How do you keep a smoker's house smelling nice?
By Julie Decker from KY
I mean no offense, but I grew up with 2 heavy smokers, and we lost our sense of smell. I never noticed until I got married and moved out! I don't think you keep a house smelling clean, as long as people smoke indoors daily. When I have visitors that insist on smoking in my home (my mother) I set out bowls of ammonia on surfaces where they can't be seen (behind the photos on the tv, top of bookcases, etc). When she leaves, the liquid it brown! I leave it out till the morning, then pour it down the sink.
I do not smoke but my family does. Two things I/we have done are: anyone smoking has to have a candle lit near them. I understand the special smoker's candles are better, but we have always used voltive candles. The flame of the candle absorbs the smoke in the air, it does not get on clothes etc. I live alone, my kids smoke when they are here and first thing they do is light the candle before the cigarette (or mom will get after them).
I saw on "How Clean Is Your House?", Kim told a smoker to put baking soda in the ash trays. You can put some lavender essential oil on light bulbs and a few drops with the baking soda in the ash trays.
As far as drawers, closets, car, etc. you can make pomanders by using any citrus fruit: lemon, lime, orange, mandarin and poking holes all over it and placing whole cloves in those holes. Let cure for 1 month and place anywhere you want to have your air fresher.
Open windows and doors when the weather permits and allow air to circulate. Use fans to help circulate air. Use an air purifier and/or air purifying indoor plants. There are plants that thrive in no light at all. Just check on the web and do your research.
When you clean and wipe things down in your home, use a vinegar/water mixture and make it smell better by adding a little lavendar essential oil to it. Vinegar is a really good smoke odor remover. There are many essential oil scents. Just do your looking at places like Super Supplement or GNC.
I don't recommend any strong chemicals because I don't think they work as well. Before you vacuum, sprinkle baking soda on the carpet and sofa and chairs. Let sit for 10 to 30 minutes and vacuum it all up.
If you are just "hanging out" and smoking is part of the fun, open a window and /or turn on a fan. Put some essential oil on light bulbs and make sure the ash trays are ready with baking soda in them.
You can also burn incense at the same time while you are smoking. Those are my ideas guys, hope they are helpful.
Remember, there are many people out there with asthma and smoking outside isn't always the answer for that reason because the wind may be blowing it into someones windows that has asthma and a few minutes later they are forced to use their rescue inhaler, ll because someone thought it would be better to smoke outside.
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I am under house arrest, in my brother's home. My brother is a heavy smoker, it's his house, and his wife is a heavy smoke also. I don't smoke; I hate it. What can I do to get a smoke free environment? Asking them to just stop, is out of the question. I have bought candles to try and help to no avail.
the thing to do is to make your room a smoke free sanctuary, and make sure that at least in your room you are free of that
- if you can afford it, you can purchase an air purifier with an activated carbon filter - homeairguides.com/
- launder every cloth surface in the room, including the carpet. THat means, bedding, sheets, pillows, curtains, etc. Rent a carpet cleaner, or use baking soda to clean it
- leave a cup of coffee grounds around. This absorbs odours
- leave a cup of vinegar. The smell combats the tars that create odours. If you can, via having a microwave oven or hot plate in the room, heat up the vinegar to activate the odour-removing properties. Another thing to do if you can heat water is to heat orange peels.
- leavce these activated charcoal satchets around, they absorb odours - www.amazon.com/
Here are some guides with more ideas:
Can you go outside? I would try to get as much fresh air as possible. Its not just the smell, its also what it does to your lungs and health.
I understand the health concerns, but you are in someone else's home, and it's their home, so they can do what they want. Hopefully you have your own space. Charcoal does absorb the odors. It would be nice if you could convince them to stop smoking, but I wouldn't count on it.
I assume you have some kind of probation or pre-trial officer assigned to this case. You could tell him/her your situation and maybe they can move the location of your house arrest.
Can you open your bedroom window several hours daily and freshen the air? You could replace the a/c filter weekly, also there is a product that's enzymatic sold by tobacco stores and online called Odor Exterminator. It comes in many scents. A Himalayan salt lamp neutralizes negative ions and removes them. So in your brothers area use the spray , in your area use spray plus get a salt rock lamp. I know Bed Bath and Beyond sells them. One last thought is a diffuser humidifier with essentials oils in it.
Washing everything in your room, opening a window (even just a crack), a small container of vinegar, a Himalayan salt lamp and a spritz of Febreeze might help. Don't forget to keep your bedroom door closed.
i have the same problem but with my parents try getting incense and keeping your bedroom door closed at all times. if you have a window open it during the day. vacuum your room often if you have carpet. if your clothes smell bad put a dryer sheet in your drawers. 3 or 4 times a month put your bed set either in a dryer with dryer sheets or let them air out side then put baby powder and backing soda on your mattress before you put your bed set back on. try not to keep dirty cloths in your room they collect smoke.
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Having a nice smelling home is hard at times. We have smokers here and also 2 dogs and a cat, so pet odors are more than likely present. I'm wondering if anyone has some ideas on how I can keep my house smelling clean and fresh.
