Buying a house where someone smoked indoors for years can come with an unpleasant surprise. The walls might have a fresh coat of paint, the rooms may look spotless, but that familiar cigarette smell can still linger.
Smoke residue doesn’t just stick to walls. It can settle into ceilings, carpets, doors, cabinets, window coverings, and other surfaces throughout the house, making it difficult to get rid of the odor with paint alone.
If the smell keeps returning, there are several places worth checking before you spend more money on paint.
Wash the Walls First
Before opening another can of paint, clean the walls to remove as much smoke residue as possible. A heavy-duty cleaner suitable for the wall surface, such as a TSP-based product, can help prepare the area for primer and paint.
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Use an Odor-Blocking Primer
After the walls have been cleaned and dried, apply an odor- and stain-blocking primer to seal in any residue that remains. Shellac-based products, such as Zinsser B-I-N, are often used for stubborn smoke stains and lingering odors.
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Don’t Forget the Ceilings
Cleaning the walls but leaving the ceilings untouched means a large surface covered in smoke residue is still in the room. Wash and prime the ceilings too, especially in areas where the previous owners smoked regularly.
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Pull Up Old Carpet
Carpet and its padding can absorb years of cigarette smoke, and cleaning may not be enough to remove the smell. If the home still has the original carpet, consider having it removed and checking the flooring underneath for lingering odors.
Remove Old Window Coverings
Curtains, fabric shades, and blinds can hold onto cigarette odors long after the rest of the room has been cleaned. Taking down old window treatments removes another possible source of the smell.
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Replace the HVAC Filter
An old HVAC filter can contribute to lingering odors, particularly if the cigarette smell becomes stronger whenever the heating or cooling system runs. Replace it early in the cleanup process so the system isn’t continuing to circulate air through a dirty filter.
Check the Ductwork
If the odor remains after replacing the filter, have the ductwork inspected. An HVAC professional can check whether cleaning is needed, which may save you from paying for a service the system doesn’t actually require.
Scrub Doors and Trim
Doors, doorframes, baseboards, molding, and other painted surfaces can collect smoke residue just like walls do. Wash these areas thoroughly, then consider sealing and repainting any surfaces where the smell remains.
Clean Inside Cabinets and Closets
Smoke residue can settle in places that are easy to overlook, including kitchen cabinets, drawers, closets, and bathroom vanities. Clean the interiors too, since opening an enclosed space can release odors that have been lingering there for years.
Pay Attention to Bathroom Doors
Old smoke residue on bathroom doors and other surfaces may become more noticeable when the room gets warm and humid. If a smoky smell seems stronger after a hot shower, check the door, trim, ceiling, and cabinetry for areas that need another round of cleaning or sealing.
Clean Anything That Moves Air
Ceiling fans, bathroom exhaust fans, range hoods, portable fans, and air vents can collect layers of dust and smoke residue. Give these areas a thorough cleaning so old buildup isn’t left behind after you’ve cleaned the rest of the house.
Consider Replacing Heavily Contaminated Materials
Some materials may hold so much smoke residue that cleaning and sealing won’t be enough. In homes with years of heavy indoor smoking, drywall, flooring, doors, and other porous materials may need to be replaced if the odor continues to linger.
Be Careful With Ozone Treatments
Ozone machines are sometimes used during serious odor-removal jobs, but they should never be treated as ordinary household air fresheners. Ozone can be harmful to breathe, so professional treatment and strict safety precautions are important if this option is being considered.
Air Out the House
Open windows and doors when the weather and security conditions allow, giving fresh air a chance to circulate through the rooms. Ventilation can help while you’re cleaning, but it won’t remove smoke residue that has soaked into walls, flooring, and other materials.
Paint Should Come Last
One common mistake is treating fresh paint as the fix rather than the final step. Clean the surfaces, remove materials that can’t be saved, check the HVAC system, seal affected areas with a suitable primer, and then repaint.
Cigarette odor can be difficult to remove because the residue often hides in places homeowners don’t think to check. Working through the house one area at a time gives you a better chance of getting rid of the source instead of covering the smell for a few weeks.
