Its bad enough when youre in a public space and have to breathe in someones secondhand smoke.
If youre a non-smoker and you move into a house previously occupied by a smoker, youll know immediately.
The smell, stains, and general sense of unhealthiness will be pretty obviousand gross.
But you dont have to live with the ghosts of smokers past.
Heres how to effectively clean your new home to erase the effects of thirdhand smoke.
Surfaces
Before doing anything, open up the house.
Open windows and doors and let the fresh air come in.
Airing out the house wont eliminate the stench, but it will give you the most promising starting point.
Then, throw out as much as you’re free to.
Use the soot sponge first, then clean again with a mild detergent.
Floors.Hard floor surfaces probably wont absorb much thirdhand smoke, but ash and smoke-soaked dust can linger in crevices.
Clean thoroughly, and vacuum alotwith a vacuum that comes with a HEPA filter.
Ceilings.Ceilings can be particularly bad, because cigarette smoke rises.
Scrub with the soot sponge, then clean a second time.
Curtains and drapes.Replace these if at all possible, because they are perfect collectors of smoke.
you’re free to hire someone to do this for about $400-500.
Cleaning them typically requires a professional, and can cost as much as $700.
Filters.Changeallthe filters, everywhere.
If you see a filter, change it.
Your appliances, particularly your refrigerator, will also absorb a lot of thirdhand smoke.
They can also collect ash and dust as it floats through the air.
Removing and replacing all the bulbs in your house is a good idea.
Prime and paint.After cleaning your walls, prime them with a goododor-blocking primer and sealer.
Then paint them for a fresh look that also doesnt smell like an ashtray.
