How Long Does A Cigarette Smell Last?

• Why does the cigarette smoke odour last so long?
• How to get rid of the cigarette smell
• How do professionals remove the cigarette smoke odour?
• Ways to prevent a cigarette smoke odour in your home
• Contact us today

The lingering odour of cigarettes in a property can last for several months or even years after someone smoked there. You must have it removed or it could put people’s health at risk.

Here at ICE Cleaning, we offer our thorough and effective cigarette smoke odour removal services across the UK. Our odour neutralisation experts use non-abrasive, non-toxic products and industry-leading equipment to eliminate trapped smells.

Read on to find out why the tobacco odour is so stubborn and how to get rid of the cigarette smoke smell.

Why does the cigarette smoke odour last so long?

The smell of tobacco in smoker’s homes is caused by thirdhand smoke. This consists of all the pollutants released by a cigarette settling onto surfaces in your home.

These harmful chemicals like naphthalene and nicotine fall like dust on hard surfaces and sink deep into soft surfaces like upholstered furniture. The pollutants are very difficult to get rid of without specialist cleaning equipment and can therefore last a very long time.

Smoking indoors also causes nicotine and tar staining on surfaces, too. This traps the odour in your home and leaves behind a sticky, yellow coating on your property and possessions.

Thirdhand smoke does not just make your smell unpleasant - it can put your health at risk, as well. The pollutants mix with gases in the air to produce dangerous, cancer-causing compounds.

Should you touch and ingest the pollutants, or inhale the gases the thirdhand smoke releases, you could be in danger of serious health problems including lung cancer.

If you have children, they are particularly vulnerable as they might put their hands in their mouth after touching contaminated surfaces.

How to get rid of the cigarette smell

To eliminate the odour, you need to remove all the thirdhand smoke particles in your home, and clean up the nicotine and tar staining.

There are lots of DIY methods shared online that claim to get rid of the odour, like keeping windows open, wiping surfaces with white vinegar, or sprinkling baking soda over them. But these hacks tend to be ineffective.

Deep cleaning and airing out your home, for example, cannot remove the particles that have sunk deep into your furniture. Wiping down hard surfaces might get rid of some of the thirdhand smoke, but it will not remove the smell for good.

Some of these hacks just mask the smell, too. The odour will likely return and the danger posed by thirdhand smoke will still be present.

As the particles stick to and sink into every surface, deep cleaning your home may be a very extensive process that might not get rid of the odour.

You should bring in professional cleaners for smoke smell removal as they will have the specialist equipment and expertise to tackle the entire odour. They can give you peace of mind that your home will be safe and odour-free.

How do professionals remove the cigarette smoke odour?

ICE Cleaning’s technicians follow a six-stage process to remove all the odour. This includes using an odour neutralisation foam to get rid of the nicotine and tar staining, and an ozone treatment to ensure the smell has been eliminated entirely. 

They can also use professional equipment to lift out all the thirdhand smoke particles of upholstery and other porous, soft surfaces.

Ways to prevent a cigarette smoke odour in your home

Although you should leave odour neutralisation to the professionals, there are lots of things you can do to stop the smell returning:

• Stop smoking inside your home: this will prevent the pollutants falling onto nearby surfaces. You should also try to smoke a short distance away from your property as a breeze can blow the smoke indoors.
• Ventilate your home while smoking: this may clear some of the smoke so less pollutants settle on surfaces, minimising the odour.
• Repaint affected walls: this can trap thirdhand smoke residue so the walls don’t release the odour into your home.

Contact us today

Our technicians have many years of experience getting rid of smoke smells in properties, as well as other stubborn odours, like damp. They are available 24/7, 365 days a year, including bank holidays. If it’s an emergency, they can be on site within several hours.

To find out more about our smoke odour removal services, get in touch with our team on 0208 066 0360 or send them an email at enquiries@icecleaning.co.uk.