My House Smells.

[QuakerBear]

I've just moved into a new house (rented) and it seems the last occupant was a smoker Here's what I've done to get rid of the smell.

1. Open all windows as much as possible.
2. Hoover everywhere.
3. Wash curtains.
4. Sprinkle dried lavender on the carpet, leave for a day, then hoover up.
5. Burn bees wax candles.
6. Clean lots.
7. Cook nice smelling food.
8. Emulate a cow and contribute to global warming in my own special way.

As you can tell by the last point, and I'm sorry to be vulgar, I'm getting quite desperate. There's no soft furnishings left to wash. What can I do. I come home from work and it still smells horrible? I hate nasty, choking, chemical air freshners and they also set my asthma off so they're not an option. Any green ideas?

Thanks chaps.

[Millymollymandy]

Have you cleaned the windows inside? I'm afraid you'll have to wash down ALL the walls and ceilings to get it off the paintwork too.

I'm a smoker so I know it goes everywhere although I don't smoke inside the house anymore!

It took months for the smell to leave my mum's house after she gave up (soft furnishing and carpets) and I could still smell it a bit there a year later. My house with tiled floors and no soft furnishings stopped smelling within weeks of stopping smoking in the house.

[QuakerBear]

Thanks MMM. I guess I'll be washing walls tonight.

Anyone fancy coming to an un-packing and wall washing party? It'll be fun.........

[Millymollymandy]

No thanks! Been there, done that!

[Thomzo]

I would suggest washing the carpet with an anti-tobacco cleaner. Vax do one. It's not a green option but it does seem to work. Just vacuuming the carpet won't work as the smell is contained within a "tar" that is slightly oily so needs to be removed with a detergent. A friend of mine has just moved into a house with a similar problem. We vaxed and it has made a big difference. So I'd really recommend hiring a carpet cleaner.

Another non-green option is neutradol. Their air freshners do absorb smells rather then just covering them up. I've used them in the past and they really do seem to work.

Zoe

[Jobi1canobi]

Hi,

In addition to all of the above - I found this 'recipe' for an 'Old-Style' Gel Air Freshener courtesy of a book called 'Thrifty Ways For Modern Days' which is edited by Martin Lewis and the information comes from forum members at the website 'www.moneysavingexpert.com'.

Sorry I'm not sure how eco-friendly it is, but here goes...you need:

450ml (16fl oz) distilled water
Essential oil/fragrance of your choice
1 packet of gelatine
Food colouring (optional)

Heat half the water almost to boiling. Add the gelatine and stir until dissolved.
Remove from the heat and add the remaining water, 10-20 drops of oil or fragrance and the food colouring if desired.
Pour the mixture into clean baby-food jars (or similar) and set at room temperature overnight.

You can put the jars in the fridge if you need them to set more quickly, but be aware that the smell will permeate the fridge.

This works out at about 12p for a 'Glade' sized jar.

Hope that helps!

[SueSteve]

I wonder if you could use veggie gel for the air freshner??

To get rid of the smell I think you will have to wash teh walls, the paintwork etc.
You could try bicarb on the carpet, allow to dry and then hoover up.

[Jobi1canobi]

Oooh - veggie gel? Sounds interesting. How do you make that?

[SueSteve]

you can buy it in the supermarket, as an alternative to gelatine. Can be used for Jellies etc.
I have only just discovered it, have a packet in the cupboard, and will get round to using it soon! I hope!!

[Milims]

Vinegar is great for getting rid of tobacco smells - leave egg cups full in each room. Wash down furniture with warm water and vinegar applied with a well wrung out cloth - to both wood and soft furnishings - letting it dry appropriately - also works when wasing walls etc

[Jobi1canobi]

I believe that decorators use a sugar-soap solution to clean walls before they paint so that tar doesn't come through new paint so I would have thought it would work on irradicating the smell as well. You can buy this either pre- or ready-mixed. Be sure to wash it off properly though or you'll leave a powdery soap residue everywhere.

I also agree with Milims re. the vinegar in jars around the rooms and bicarbonate of soda on the carpets. Sounds good to me!

Have fun and I hope you get rid of the smell - I can appreciate it's not nice.

[Muddypause]

I wouldn't recommend sugar soap unless you are going to redecorate; it's good at cutting through grime, especially in a smoker's house, but it can leave the walls looking streaky. It's really for use before painting. But if you do try it, start at the bottom and work up, and try to stop the solution running down the walls.

For the carpets, how about hiring a carpet cleaner from your local hire shop?

[Bridgette]

BICARB IS DEFINITELY THE WAY TO GO!

Alas! I'm a 'secret smoker', so I know it works really well!
Besides sprinkling it on the carpet (only have tiles here... but would think it really difficult to vacuum up though), I mix about 2 heaped teaspoons bicarb into about 300ml warm water, then add about 10 drops of essential oils - put this into a fine mist spray bottle... and start spraying everything! Tiles, walls, soft furnishings, bedding, etc. I go through about an entire bottle a day, and nobody smells it in the house... not even in my studio (where most of the 'secret smoking' occurs) - in fact, most people ask me what I use because the house smells so nice!

Good Luck!
Bridgette

[QuakerBear]

Thanks Guys I'm going to have a really good go at it this weekend. I shall put as many of your suggestions into practice as I can.

[Jack]

Gidday

I agree with the bi-carb, but another thing to try it in all ashing water you use on walls etc. add a few drops of vanilla essence.