Betty asked: How do I remove smoke smell from a bedroom, feather boas, dream catchers, etc. I had a small fire in my bedroom from a heating pad that was left on. I can’t get the smell out of the bedroom or the box spring. I have several feather things and fur stuff. How can I clean this and get the smell out?
Smoke smell can be strong and difficult to remove when the items cannot be washed. In these cases, it may take more time, but there are other odor-absorbing methods that can be used. Choose from the list below to find an option that works for you.
Fresh Air Method
You Will Need:
- Clothes line or Drying rack
Steps to Remove the Smoke Smell:
- When items cannot be washed or dry cleaned, sometimes the only way to remove the smell is to allow them to air out.
- Place a drying rack outdoors or near an open window. If possible, use a clothesline, but avoid leaving items in direct sunlight or they may fade.
- Hang the affected items on the rack and allow the fresh air to move through them.
- Leave them outside for several hours, repeat for several days if the smell persists.
Baking Soda Method
You Will Need:
- Baking soda
- Brown paper sack
Steps to Remove the Smoke Smell:
- Baking soda absorbs unwanted odors well and can be used for items such as feather boas, stuffed animals, wigs, etc. that cannot be washed or cleaned with other methods.
- Place the item in a brown paper sack.
- Add baking soda to the bag.
- Close the bag by folding over the top.
- Shake the bag gently to move the baking soda around and cover all areas of the object.
- Allow the baking soda to set on the object for several hours.
- Take the bag outside and remove the item.
- Shake the item to remove the excess baking soda.
- Repeat as necessary until the smell is removed.
Coffee Grounds Method
You Will Need:
- Fresh coffee grounds
- Brown paper sack
Steps to Remove the Smoke Smell:
- Place the smoky item inside of the brown paper sack.
- Add fresh coffee grounds to the bag.
- Close the bag and allow the coffee grounds to absorb the odors for several hours to overnight. It is not necessary to shake the coffee grounds around or place them directly on the item. As long as they are in the bag, they will absorb odors.
- Remove the item and shake off coffee grounds, if necessary.
- Repeat until the smell is removed.
Vinegar Method
You Will Need:
- White vinegar
- Water
- Spray bottle
Steps to Remove the Smoke Smell:
- If the item can tolerate moisture, vinegar is a great odor-fighter.
- Fill a bottle with one part vinegar and one part water. For especially strong odors, straight vinegar can be used.
- Test a small, hidden area on the piece by spraying some of the vinegar onto it. Allow it to set for several hours. If there are no unwanted effects to the surface or color, it should be safe to apply the vinegar to the entire piece.
- Mist the piece lightly with the vinegar and water mixture.
- Allow it to air dry.
- There may be a slight vinegar smell which will dissipate in a few days.
Additional Tips and Advice
- If the item can be dry cleaned, that may be a quick way to clean it and remove the smoke smell.
- Depending on the severity of the smoke damage, it may take time and repeated applications to fully remove the smell from the item. As long as the item is not becoming damaged from the method, it is safe to repeat it multiple times.
- For the most sensitive items, it is best to leave them outside, in the shade, on a breezy day. The air movement will flush the odor from the item.
Thanks for the hints. I have lost count of the things I’ve tried on four jackets I have. They were stored for 31 days in Georgia, and some young boys decided to smoke in the storage room. Now I have the trouble of getting rid of the smell. The dry cleaners charged $73.20 to do “special” treatments but they should be arrested for robbery since I don’t think they did anything but take money. I am airing them out now.
A method I saw (but haven’t tried yet) on a Harley Davidson forum to remove really bad smoke from a jacket was to put about a dozen dryer sheets into the dryer with the jacket (or clothing item) and four or so tennis balls (not kidding). Turn it on, no heat, for about 45 minutes. Multiple people said it did wonders. I’m trying it on a jacket this weekend. Cross your fingers.
I have a special edition 1998 Furby that unfortunately smells of cigarette smoke. I had thought about using baking soda, but I thought it might make the fur crusty if I had to dampen the fur to get off all the baking soda. As it is a special edition, I really don’t want to have to take the fur off, although I will if it is absolutely necessary. That said, if anyone can tell me which method would probably be best for my specific condition, it would be greatly appreciated.
Kristopher,
You are correct that for faux fur items, baking soda will be difficult to remove from the fur because it is such a fine powder. However, you can use the baking soda or coffee grounds method without having them touch the fur; just use a plastic container or a box instead of a bag. Sprinkle the baking soda or coffee grounds on the bottom of the box, put a cookie sheet over the baking soda and put the Furby on the cookie rack. Close the box and leave the Furby in the box overnight or for several days.
The fresh air method or vinegar method could work just as well also. However, some faux fur items can be damaged by water, so it is probably best to try the vinegar method last.
Source: BookThink – How to Remove Odors from Books
Source: HowToCleanStuff.net – How to Clean Faux Fur
Great! Baking soda removed the odor left behind by dry cleaning my down-filled anorak, but now, how to I remove the baking soda? Even when using a vacuum cleaner to gently vacuum the material, a sizeable amount of residue remains.
I purchased a handmade wool knit cape from Europe. It reeks of cigarette smoke. How can I get rid of the odor?
Judith,
Select a method from the article, such as the Coffee Grounds Method, and follow the steps in that section to remove the smell. It may take several treatments of a method for the smell to be removed completely. If repeated treatments still have not removed the smell, try using one of the other methods.
How do I get rid of the cigarettes smell on a sky box and a DVD player?
Thanks.
