for removing smoke smell. I use it exclusively to remove cigarette smoke odors.
The CLO2 gas is commonly created by combining two A + B chemicals (one at a time!), with water in a 5-gallon plastic bucket. The gas is created and escapes the water over a several-hour period. You let it sit overnight to do it’s thing.
The CLO2 gas (or vapor) method provides better coverage than thermal fogging, and over a longer period. Once the gas is dissipated, an environmentally safe salt water solution is left in the buckets. This can be disposed of in any toilet.
Another advantage of using CLO2 in gas form is that the dwell time (time the gas is engaged with strong odor particles) is longer than for thermal fogging. The system continuously creates gas for several hours providing an extended period of odor-destroying coverage. Unlike the solvent used in thermal fogging, once the CLO2 gas has combined with the cigarette smell particles and destroyed them, there is no residue left on the surfaces. This is a big benefit to using CLO2.
- Manual set-up is easy with minimal equipment needed
- CLO2 gas will penetrate the entire house.
- CLO2 is a very strong oxidizer, but unlike ozone, will not harm fixtures in the home.
- Gas-off occurs over several hours so the dwell-time
- In the majority of smoke odor cases, a separate duct cleaning will not be needed
- Must cover smoke alarm
- Pets, plants, and people must evacuate the area during treatment.
- The area will have a slight swimming pool smell once the
- Proper eye and respiratory protection (full-face respirator) are required. Although CLO2 is not toxic to the skin, gloves and other protection would be worn to prevent contact.
Here is a great video on how to use Reset’s CLO2 products to create a vapor that will get rid of your cigarette smell problem! Please note that while the speaker is talking about using tablets, that is only for CLO2 packaged in less than 500 g kits. The 500 g kits are sold as A + B packets.
You will want to use 500 g CLO2 sized packets for smoke odor removal applications. The product is mixed with water in a 5-gallon bucket. For more efficiency set up a simple fish tank aerator with a bubble stone to oxygenate the solution so it produces CLO2 faster.
A good rule of thumb is that you will need one 500g packet for every 500 sq. ft. of living space you want to treat. This generally assumes standard ceiling height, and you might need to use more in rooms with vaulted ceilings. Use this CLO2 product calculator if you want to get more precise. (Be sure to select “Vapor” and “Mold and Smoke”.
Keep in mind that CLO2 is heavier than air and will settle. Be sure to do the following as you get set up:
- Turn AC to 72 degrees F. You want the house cool, not hot
- Set fan to ON for continuous running. This will help move the gas around the home, as well as treat the HVAC system.
- Turn on all celling fans to promote air circulation
- Use portable fans facing up in rooms with high vaulted ceilings to ensure full coverage
Sealing with special paint is your safety net
The final step is to seal the affected area with an odor-blocking paint that prevents any remaining odor molecules from off-gassing.
You only seal after you can no longer smell any cigarette smell.
There are several different sealant products on the market. One option is to use specially formulated paint, like Kilz, which acts as a barrier and stops any odor particles from escaping. (Be sure to use oil-based and not latex-based Kilz for odors.)
The other option is to use an encapsulating sealant. This is a type of paint that surrounds or encapsulates the cigarette smell causing particles that might be left. Encapsulants are more expensive but more effective than sealant barriers because they wrap around the odor particles. VaporLock is a great encapsulating sealant for all surfaces. It comes in white color but is also available in clear for use on surfaces where you want the original color to show, like wood floors. The nice thing about Vapor Lock is that it is latex-based and really easy to apply.
In most cigarette smoke odor removal situations, Kilz will do the job. If you have a really bad odor situation and are concerned about deeply embedded odor-causing particles eventually making their way to the surface, then spend a few more dollars on an encapsulant.
Just remember: Regular paint will not do the job.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE)
When using chemicals of any type it is important to carefully read the manufactures directions for use and follow all safety precautions.
At a minimum, when thermal fogging or using CLO2 gas, you will want to have a full-face respirator, latex or nitrile gloves and a Tyvek type body suit to protect your skin against spills and the vapor itself.
Familiarize yourself with the each product’s Safety Data Sheet. These will usually be available on the manufacturers’ websites. If not, you can always Google the product name followed by the words “safety data sheet” or “SDS”.
