Old Cigarette Smells - YEUCH

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

I'm looking for advice from smokers and non-smokers alike. Okay, so hubby and I moved just over 3 months ago. Love the flat, love the area. It was an old couple who lived here before and well they smoked like chimneys and never opened a window. I've stripped all of the old paper off, stripped back kitchen to the bare bones and replaced, ordered in new doors (still waiting for delivery and I've dumped the old ones) BUT.... we can still smell ciggies (sp?) especially in living room. I know nicotine can leach into plaster, behind wood eg door surrounds, skirting. What else can I do to get rid of the smell? Has anyone else had the same problem? Just don't tell me I need to remove the plaster and redo all the walls - I don't have enough pennies Anyone?

[Dianne1234567]

Have you tried Febreeze or some sort of strong airfreshener. I would have thought if you kept trying this, then eventually the smell would go.

[piskieinboots]

lots of open windows, time and patience will remove it. Have you notice how most pubs now have no cigarette smells in them and they won't have redec'd for sure (in most cases)

Fabreze works in certain areas - as does bamboo charcoal, google is your friend

[rustylady]

Make sure carpets and curtains are cleaned if they've been left. Other than that, open the windows as much as possible. The smell will go in time.

[FROSTYFRECKLE]

All the flooring and floorboards are new. I have a bottle of febreze on permanent standby. The walls have been washed with flash, sugarsoap, and a cleaner that is meant to remove nicotine smells (smells like marzipan). We are bods that like fresh air so windows are open a lot. Flat used to smell like an old mans pub because of the ciggy smell, this is the last remnants of the smell and it won't shift. So what are we missing? More ideas please? Just noticed piskieinboots suggestion of bamboo charcoal - I'm away to try and find a supplier, many thanks.

[Incy]

Febreeze really works wonders. I have used it for years very successfully. Spray loads and let it dry naturally if things get damp.
I have also been told that washing using a biological washing powder is great for removing smells of all sorts as the enzymes absorb them.
Carpets and curtains are the worst offenders for absorbing odours so focus on those, I doubt that the plaster is the culprit but you could try washing it down with the washing powder method if you think it does smell.

[BumbleB]

Sugar soap is the best for washing down walls and new gloss paint will often drown out smells. I agree that its carpets and furnishings that hold the smell and non smokers will detect the smells even after Febreze etc. A continuous pot pouri bowl will also help.

[di]

Ceilings?Have you washed or painted them?
I burn Lemongrass oil to rid nasty smells...and lots of open windows!
Hope you get rid of it soon.x

[kirsty b]

I was going to say lemongrass oil, but Di beat me to it!! Seems you have tried everything.

[JILLY JACKSON]

My daughter has the same problem.No carpet or curtains to blame.Sugar soaped and decorated most rooms including the ceilings.The kitchen and bathroom are the last we need to tackle,hopefully the smell will go then.The next door neighbours told us that they complained to the council about it as the smoke went through to their flat!!There are storage heaters there so maybe they could be holding onto the smell.Frostyfreckle,you have my sympathy and i hope that you manage to get rid of the smell very soon.

[hamsterqueen]

bicarb solution?

[weekendwellies]

My house smelled of old people when we moved in. That sickly sweet flowery smell, you know? It went very quickly and now smells of us.
I agree with the open windows and febreze solutions. Also if the carpets and curtains are still there the ciggie smell will stick until you give them a good shampooing.
As you decorate and live in it, it will become yours and the smell of ciggies will go.

[seasprout]

Get a smelly old dog...that should hide the smell of fags.

[enrich100]

This link might help no 10 especally, people usually forget about the lightbulbs and each time you turn them on it will heat up anything smelly

How To Remove Cigarette Odor: Car & Home Smoke Removal

although I used to smoke, I never smoked in the house so have never had to use any of these solutions I think the bicarb and Charcoal would work as these are used in air and water filters
hope it helps just a little bit

[Alison]

Bloke that lived here before us used to smoke, a lot. There was a dark ring of tar on the ceiling above where they had their bed which was very yeuck. The worst though was the bathroom. All four walls tiled and when I turned on the hot water in the shower the condensation that formed was brown and smelt of fags. Made me want to hurl. Ended up spending the first month or so stinking permanently of bleach as I scrubbed the place. They weren't the cleanest either so suppose a good scrub was needed anyway. The smell does eventually go, it just takes time, I found heavy cleaning, lot of nice cooking smells, candles, pot pourri etc etc worked eventually. Don't like fabreeze or commercial air fresheners but a few drops of essential oil in rings on the light bulbs of small lamps worked really well. You can also buy magnets which you can add oils to which stick to the radiator and put out nice smells as the radiator heats up - not much use at this time of year but worth bearing in mind if you're still struggling come winter (it was December for us and too foul to open the windows much!)