Reducing smell of smoke in new house

[Lottie4]

We're going through the process of buying. House is perfectly proportioned, in a great location for us and needs absolutely nothing doing to it in the short term, so it's as good as it gets for us. Only downside is that's it's owned by smokers and I really hate the small of smoke (sorry to say this smokers who are reading).

The owners are taking their curtains which may help a little, we'll have to have all windows slightly opened constantly during the summer and I was thinking about something like Neutradol in a few rooms. Does anyone has any other ideas for reducing the smell?

[Lottie4]

Thanks for your quick reply. Is that the clear vinegar you can buy?

[KirstyJC]

You probably need to get rid of any soft furnishings eg carpets. If there are any white plastic windows/frames etc then they may be stained and I don't think you can get them back to white again, although bicarb might help. They may smell too, but that should hopefully fade.

We used to smoke in our old house ages and ages ago, and it took about 6 months for the smell to disappear after we stopped. (Although that was only one room).

It does eventually go though.

[Lottie4]

House was refurbished about four years ago and things like windows/paintwork are still looking good despite the fact the owners smoke. Only thing which looks a bit yellow is the front of the boiler.

Thanks, comicsansisevil. Will get stocked up before we move!

[DIddled]

If the front of boiler looks yellow- get it checked out as it may be emitting dodgy gas?

[Me2Me2]

If the smell is bad you may have to redecorate. A tenant smoked heavily in our flat. We threw out everything - curtains, rug, mattress - but smell lingered so we left the windows open for ages and reprinted. It had low ceilings and wasn't well ventilated tho. And it was an extreme case. Otherwise, as others have said: replace soft furnishings, air well and use vinegar and bicarbonate soda.

[harverina]

We bought a house 2 years ago and the lady who previously owned it had been a heavy smoker. Nothing got rid of the smell except us ripping out all carpets and completely redecorating. Even after stripping the wallpaper off some rooms and taking the carpets up we could still smell the smoke.

So my point is it may not be as "walk in" condition as you may think and it will depend on how heavy they smoke.

Someone told me sugar soap was quite good at removing the yellow stains from paintwork so we used that prior to painting and it did help to reduce the smells.

[Weegiemum]

I spend a day every 5 weeks in hospital (this is relevant!!) and have done for 2 years, on a day patient ward for an IV treatment.

In that time, the cleaner has always been the same and we always get a chat.

She (and her dh) stopped smoking about 15 months ago, and saved their fag cash. Has redecorated her whole house. She's a fantastic professional cleaner (I'd have her do my house if she wasn't ft in the hospital!) and she swears by bicarb. Before the painter came she washed down her paintwork with a strong solution, wiped the walls, mopped her floors. Ripped out the carpets, got the curtains cleaned, and got professionals in to do her sofas (obv you don't need that!). She even mopped her ceilings with a bicarb mix 2 days before the painter came!!

I've heard endless stuff about Make Sure You Do All The Rooms and Get Your Bath Re-sealed. She's evangelical! (But even after the redecor she and her hubby have booked their first ever foreign holiday to Tunisia, so in my delight for her so I'll listen to every story! And she's the one who brings me a cuppa or some ice! Note: if you're in hospital, be friends with your cleaner!)

[Lagoonablue]

Redecorate and clean carpets. Is the only way.

[cupcake78]

It depends how smelly it really is! Were about to move into a house where the owner smoked but only in one room and it honestly isn't that bad.

I think bi card on carpets overnight. Plenty of fresh air and a good clean will go a long way!

If they were a 40 a day couple only in the house etc then it's going to require a strip out clean and redecorate.

[Lottie4]

DIddled, thanks for that. We know the boiler is about four years old (so fingers crossed is okay). They've got a carbon monoxide alarm, but we're taking ours anyway. We were planning on getting it serviced soon after moving in as it's due for a service then.

Luckily it hasn't got wallpaper. I'm prepared to clean all the paintwork, carpets if I have to. Other than the smoke, this is the house for us even if it does entail more work than we thought.

[Clayhead]

We moved to a house where the owners only smoked in one room and it's been a nightmare - we ripped out everything and could still smell it for ages.

We did pretty much everything mentioned on this thread but it still took months and then, when the weather got hot, the smell came back!

As long as you know it's going to take some work and time then it'll be worth it in the end!

[Lottie4]

Thanks for that. The house is so us and we put ours on the market to get it, this is the only downfall.

[DIddled]

Speak to professional cleaning company might have some ideas? Nothing worse than the smell of smoke :(