How to remove smoke odor from things you want to sell

Nothing kills the value of something quite like the smell of cigarette smoke. Here's how to remove smoke odor to an acceptable level …

If you're not a smoker, then you probably can detect even very low levels of cigarette smoke pretty quickly. It can be pretty nasty. I grew up with family members who smoked, and when I talked with one woman on my paper route who had quit smoking because of her emphysema, she knew immediately that I lived with a smoker.

Many non-smoking sellers on eBay state in their auctions that their items come from a smoke-free home. It's quite common, and buyers doing their due diligence will ask, or not buy from, sellers that do not specify that their items come from a smoke-free home. Regardless, opening a box that you've been waiting for in the mail and getting a noseful of stale cigarette odor is not pleasant.

I don't smoke, and neither does my wife. Once in a while, as I'm picking up a bargain or buying someone out at a yard sale, I miss the smoke odor or forget to check for it. So I'm stuck with a decent deal, but one that really should be deodorized before trying to re-sell it.

A few things to remember when removing smoke odor

• Don't panic. There's a very good chance that the item can be made acceptably smoke-free by some method.
• Research how to clean your particular item correctly. One method that cleans one type of item successfully will rin another item. Check out the guides above, or search “remove smoke order from item” to get a number of opinions on how to do it correctly.
• Test an inconspicuous area. This is always a wise step to take. Treat the underside of a table to see if your treatment bleaches the wood. Or test a small part of a garment before soaking it.
• Repeat if necessary. Cigarette smoke is really nasty. One cleaning will likely reduce, but not eliminate, the odor, so expect to try again.
• If you've tried several times and the item still smells smoky, just airing the item out or keeping it in a smoke-free environment will gradually reduce the odor. Fresh air is kind to items and not kind to smoke odor.

How to remove smoke odor

Fortunately, I'm not the first one to run across this problem. This eBay guide is written for people who have bought items with unpleasant smoke odors in them. It covers many common items, like clothes, books, rugs, leather, small appliances, plastics, and wood. Febreze®, activated charcoal, vinegar, baking soda, soap, and kitty litter can be used on various surfaces to different effects. Additionally, there are good ideas on how to get rid of smoky odor at GetRidOfThings.com.

Use unscented dryer sheets

Unscented dryer sheets can absorb the odor-causing chemicals over time.

Put the item in a zipper plastic bag along with one or more dryer sheets, and leave them there for a few days. Check the item, and if the smell remains, try a bit longer. Some items absorb the smell more completely (like paper) so it could take up to a few weeks for the reduction in smell to be noticeable.

Do the vinegar treatment on books and some fabrics

If you're looking to perform odor removal on books, you can try a warm distilled white vinegar solution after letting the odor dissipate with dryer sheets.

Mix equal parts of distilled white vinegar and warm water, and gently apply the solution to the covers of the books with a clean cloth. Let the cover dry.

Campfire smoke can be removed from tents and the like with vinegar as well. (Just watch to make sure the vinegar doesn't ruin the color.)

Freshen up smoky clothes with baking soda

Baking soda is an effective odor-remover. (I recall growing up that my parents had an open box of Arm & Hammer in the refrigerator and freezer to reduce odors there.)

Likewise, smoke odor from clothes can be reduced with baking soda.

Put the offending garments in a plastic garbage bag with 1/2 to 1 cup of baking soda. —you might want to bump it up to 1 cup if you have more than a few garments. Tie the bag shut and shake it to distribute the baking soda throughout. Let it sit overnight.

Consider tumble-drying the clothes on low or no heat for better results, or washing them with a 1/4 cup of baking soda in the fabric softener tray. (Note: Don't do this with wool or silk.)

Stinky leather? Also try alcohol and coffee (seriously)

Smoke smell on leather can respond to dryer sheets, baking soda (not applied directly but near it), and even a light wiping with vinegar/water mixture.

Another treatment that can help is equal parts rubbing alcohol and water. Apply to the leather and let it dry in between applications.

Or try some fresh coffee grounds! It absorbs odor much the same way that baking soda does. Take a stocking and fill it with coffee grounds. Put it inside a leather purse or jacket to remove cigarette smell. (Coffee grounds don't have the same pH effect as baking soda so it's a bit safer for the leather.)

Further reading on smoke odor removal

If the above tips don't quite cover what you need, check out the resources below. These provided good information for this article and have more details:

• From GetRidOfThings.com: How to Get Rid of Smoke Smell has additional tips on getting smoke smell from cars, as well as other products besides those listed that remove smoke odor.
• From LifeHacker.com: How can I get the smoke smell out of things? This article was used as a reference for the one you're reading; it also has information on removing smoke odor from bigger objects like furniture.
• From HowToCleanStuff.net: How to remove cigarette smoke from leather also has a cool time about … mouthwash and its odor-removing power!
• From Food52.com: Smoke Begone! How to Get That Smoke Smell Out of Everything is a great resource with several self-contained parts on removing smoke odor, even from hair!