Pro Tips
- You want a full face respirator that covers your eyes and nose. This model is extremely comfortable and easy to adjust for fit.
- Do not try to use an N95 face mask which will not work!
- Special cartridges are sold that cover the major VOCs that you need protection from. I’ve included the specific cartridges for CLO2 in this link.
- It’s a good idea an extra set so when the cartridges become depleted (it can happen immediately) you have backups ready to go.
- You can’t go wrong with DuPont Tyvek. But any suit is acceptable as long as it protects against spills and splashes. Pros always buy one size larger. You can always roll the legs up on the bigger sizes, and tighter-fitting suits can be super hard to get off and on.
FAQ
How long does it take for cigarette odor to clear out of a rental unit? How long does smoke smell last in the house?
First, it is important to stop the source from creating more bad smells, and that will happen as you complete steps 1-4. Even so, there are smoke odor particles in the air and they do take time to clear out!
What do I do for a smokey smell from my HVAC system?
The HVAC system needs to be treated if you can smell an odor coming from the ducts.
In my experience, thermal fogging will not eliminate the smoke odor residue from the HVAC system. This is because it is very hard to get the fog to travel the entire length of the duct system. Chlorine dioxide gas, on the other hand, will travel through the ducts without any issue. Make sure you do the following:
If you decide to get the ducts cleaned, then request a cigarette odor counteractant be applied as well. In chronic long-term smoke odor environments, the HVAC coils may also need to be cleaned.
Do I need to replace my carpets if they smell like smoke?
No one wants to replace carpets unless you have to. In heavily contaminated homes, where there has been long-term tobacco use, you almost always have to discard the carpet. And treat the subfloor with a counteractant followed by sealant paint.
In between light and heavy contamination is the gray zone where you might be able to save the carpet. Go ahead and try baking soda, and if that does not work, find a professional carpet cleaner with experience dealing with cigarette smell in carpets.
What is the best cleaner to use to remove nicotine and cigarette odor from the walls of a rental property? Will vinegar take smoke off walls?
Unsmoke and TabacAttack are the best products to remove smoke particles and their residues from the walls. Vinegar is a poor substitute for either of these products.
Do essential oil diffusers work to get rid of smoke?
An essential oil diffuser can stand in for an air purifier if you don’t have one. But by covering up smoke smells it won’t remove the residues from surfaces that are causing the odor in the first place. They can help mask secondhand smoke.
Can you paint over smoke-stained walls in a rental property?
You should never paint over smoke-stained walls until you have properly treated the area with chemicals designed to remove the odor-causing proteins. Painting over smoke-stained walls prevents you from further training the area, but will allow the particles to escape causing you real problems with your prospective tenants!
Does kilz remove the smoke odor? Will kilz cover heavy nicotine stains?
Kilz does not remove smoke odors. Kilz is a masking agent. It covers up any odor-causing materials. Kilz should only be used after the area has been treated with counteractant chemicals, as any odor-causing material is likely to seep through over time, even with Kilz.
Can baking soda get rid of smoke and remove smoke smells?
Sprinkling baking soda on a carpet can help absorb some smoky smell. But baking soda will not remove enough of the tar and nicotine residues that are causing the smoking odors.
What absorbs cigarette smoke smell?
Odor counteracting granules can be effective at getting rid of the smoke smell in the air. Air purifiers can also be outfitted with special air filters (activated charcoal) which will help remove the odor particles from the air.
For really light odors in carpets and upholstery, you can try to sprinkle baking soda around the room to help remove some of the odor, but it will not remove the residue, which causes the nasty smell, for example, in cloth furniture.
Wrap-up and conclusion
In conclusion, the best way to remove a bad cigarette smoke smell is to use a proven process along with products that are specifically developed to remove the odor-causing smoke proteins. These products can be purchased easily as long as you know what to look for and how to use them.
Quick fixes and DIY natural odor absorbers can help absorb some of the odors, as will an air purifier, but they will not remove the residue which is causing the problem in the first place.
Problems with smoke odor in your car? Check out our article on removing cannabis and cigarette smoke smells from a vehicle.