Robert,
You can use either the baking soda method or the coffee method, just modify it to fit with your item. For example, instead of putting the DVD player in a paper bag with the baking soda, put it in a plastic storage tub. Also, you don’t want the DVD player to actually touch the baking soda or coffee grounds, as it could get into the electrical areas. To avoid that, sprinkle the baking soda or coffee in the container, then put cookie racks or blocks on top of the baking soda, and set the DVD player on the blocks.
Source: BookThink – How to Remove Odors from Books
I had a ‘dry clean only’ expensive wool duvet given to me that was my grandmother’s and she was a heavy smoker so it was pretty yucky, but I assumed dry cleaning would get rid of it. It didn’t; it almost smelled worse afterwards and cost me about $60. So, I decided that I would try washing it in the bath in laundry detergent, then white vinegar, and dry it outside in the sun. I figured if I ruined the blanket I had nothing to lose as I couldn’t use it smelling the way it did. It worked; the blanket is totally fine and best of all, smells clean!
Hi, I just recently bought a camera bag and it smells like cigarettes something fierce. It is way too big to put into a brown paper bag. What is the best method of getting rid of the smoke smell?
Thank you,
Amanda
Amanda,
Just use something large enough to hold the camera bag like a plastic storage bin. If you don’t have something big enough, use the vinegar method.
Uh oh…I just put a black lined spring/fall coat in a bag with baking soda and shook it real good. This was to remove the smell of cooking from it. I’m afraid to see how the baking soda will or won’t come off. What do I do if it won’t come off?
Carole,
Baking soda is a very fine powder, so you may need to vacuum the coat with an upholstery brush on the hose to remove all the powder.
If that doesn’t work, try putting some white vinegar on a cloth, wring the cloth so it’s not dripping, then blot the baking soda. There will be a fizzing on contact as the acid in the vinegar reacts with the baking soda, which is a base. Let it fizz, then blot the area with plain water to rinse.
Sourrce: Yahoo Answers – Baking soda won’t come out of carpet
I would not mix vinegar and baking soda on anything you don’t want ruined. The reaction could damage the item. People use this mixture to clear drains. JMO.
Hi Lynette,
Yes, this is a great mixture for cleaning the drain. When baking soda and vinegar mix, they foam up and the bubbles released act as scrubbers the same way the club soda does when applied to a stain. Usually this type of reaction does not damage fabrics as it’s so mild, however, you make a good point that it is certainly possible that damage could occur, so it’s always best to test any new mixture on a small hidden area first.
Hello, I just recently purchased a pair of matte black sunglasses, but they smell from cigarette smoke. I want to try the methods above, but I worry they might affect the color; any tips on which if safe to use on sunglasses, or if there’s an alternative way? Thanks.
Julian,
The best method would be to use either baking soda or coffee grounds. You don’t have to use a bag in the exact way described. For example, you can put a bowl in the bag, fill the bowl with one of the deodorizers (baking soda or coffee grounds), then rest the sunglasses over the top of the bowl and close the bag. That way, the sunglasses don’t have to come in contact with the powder and risk getting stained or scratched (baking soda is a mild abrasive). Another option is to use a cookie rack and a box – sprinkle baking soda in the box, set the rack on top, lay the sunglasses on the rack, and shut the box. As long as the sunglasses are in a small enclosed space with the deodorizer, it should work.
We recently were gifted a faux leather couch. It smells of smoke. Would vinegar and water, misted, remove the odor?
Chris,
Yes, that could work. This is the guide you need: How to Remove Cigarette Smell from Leather. Good luck!
Do you think in general in a room instead of Febreze a vinegar solution would be a good daily spray? I only smoke in one room and try to keep it contained and windows open as much as possible.
Jen,
Unfortunately, neither method is a great long-term solution. By using a daily spray, the product will build up on surfaces. For fabric surfaces like upholstery and carpeting, this will lead to dirt (and possibly smoke as well) sticking to the residue. (See the guide How to Remove Carpet Stains that keep Reappearing for more info.) If you want to use a deodorizing spray anyway, the vinegar would be a better choice since it’s natural whereas Febreze may contain carcinogens or other toxins.
A better solution might be a smoke grabber or smokeless ashtray.
You can also try room deodorizers like any of the bamboo charcoal bags or the Arm & Hammer Nursery Fresheners, or even a homemade one like a bowl of fresh coffee grounds. Smoke can easily migrate between rooms, so it’s a good idea to put one in the rooms you don’t smoke in as well.
There are also candles that are specifically made to eliminate smoke odors.
You can also consider getting some air cleaning plants.
Regularly washing the walls will also help to cut down on the smell as the smoke residue builds up. See the guide How to Remove Tobacco Stains from Walls and Ceilings for tips.
The best/easiest option of course is probably not what you want to hear, but nicotine leaves your system in about 72 hours, so that’s just a bad weekend (or a good weekend if you do a bunch of smoke-free things you enjoy to pass the time like going to some movies or doing a mud mask, or even going to a hookah bar that has nicotine-free sheesha if needed) and then you won’t have to repeatedly wash the walls.
Good luck!
Source: SustainableBabySteps – The Dangers of Febreze
Source: EWG – Febreze cleaner ratings
Source: Mother Nature Network – Cleaning cigarette smells with plants
Source: SmartHealthKick – How Long does Nicotine Stay in Your System? The Ultimate Guide to Quick Nicotine Elimination
What works for felt item?
Carrie,
Although any of these tips could work to remove the smell on felt, the best choice will be the one that is closest in color to the felt to avoid stains. For example, baking soda is a fine white powder and on black felt, it might be difficult to fully remove all the residue from it. For colorful fabrics, white vinegar or fresh air may be best. If you don’t apply the product directly on the felt, then any can be used. For example, sprinkle the powder into the bag or a box, set a cookie rack on top of the powder, and place the item on rack, then close the bag and don’t move it – that way the powder won’t touch the item. Good luck!