Tobacco smoke. Remove tobacco smoke odor and Nicotine stains
I have had quite a few questions asked about dealing with the residue from smoking. Lets start with the smell
Cigarette smoke odour
To diminish the smoke smell from cigarettes burn a few decorative candles. It should lift the smoke.
Another idea is to place a few saucers of vinegar in strategic places around the room.
Also charcoal will absorb stale smoke odours. As with the vinegar place the charcoal in saucers around the room.
If your furnishings are suffering from smoke odor then sprinkle baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) over armchair/sofa/mattress/carpet. Leave for a few hours and then vacuum off. The baking soda will absorb the smell. The baking soda should not mark your furniture but you can always test in an inconspicuous area.
To make cleaning your ashtrays easier try waxing them with a thin coat of floor wax after cleaning before setting out for use again. Some air fresheners also work and also add a fresh scent.
Submitted by Barbie
Nicotine stains
Remove them from your fingers with lemon juice, and scrubbing with pumice stone. Then add hand cream.
Nicotine stains on ash trays can be removed by rubbing with heated salt.
Nicotine stains will accumulate. They are a very greasy stain so I have a few ideas.
Vinegar on a cotton cloth should make the nicotine stains come right off
If the stains will not come off with just vinegar recipe for an extra strength household floor and wall cleaner that works well at removing nicotine stains.
1 gallon hot water 1/2 cup of 20 Mule Team Borax 1/2 teaspoon liquid dish detergent (Dawn cuts grease and would work well for the stains) 1 tablespoon ammonia
Use gloves because it will be a dirty job. The nicotine stains will come off as a greasy slimy residue. Rinse your cloth in clean water before dipping back into the cleaner. Rinse the wall well after cleaning
Another thing that works is straight rubbing alcohol on a sponge but because it is a large job I wouldn't recommend it except for stubborn spots.
If you decide to repaint instead of cleaning, first paint with a sealer to stop the stains from bleeding through the new paint. It will seal in the stains so they won't bleed through the new paint job
You can buy commercial products that will work well. One I have heard of is Greased Lightning. I think that it is only available in the US.
Sugar soap is also very good at shifting Nicotine stains.
