How to Remove Cigarette Odor From Buildings

Smoke odor from cigars and cigarettes can be particularly stubborn and difficult to treat. The longer a person smokes indoors, the more pungent the odor problem. Tobacco smoke odor will permeate or seep into all porous materials such as carpet, padding, furniture, walls, wallpaper, and even wood - leaving a lingering odor long after the smoker has left the building.

Experts at Jon-Don have put together this phased approach to remove smoke smell from rooms large and small.

The Challenge of Cigarette Odor Removal

Tobacco smoke, whether from cigarettes or cigars, produces a tricky-to-deal-with odor. That's because most modern cigarettes have a laundry list of ingredients (approximately 600), that erupt with over 7,000 different chemicals when burned, according to the American Lung Association. Some of the most common - and smelly - include:

• Acetone
• Acetic Acid
• Ammonia
• Benzene
• Carbon monoxide
• Formaldehyde
• Naphthalene
• Tar
• Toluene

Many chemicals in cigarettes, like tar, don't produce solid debris such as ash, but rather liquid vapors that stick to surfaces much more easily. This is one of the main challenges of cigarette odor removal. In addition to removing lingering odors in the air, professional odor technicians must treat all hard and soft surfaces in the area, or recommend that home or building owners replace material as needed for the best possible results.

Initial Cigarette Smoke Odor Suppression and Cleaning Methods

A phased approach to cigarette order suppression and removal is the best strategy for treating and removing airborne and surface-bound odors caused by cigarette smoke.

Phase One

As a first step, bring in air scrubbers and treat all water-safe surfaces. Here's how:

1. Place an air scrubber with carbon filters in the center of the area to be cleaned.
2. If the HVAC system is operating, place Fresh Wave IAQ Gel in the plenum to begin neutralizing the odor.
3. Treat all water-safe surfaces with either Fresh Wave IAQ Air & Surface Spray or OdorX Tabac-Attack.
4. Dilute your odor counteractant of choice per label directions and spray the solutions directly on all affected surfaces.

Phase Two

Once initial odor suppression and neutralization have begun, follow up with rigorous cleaning of other hard surfaces, carpet, lighting, ceilings, windows, etc.:

1. Clean all hard surfaces (walls, floors, ceilings, etc.) using a degreaser with either Fresh Wave IAQ Air and Surface Spray or OdorX Thermo-55 Tabac-Attack added to your cleaning solution.
2. Pro tip: Pay special attention to ceiling lights, globes, recessed lighting, etc., as it's easy to overlook them.
3. Clean the carpet using Matrix® Grand Slam Fragrance-Free, boosting the product with Matrix® Citrus Force ASD and Fresh Wave IAQ Carpet and Upholstery Additive as a deep-down odor remover. Follow label instructions for proper dilution.
4. Follow up the carpet cleaning with a fiber rinse using Matrix® All Fiber Rinse to help remove all cleaning solutions from the carpet after treatment.
5. Clean all windows and window coverings.

Phase Three: Final Cigarette Odor Removal Options

Once all hard surfaces have been thoroughly cleaned, rinsed, and dried, you can move on to the final step of the odor removal process, leveraging either thermal fogging techniques, the Vaporek Restorator, non-toxic dry vapor, hydroxyl/ozone generators, or all four to ensure total tobacco odor neutralization.

Method 1: Thermal Fogging

Before you begin:

1. Survey the area to determine the potential for exposure to sensitive individuals and then take special precautions to minimize exposure to those individuals.
2. Be sure that application equipment is in good working order.
3. Determine the volume of the room so that you will know how much OdorX Thermo-55 Tabac-Attack will be required to treat the area.
4. Turn off pilot lights and eliminate ignition sources.
5. Evacuate humans and pets from the treatment area.
6. Post "Do Not Enter" signs.
7. Remove or protect food and eating utensils. Cover materials that may be potentially adversely affected by petroleum distillates.
8. Issue respirators to application personnel.

Note: To achieve the best results, the temperature of the treatment area should be above 55°F (13°C).

1. Apply OdorX Thermo-55 Tabac-Attack at a rate of 0.5-1.5 fluid ounces per one thousand cubic feet (15 to 45 mL per 28 cubic meters) of air space.
2. Doors and windows should remain closed for 30 minutes after fogging.
3. Ventilate the treatment area and be sure that surfaces are dry before re-entry or re-occupancy.

