Cigarette smoke is one of the most difficult smells to remove from clothes. The nicotine and tar in cigarettes combine with the fabric to create a powerful, stubborn odor. While there are many commercial products available that claim to get the smell out, they can be expensive and often don’t work very well. Some home remedies can be effective in removing cigarette smoke from clothing.
Background About Cigarette Smoke Smell
Removing the cigarette smoke smell from clothes can be a difficult task. There are a few ways to identify the smell of cigarettes on clothes.
- One is to look for yellow or brown patches on the fabric.
- Check for a greasy feel to the fabric.
- Another way is to simply smell the clothing. If you notice any of these signs, then there is a good chance that your clothes have been exposed to cigarette smoke.
- Cigarette smoke has a very strong, pungent odor that can be difficult to remove.
- The smell of cigarettes can also be detected in the musty, smoky smell that clings to clothes even after they have been washed.
Before You Begin
Before you start removing the smell of the cigarette smoke from your clothes, it is important to understand that the process can be time-consuming and may not be 100% effective. You will need to be patient and persistent to see results.
It is also important to remember that you may need to repeat the process several times to completely remove the smell of cigarette smoke.
Wash the smoky clothing. The sooner you wash the clothing, the easier it will be to rinse off the smoke odor.
Equipment Or Tools
There are some equipment or tools that are used to hack off the smell of the cigarette smoke from clothes.
Commercial Products
One is to use a commercial product or an odor-eliminating spray, such as Febreze or Odor-Eaters. However, these products can be expensive and often don’t work very well to remove cigarette smells.
Home Remedies Equipment
Another option is to use a home remedy, such as vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and vodka alcohol. These remedies are often more effective to eliminate tough odors than commercial products and are much less expensive.
Other Tools
You will also need a clothesline or drying rack, a dry cleaning kit, laundry detergent, and white vinegar. A sealable bin or garbage bag may also be necessary.
Materials
To get the cigarette smell out, you will need:
Baking Soda
The baking soda can be used as an absorbent to get out the odor of smoke from the clothing.
Distilled White Vinegar
The vinegar will help to neutralize the odor of the smoke. It also helps to break down the nicotine and tar that are clinging to the fabric.
Unscented Heavy-Duty Laundry Detergent
The laundry detergent will help to remove any residue that may left baking soda and vinegar. It is important to use a heavy-duty detergent because regular detergents may not be strong enough to extract the smoke smells.
Water
Water is necessary to create a paste with the baking soda. With home remedies, it is important to use distilled water to avoid adding any additional smoke odors to the clothing.
Fabric Softener
The fabric softener is optional, but it can help to add a fresh scent to the clothing after the smoke odor has been removed.
Remove Cigarette Smoke Odor From Clothing
Remove smoke smell of cigarettes from clothing by following these steps:
Hang The Garment Air Out
The first step is too smoky clothes air out. If possible, hang the garments outside in the sun. The freshen air and sunlight will help to remove some of the smoke odor.
If you are unable to hang the smoky clothing outside, you can place it in a well-ventilated room. A fan can also be used to help circulate the air and remove the smoke smell.
Let the clothing air out for at least 30 minutes.
Make A Baking Soda Solution
Soak the clothing in warm water mixed with baking soda in a washing machine. The baking soda will help to absorb the cigarette smell from the clothing.
The vinegar can also be added to the baking soda and water solution. The clothes should be left to soak for at least 20 minutes.
Machine Washing
When the clothing has soaked, wash it in the washing machine using unscented heavy-duty laundry detergent. Be sure to use a detergent that is designed for removing tough stains, marks and odors.
It is important to use a mild detergent so as not to damage the clothing. If you are using a washing machine, set it to the delicate cycle.
If you are hand-washing the clothing, be sure to use cool water. Do not use hot water as it can set the smoke smell into the fabric.
Air Dry Or Machine Dry
After the clothing has been washed, it should be air-dried or machine-dried on the lowest setting. Avoid using high heat as it can cause the smoke odor to set into the fabric.
If you are air-drying the clothing, hang it in a well-ventilated room. A fan can also be used to help circulate the air. The clothing should be completely dry before being worn or stored.
Use A Freshener For Fabric
While you are using an in-wash freshener, add it to the washing machine along with the clothes. Be sure to follow the instructions on the bottle.
If you are using a spray freshener, spray it on the clothing and give it time to air. Do not spray the freshener directly on the clothing as it may cause staining.
The fabric freshener will help to add a fresh scent to the clothing.
Seal In A Plastic Tub
To temporarily remove the smoky smell from clothing,use a plastic tub to place the clothes or you can use a plastic bag mixed with baking soda. The baking soda can help to absorb the smell from the clothing.
Tips And Tricks
There are a few things that you can do to help remove the smoke odor from your clothing. The most important thing is to act fast. The sooner you start to treat the clothing, the better chance you have of removing the smoke odor.
Freshen Up In Between Washes
If you do not have time to wash the clothing right away, you can place it in the freezer. The cold temperature will help to temporarily freshen up the clothing and make it easier to wash later.
Use Febreze Odor Eliminator
Febreze is a fabric freshener that can be used to get out the smell from clothing. It can be sprayed directly on the clothing or added to the washing machine.
Use The Dryer Sheet Trick
If you are having trouble removing smell from your clothing, try using a dryer sheet differently. Place the dryer sheet in between the layers of clothing. The sheet will help to absorb the smoke smell and will make it easier to wash the clothes later.
Get Laundry With Us
The smoky cigarette smell from clothing can be a difficult odor to remove. If you are having trouble removing the smoke smell out of your clothing, you can always bring it to our Dutchman’s Laundry and we will be happy to do it for you. We have a variety of options available that can help to remove even the toughest odors.
