How to Get Rid of Cigarette Smell in a Rental Property

MIAMI - Aug. 3, 2021 - PRLog -- The smell is pervasive and it's hard to tell what area(s) you should target first.

The odor infecting your rental is known as thirdhand smoke—the residual contamination left behind from use of tobacco products like cigarettes and cigars.

So how do you get rid of that cigarette smell?

Form a plan of attack and take it one step at a time.

Air out your rental.

To begin with, you need to air out your rental unit. Open all of the windows and blinds (or curtains). Then use fans on opposite sides of the rental property, one facing out and one facing in, to push out stale air and draw in fresh air. Turn on any ceiling fans you may have available to help out.

Start at the top.

Wash the ceilings with the cleaner of your choice. Smooth ceilings can be wiped down with a washcloth while popcorn ceilings can be misted with a spray bottle of cleaning solution. Be sure to sanitize the tops of the ceiling fans as well.

From the windows to the walls.

Thoroughly clean all of the windows, window coverings (blinds, curtains, etc.), and walls next. If the smell lingers for a while after cleaning your windows and walls, consider replacing your window coverings and repainting your walls and ceiling.

Deodorize carpets.

An effective way to get the smoke smell out of your carpets and rugs is to sprinkle baking soda over the affected areas. Let the baking soda sit for 30 minutes to one hour before vacuuming. If the cigarette odor persists, consider renting a carpet cleaning machine, hiring professional carpet cleaners, or replacing your carpeting altogether.

Mop the floors.

Once you get your carpeting squared away, tackle the hardwoods and tile. Sweep the flooring before you mop the area with your choice of disinfectant.

Clean the counters and cabinets.

Cigarette smell even gets trapped on counters as well as the interior and exterior of cabinets! Wipe down all cabinets and counters with cleaning solution. Then, leave the cabinets and drawers open to air out and dry.

If the smoke odor lingers after you've cleaned everything, try keeping bowls of dry coffee grounds or white vinegar in the offending cabinets or drawers for a few days to get rid of the cigarette smell.

Think about installing a cigarette smoke detector as well. According to a 2013 survey, smoking in the home can reduce property resale value by nearly 30 percent.

Winston Rowe and Associates prepared this article you can contact them at https://www.winstonrowe.com