Help me get rid of this smell

[Cantstandthesmell]

I can't work from home so my ex is coming to my house to look after our child as his accommodation isn't suitable. He smokes like a chimney (roll ups). He obv uses plug in air fresheners as all his clothes smell of sickly sweet stale smoke. I literally have no choice in childcare so I have to suffer it. He literally makes me sick. I have a faux leather couch & the bit he sits on all day, every day has started to smell like him. I wash it down with anti bac wipes every day but it's not shifting. Then he's back the next day sitting there! This is going to go on for weeks & I can't live with the smell. Will the smell ever go away when this is over? I can't afford a new suite! He smokes outside, it's the smell off him permeating my couch. What can I do? It will be obvious if I put a throw there. He knows I can't stand the smell off him. He could just sit somewhere else to piss me off. What can I do???

Get him to change into clean clothes at yours? He doesn't vape or similar at yours, does he?

Vinegar is really good at getting rid of smells -maybe try a dish of white vinegar left out or wipe down with white vinegar? Do patch test first. The vinegar smell soon goes.

And use a throw, nevermind the sticky sod.

Ugh, how horrible. Just for the sake of your sanity, and given the current situation, could you ask him nicely if he could please change his clothes into fresh ones when he gets to yours? You could even offer to wash a set of clothes for him to keep at yours. Perhaps if you told him how much it's affecting you he'll be caring enough to agree to this simple request.

Unfortunately most smokers dont realise how much it stinks until they stop. I think the change to fresh clothes is your best bet.

There's absolutely no way he would agree to change clothes. The throw will be so obvious & I can't piss him off as he's my only childcare. I need to take what I can get as it won't last. He could just move it or sit on the other couch. I need something I can use everyday to get rid of the smell. Febreze isn't working either.

I'd use the warmer weather as an excuse to put a throw on there. Nobody likes wearing shorts and sticking to the sofa.

I would get a throw that covers the whole sofa, I’d get two and rotate them so they can be washed regularly with loads of fabric softener to mask his smell a bit.

If he’s not in direct contact with your sofa then the smell should fade.

Would he even notice the throw? If so you could say you’re just changing the look of the room.

Wilko do some good value throws which can go in the washing machine and they deliver.

You could also try some leather cleaner but I don’t know if that would be any good for faux leather.

He sounds repulsive by the way.

I was truthful with DC. She knows how much I hate it. She doesn't like it either. She said exactly what you said Happy. Tell him my legs stick to the couch so I use my blanket. Only problem is... the weather is awful here just now. She's going to back me up on the throw idea. Meanwhile I've sprayed it with vinegar. Not sure what's worse! Do I clean with soap after the vinegar or just wipe it?

@ArseholesOnToast he is! I normally only have to see him once in a blue moon on the doorstep. This is killing me!

There's absolutely no way he would agree to change clothes.

Why? You could at least ask.

Get a throw for the sofa that you can wash and eventually chuck out

@Aquamarine1029 I think it's a bit rude. He obv doesn't notice the smell. It's just very noticeable in mine as I'm OCD with my house being clean & fresh. I realise I'm too much but it's totally stressing me out. I've sprayed vinegar over couch then scrubbed it with daz powder. Can still smell it! Throw looked out. I can't face an argument with him just now.

Does he go outside to smoke? I'm surprised it's that bad if he is out in the open breeze smoking, wouldn't have thought his clothes would be that bad. Or is he in the garage or shed?

He smokes outside when he's here but smokes in his own house. All his clothes stink. He can't smell it though.

As expected big argument. Was totally honest & said it was my problem. I apologised. He's now sitting on the other couch without the throw. My poor DC will have to suffer his mood now.

you never know he might mull it over and change his behaviour fingers crossed