- 1). Start by airing out the apartment. Open all the windows and, if you have one, use an exhaust fan to pull out some of the lingering smoking scent. This will not eliminate the smell but it will clear the air a bit while you clean out the smoke residue.
- 2
Wash the walls first. Fill a pail with warm water mixed with a solution of vinegar and baking soda. Pour about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of vinegar and about 1/4 to 1/2 cup of baking soda into the water. Use a scrub brush and start cleaning from the bottom towards and including the ceiling. Another alternative would be to paint the rooms, with a heavy coat of high quality paint. - 3
Baking Soda absorbs odors
Remove everything that is hanging on the walls, including mirrors and wash them. Remove the drapes and dry clean or launder them. Wash the windows, inside and out. Everything, including the TV, computer and tables that have been exposed to the years of smoking must be washed, wiped down or polished. This also includes everything in the kitchen cabinets, like glasses, dishes and silverware. - 4). Clean inside every closet in the house, including your clothes closet. Wash or dry clean your clothes, and sprinkle baking soda in corners to absorb any remaining odors. Do not underestimate the stench of years of smoking. The odor reaches into every nook and crevice in the entire house.
- 5
Vacuum a few times
Understand that carpets of any type retain cigarette smoke odors--reaching deep down into the carpet padding--making it almost impossible to remove the stench. You might want to vacuum the carpet and sprinkle it heavily with baking soda to see if you can remove the odor. If, the next day, the carpet still reeks of smoke, you might want to consider buying a new carpet.
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