How to Remove Cigarette Smells From Clothes & Carpet

How to Remove Cigarette and Cigar Smells From Clothing

If your washable clothes and linens are smoky due to exposure for only a short time, such as a weekend visit, these methods work particularly well. Extended exposure will take repeated treatments.

1. Air out the Garment

   Hang the smoke-laden clothing in the open air. If you cannot hang things outside, hang the clothing in room filled with lots of green leafy plants to help absorb the odors. Use a fan to create air movement. The length of time you need to air clothes depends upon how saturated they are with smoke and how sensitive you are to the odor. The length of airing can be as little as a few hours to a couple of weeks.

2. Soak in Baking Soda and Water Solution

   To remove the odor, soak washable clothing in a sink or washing machine filled with warm water and one cup baking soda before washing. Overnight is usually sufficient. 

3. Machine Wash

   After soaking, wash according to the garment care label instructions using unscented laundry detergent. Add one cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle and stop the cycle. Let the laundry soak for an hour in the vinegar and water solution before completing the rinse cycle. If the clothes should be hand-washed, follow your usual routine but add vinegar to the rinse water.

4. Air-Dry

   Dry the freshly washed clothes and linens on a clothesline or clothes rack in the sunlight. If you must dry in a clothes dryer, use a low-temperature setting because excessively high heat can actually cause any remaining odor molecules to bond with the fibers.

   Tip

   The ultra-violet rays of the sunlight will help remove odors and smells; however, bright sunlight can cause dyes to fade, so hang dark colors in the shade. Line drying your clothes will also provide a final opportunity for clothes to air out.

5. Use a Fabric Freshener

   If the smoke smell lingers, use a fabric refresher in either scented or unscented formulas to mask the odors. There are in-wash formulas or sprays that bind with the odor molecules. If spraying, spray the clothing outside and let it continue to air.

6. Seal in Container With Baking Soda

   Do not store clothes away long-term with any type of strong odor. However, temporarily, you can use a sealed container to trap odors. Place the garments in a sealed plastic tub or heavy-duty plastic bag with a box of baking soda. Leave the container sealed for a week or so. The baking soda will absorb the odors.

How to Remove Cigarette and Cigar Smells From Carpet and Upholstery

If you have a frequent indoor smoker in the house, it is nearly impossible to remove all of the smoke smell from carpet and upholstery. But it can be done if the smoke exposure was brief.

1. Clean out the Cigarette Butts and Ashes

   As soon as possible, empty all ashtrays and dispose of the trash bags.

2. Air out the Room

   Open as many windows as possible and turn on circulating fans to help bring in fresh air.

3. Set out Bowls of Vinegar

   Pour some distilled white vinegar into small bowls or cups and place in the affected rooms.

4. Put Washable Accessories in Washer

   Toss any washable curtains, small rugs, pillows, and throw blankets from the room in the washer.

5. Treat Carpet and Upholstery With Baking Soda

   Sprinkle plain, dry baking soda on carpets and area rugs. Allow the baking soda to remain on the carpet for about an hour and then vacuum up. Be sure to toss the vacuum bags after cleaning or empty the vacuum cup.

Usually, all it takes is one time going through these steps to remove strong smoke odor. But, if your clothes, carpet, or upholstery still have bothersome cigarette odors or nicotine stains, repeat the steps. If the baking soda method does not work on carpet or upholstery the second time, try a commercial odor remover that uses activated charcoal.