How to Remove Cigarette Smells

Cigarette smoke can leave an unpleasant odour in your home that is very hard to get rid of. Not only will it leave a smell, but it can leave stains and residue on walls, ceilings and surfaces.

Fortunately, there are several effective methods for cigarette smell removal/nicotine staining removal from your living space.


1. Ventilation:

Start by ventilating your home. Open windows and use fans to circulate fresh air. Allowing air to flow through your home will help to get rid of any lingering smoke. Then it is time to begin the cleaning process.

2. Cleaning:

If the staining is minimal and there hasn't been a large amount of smoking in the property, you can potentially tackle this process yourself.
However if the property has been smoked in for several years, you will need the help of a professional smoke odour removal service.
If not, use vinegar and water to wipe down surfaces, vinegar itself is a natural deodorizer. Baking soda can be sprinkled on carpets, upholstery and other fabrics to absorb odours. Let it sit for some time then vacuum it up.
If this does not work, you will need assitance. Upholstery, curtains and carpets hold a large amount of smell, they will need professional cleaning in order to remove the odour.

3. Air Purifiers and Deodorizers:

Air purifiers and deodorizers that are specifically designed to neutralise odours. If the property hasn't had years of smoke damage in it, you could remove the smell with these.

4. Wash Fabrics:

Wash any fabrics you can in your home, including curtains, pillow covers and blankets, or have them dry cleaned. Fabrics hold a large amount of smell in them, so it is extremely advisable to have this done even if you use a professional service.

5. Repainting Walls:

Even after having a professional clean, stains can be embedded into the walls and will not fully disappear. We recommend sealing the walls and then painting, this will ensure staining does not bleed through.

NEVER repaint walls before a clean is conducted, all you will do is mask the smell and problem and the stains will eventually bleed through, wasting your time and effort.

6. Professional Help:

If the property has been smoked in for a very long time, or the staining and odour are quite severe, you will need professional assitance to remove both the smell and staining. Here at Emergency Clean UK, our technicians are fully trained and equipped to deal with nicotine stain removal of any severity.

Nicotine staining when severe can take days to remove and clean, as it's quite a stubborn material to get rid of and as stated above, the smell will not go if certain measures are not taken.

However our teams have conducted many of these jobs, and we have industry standard techniques to ensure your property is one, stain free and two, odour free.


Removing the smell of smoke takes time, paitence and thorough cleaning. If your problem is not severe, the techniques above will help you get back to an odour free home.

However if the problem is stubborn, you know exactly who to call to ensure a great result. Click the button below to view our cigarette odour removal service.

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