How to get rid of cigarette smoke smell in your home and business

A person lighting a cigarette with a lighter. If you need cigarette smoke odor removed from your home or business, call SERVPRO.

Just about everyone agrees cigarette smoke is not a nice smell and the lingering effects of cigarette smoke can be seen, and smelled, for years after smoking has stopped in a home or business. That's why removing cigarette smoke from your personal space is essential to improve the overall living environment. Smoke remediation is just one of the many services SERVPRO^® provides.

What are the Hazards of Cigarette Smoke?

Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, and inhaling the smell can cause health effects, particularly for those who are pregnant, young, or elderly. In addition, cigarette smoke leaves behind a residue that can damage furniture, walls, and flooring, and discolor fabrics and other materials. Whether you’ve moved into a new home in need of deep cleaning, are preparing to sell a property or something else that requires our assistance, it’s worth calling SERVPRO to ensure the smell of cigarette smoke is expertly remediated.

pile of discarded cigarettes — A dumped pile of cigarette butts next to a glass ashtray

Differences Between New and Old Cigarette Smoke

The type of smoke remediation and deodorization needed depends on how long the cigarette smoke has been present in the space. Newer cigarette smoke is generally easier to remove than smoke that has been present for a long time. That newer smoke will still have an odor, but it will be easier to remove with air purification and deodorization methods. If a space has been exposed to cigarette smoke for an extended time, it’s likely the odor will have penetrated deeper into the walls, furniture, and fabrics, making it harder to remove. Still, SERVPRO can help with the removal.

Steps for Removing Cigarette Smoke

To remove the smell, you have to tackle the smoke itself. There are several steps SERVPRO takes when removing cigarette smoke from a property:

1. Assess the level of contamination. By assessing the severity of contamination, we can determine the type of remediation needed.

2. Air purification. Air purification is used to remove airborne particles from the air. This is done with air scrubbers and air filters.

3. Deodorization. Once the air has been purified, deodorization is used to eliminate the odor. This is done with ozone generators and other specialized equipment. Later in this article, we provide further details on this specific part of the process.

4. Cleaning. All surfaces that have been affected by the smoke need to be cleaned. This includes walls, floors, furniture, fabrics, and other materials. Our proprietary disinfectants, masking agents, pairing agents, filtration agents, and/or enzyme digesters may be used in this step, depending on the severity of the smoke damage and what’s required for your specific situation.

5. Restoration. Depending on the level of damage, restoration may be necessary. This includes repairing any damage that has been done to the walls, floors, and other materials. If needed, SERVPRO also provides construction services, so you don’t need to worry about using multiple companies to complete the cleanup and restoration process.

Removing the Smell

Once the cigarette smoke has been removed, our team will follow the below process for deodorization. These are the steps we follow for both cigarette smoke smell and other offensive odors. You can review this process in detail on our Odor Removal page.

1. Locate and remove the odor source. Otherwise, the odor may continue to emit.

2. Clean the surfaces of any residue. If this step is not completed thoroughly, leftover odor particles may continue to emit.

3. Reproduce the conditions that caused odor penetration in the first place. This is handled by distributing a deodorizer to a surface, similar to the way the odor-causing materials enter the surface or air.

4. Seal surfaces exposed to disagreeable odors.

Our team may use an ozone or hydroxyl machine to assist with the removal of cigarette smell. However, keep in mind each situation is different, so you should contact your local SERVPRO so they can inspect the affected area and determine a customized plan.

Smoke canister — Trying to remove smoke and cigarette odor can be difficult. The professionals at SERVPRO® know how to clean, restore, and repair homes and businesses that need smoke remediation.

Benefits of Quick Remediation

Remediating cigarette smoke quickly is essential for protecting the health of the occupants and restoring the property. The longer the smoke is allowed to linger, the more it will penetrate the walls, furniture, and fabrics, making both the smoke and smell harder to remove. Additionally, the chemical residues can cause further damage to the property if not addressed promptly. Our Fire Damage Restoration Process and Fire Damage Emergency Tips pages provide additional information regarding fire and smoke restoration.

SERVPRO is Here to Help Around the Clock

SERVPRO is available 24/7 year-round to assist with removing the smell of cigarette smoke, smoke remediation services, fire remediation services, and more. We’re experienced in cleaning, restoring, and repairing homes and businesses that have been affected by cigarette smoke. Whether it’s new or old, our team is dedicated to providing quick and effective smoke remediation services. With over 2000 franchises across the United States and Canada, rest assured there is never a SERVPRO far away. We service 90% of all US zip codes within two hours and are dedicated to arriving onsite within one hour of your call. Remember to review our FAQ and Glossary pages for additional information.

No matter when require the removal of cigarette smoke smell we are always here and ready to work to restore your property to pre-loss condition, “Like it never even happened.” Give us a call today.

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