Method 2: Vaporek Restorator

The Restorator is a simple-to-use, portable electric system that quickly, safely and effectively neutralizes odors in interior spaces. As this unit does not have any "fine" output control, it is primarily intended for fast odor-neutralizing treatment at high intensity. The characteristic neutralizer fragrance will be very noticeable in operation, as the essential oils circulate throughout the treatment area at full output from the machine.

1. Place the unit where airflow at both ends is unblocked, preferably in a relatively high location and on a hard, stable surface.
2. Be sure the replaceable cartridge is properly installed (see instructions below), with the plastic cap removed from the cartridge before installation. To preserve cartridge life, always store with the cap on when not in use.
3. Turn the unit on and allow it to deliver an odor-neutralizing vapor for a few minutes. In many cases, deodorization will be complete in 30-60 minutes. For more severe contamination, treatment may take several hours.

Note: Dry vapor output will be affected by humidity and temperature. Vapor release will be significantly reduced in excess humidity conditions (90-100%). Normal interior conditions allow the unit to work well. The ideal temperature range for best vapor release is 60-110° F.

Method 3: Passive Odor Elimination

Fresh Wave IAQ Gel is made from xylol, a 100% aromatic hydrocarbon activated by ambient airflow. As molecules are released, they bind to and capture malodor molecules, rendering them odorless.

1. Pour Fresh Wave IAQ gel into a shallow pan or dish. Leave in a room or place inside the HVAC duct. A fan can be placed near the pan to more quickly disperse the odor-fighting molecules.
2. Leave the product exposed to the treatment area for several hours. For severe odors, consider more containers of product in the area.
3. As the product is released, it will dry and reduce in size. Refill the pan as needed.

Method 4: Hydroxyl/Ozone Generators

Ozone generators neutralize odors by releasing ozone molecules that react with odor-causing smoke particles, breaking them down and eliminating the cigarette smoke smell.

These devices come in a variety of sizes, each capable of delivering a certain amount of ozone per hour. Here is a general guide about the amount of ozone you'll need depending on the size of the room or area you're working in to treat or remove tobacco smoke smell:

Note: Ozone treatment works more efficiently at lower temperatures and lower relative humidity. If using an ozone generator, all living things (plants, animals, and people) and all items that can be affected by ozone (e.g., natural rubber) must be removed from the area.

Note: Hydroxyl generators work more efficiently with a higher moisture content in the air.

Cigarette Odor Removal Tips and Tricks for a Professional Finish

It's important to assure your customer that, while you'll do your best to treat and remove tobacco smoke odor, you cannot make any guarantees. Smoke is stubborn, and sometimes multiple post-treatment strategies are required to deliver the best results.

Sealing and Treating Lingering Tobacco Odors

Long-term cigarette use indoors may leave a smoke residue and lingering odor in a structure even after complete cleaning and deodorization. In the event of such a situation, seal all walls and ceilings using EnviroShield Shellac 9000 Stain and Odor Blocker and repaint.

If a small residual odor remains, you can place a Fresh Wave IAQ Gel container in the HVAC system as an air freshener to continually deodorize the area. However, the seal and clean the HVAC system itself using UnSmoke UnSoot #1 first.

Smoke Odor Removal FAQ

Do Baking Soda, Coffee Grounds, or Activated Charcoal Eliminate Smoke Molecules?

Baking soda, coffee grounds, and activated charcoal won't eliminate smoke molecules through direct chemical reactions, but they can help reduce odors caused by smoke on a small scale. For the best, professional-grade results, follow the steps in the guide above.

How Long Does It Take for Cigarette Smell To Go Away?

Cigarette odor indoors will not go away on its own. The amount of time it takes for cigarette smoke odor to disappear after treatment depends on the severity of the smoke damage and the methods of treatment.

Learn Professional Odor Control for Cigarette Smell Treatment

Jon-Don is proud to offer a range of restoration and abatement classes, including seminars for IICRC Fire & Smoke Restoration Technician (FSRT) and IICRC Odor Control Technician (OCT).

For more information about upcoming online and in-person seminars and to register, visit our restoration and abatement classes page.

For assistance in alleviating a particularly difficult smoke odor situation, contact a Jon-Don Restoration Specialist at 800-556-6366.