So you've finally given up cigarettes—congratulations! Whether you tapered off your daily cigarettes until you hit zero, used a nicotine substitute, or just went with the cold turkey option, the important thing is that you stopped. One of the most helpful things you can do is remove the reminders of your habit from your home. The cigarettes are gone, and the ashtrays can be put away, but there's one reminder that isn't so easily hidden, and that's the lingering smell of cigarette smoke. How can you get rid of it?

Walls and Ceilings

The most efficient way to get rid of that smell seemingly embedded in your walls and ceilings is to repaint. If this option is more work than you're comfortable with, there are numerous mixtures you can make to spray on your walls and ceilings. They will also take care of any discolouration caused by nicotine. If you have ducted air conditioning, don't forget to remove the filters so you can wash them in warm soapy water, otherwise, you'll be blowing that unpleasant smell back into the room the moment you turn your air conditioner on. 

Carpets and Upholstery

Your carpets and upholstery are absorbent, and so you need to thoroughly clean these to remove that smell. Hire a carpet cleaning service to clean and deodorise your carpets and upholstery. This is quick and efficient and effectively washes the unpleasant odour right out of the fibres of your carpets and upholstery. Consider removing your curtains and running them through the washing machine. However, you must be sure that they're machine washable.

Loose Items

It's remarkable how the smell of cigarettes can permeate absolutely everything in a room. Some items are more vulnerable than others, and books can retain an unpleasant odour when they were stored in a room where you smoked. Lightly dust the books with sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and seal them in a plastic rubbish bag overnight. In the morning, shake the books off and put them back on the shelf. This also works for any small items that can't easily be deodorised.

Clothing and Bedding

Even though you've stopped smoking, many of the items in your wardrobe may not have received the update. Any clothing that hasn't been cleaned since you gave up should be put through the washing machine. The same goes for all your bedding if you smoked in your bedroom.

Getting rid of the smell of cigarettes does take a bit of effort, and this is unavoidable. But to truly banish cigarettes from your life, you need to banish the unpleasant smell they left behind.

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